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| From left, French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort, CICI President Choi Jung-hwa, French pansori singer Laure Mafo, Millenasia Chairman Eugene Bang, magician Ed Kwon and German Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel, pose with their awards at the 2023 Culture Communication Forum held at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Diplomats showcased their hidden talents at this year's Culture Communication Forum (CCF), creating a buzz of excitement among attendees.
Under the theme of "Communication through immersion, hidden talent and conviviality," a Hidden Talent Performance and a ChatGPT Question Competition took place at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. The 2023 CCF was hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI).
Some 50 leaders attended the forum, including Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-shik, CJ Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, JoongAng Holdings Chairman Hong Seok-hyun, Poongsan Group CEO Jin Roy Ryu as well as Italian Ambassador to Korea Federico Failla, Switzerland Ambassador to Korea Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli and Greek Ambassador to Korea Ekaterini Loupas.
"This year marks the 20th anniversary of CICI. It is universally desired to live a long life with a young heart. To achieve this, I believe it is essential to stay positive, communicate effectively and share with others. That is why we organized the Hidden Talent event today," stated Choi Jung-hwa, the president of CICI.
On organizing the ChatGPT Question Contest, she added, "Trends are constantly changing. If everyone else is moving on to the next train while we stay put because we prefer our seat, we will be left behind."
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| French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort demonstrates taekwondo techniques at the 2023 Culture Communication Forum held at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of CICI |
French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort, who holds a 2nd dan black belt, demonstrated Taeguk 7, Taeguk 8 and Keumgang taekwondo techniques.
Referring to taekwondo as "a window to the soul of Korea," Lefort was awarded the Communication Award in recognition of his positive attitude towards understanding and experiencing Korea's unique culture through refining his taekwondo skills and displaying a special affection for the traditional martial art of Korea.
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| German Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel plays the piano at the 2023 Culture Communication Forum held at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap |
German Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel performed a piano and flute duet with Millenasia Chairman Eugene Bang. The two performed Nocturne No. 20 in C sharp minor. Reiffenstuel received the Cooperation Award for his harmonious blend of the two instruments.
French pansori singer Laure Mafo sang "Poverty Taryeong" from "Heungboga" in three different languages ― English, French and Korean. She was honored with the Culture Award. Magician Ed Kwon, who entertained forum attendees with his magic tricks, received the Creativity Award.
This year's CCF featured a contest aimed at exploring how ChatGPT perceives Korea and what information it can provide to foreigners seeking knowledge about the country. The contest focused on four categories: famous spots, hallyu culture, Korean food and unique experiences exclusive to Korea. Hwang Young-seok, a university student, emerged as the top winner among the seven finalists.
Simon Lee, CEO of translation service provider Flitto, shared several tips for effectively interacting with ChatGPT. He emphasized the importance of asking clear and specific questions and creating chat personas to elicit more accurate information.
Launched in 2011, the CCF is an annual event where cultural leaders around the world seek ways to promote cultural exchanges and communication.
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