Bahrain’s diversity, openness promote cultural exchanges – Korean ambassador

Manama, Nov. 23 (BNA): Bahrain, a strong advocate of cultural diversity, has truly recognized the benefits of deploying culture as a means to build and strengthen international relations, South Korea’s ambassador has said. “Bahrain is well known for hospitality, diversity, kindness, and openness, and this eases the introduction of any foreign culture to the society, either through dramas and theatres or by any form of art,” Ambassador Hae Kwan Chung said. Korea’s culture for instance has been accepted and appreciated by people in Bahrain, he added. “We see a lot of responses when the embassy organizes a cultural event.” Relations between Bahrain and Korea have been steadily growing and this year marks the 44th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. “Our bilateral relations have focused on mutual understanding and exchanges in various fields and in many aspects,” the ambassador said. The cultural aspect has been particularly prominent and remarkably close to the Bahraini hearts, Hae Kwan Chung added. For Koreans, Bahrain is the gateway to Middle East countries. “Since the 1970s Bahrain was the center for Koreans, and based on direct flights between the two countries many Koreans visited Bahrain as the first Middle Eastern country; that's why we have around 5,000 Koreans who have chosen to settle in Bahrain,” he said. Hae Kwan Chung explained his country’s potential for cultural exchange, and its readiness to further boost these ties. “For several years we have had a lot of cultural projects in Bahrain, such as Taekwondo competitions, the Korean film festival for the eighth year and which is set to have its grand opening on November 25, dancing performances from a Korean band in the national theatre, Korean traditional customs fashion show in coordination with Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), exhibitions of Korean scenes taken by Bahraini photographers.” Parasite, the black comedy thriller film that won four Oscars last year, will open the annual Korean film festival. On November 26, the festival will screen the comedy-drama "Family Hood”, and on November 29, the 2019 disaster action comedy “EXIT” will wrap the film festival for this year, shortened due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Korean culture is also popular in the Kingdom and the K-pop Fans Club in Bahrain has around 300 members, the ambassador said. The Korean presence in Bahrain is also manifested in the language with more than 600 Bahrainis are learning Korean. “The Korean embassy in collaboration with the Korean language teaching institute (Sejong), started Korean language courses in major universities – the University of Bahrain (UoB), Polytechnic and Al Ahlia University,” he said. In October, a 19-year-old Bahraini student, Zahra Jaffar Ali Mohammed Hussain Al Safi, won the Korean-language speech contest after beating 1,918 competitors from the King Sejong Institutes worldwide. Hae Kwan Chung said the embassy has plans to provide Bahrain International TV with more K dramas and K movies, with English subtitles, noting that this will be organized in collaboration with the Korean Culture Agency. The ambassador stressed that other than close cultural ties, Korea sees Bahrain as a very important partner in other areas, mentioning mutual projects such as Samsung engineering company which is working for Bapco Modernization Program (BMP). “If there are any further energy projects, I think many Korean companies will be interested to invest in Bahrain, and my role is to attract more prominent establishments, such as medical companies here,” he said.