‘Korea Week’ in celebration of 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Sri Lanka

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Sri Lanka, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Sri Lanka is organising a variety of programs for ‘Korea Week’ from 13 (Monday) to 20 (Monday) November. Through the holding of these events, the Embassy hopes to bring new aspects of Korean culture to Sri Lankans.

Starting the week, the 40th Anniversary Reception will be held at the BMICH Banquet Hall on 14 November, followed by the world famous non-verbal performance of NANTA at the BMICH Main Hall (14 November at 7:30 p.m. and 15 November at 6:30 p.m.). NANTA integrates Korea’s traditional rhythm, Samulnori, with comedy and drama on a kitchen theme. The show can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and nationalities. The NANTA performance will be widely open to the public. 

The Korean Film Festival 2017 will be held at the National Film Corporation from 17 (Friday) to 20 (Monday) November. The Korean Film Festival, hosted for the fourth time by the Embassy, offers a well selected range of Korean films that must have broad appeals for Sri Lankans. The opening film of the Korean Film Festival 2017 (on 17 November at 6:30 p.m. *Opening Ceremony – Invitation Only) - ‘My Brilliant Life’ – will take audiences to a story of the immature and clumsy parent of a son who is diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic disorder called progeria, which causes him to age prematurely. The other movies are as follows: ‘The Thieves’ (on 18 November at 2 p.m.); ‘The Suspect’ (on 18 November at 5:30 p.m.); ‘The King of Jokgu’ (on 19 November at 2 p.m.); and ‘Very Ordinary Couple’ (on 19 November at 5:30 p.m.). The Korean Film Festival will conclude with ‘My Paparotti’ (on 20 November at 5:30 p.m.), which is based on a true life story of a man who pursues his dream of becoming a singer under challenging circumstances. 

The Korean Speech Contest will be held at the New Arts Theater, University of Colombo on 18 November 8 a.m. The contest is organised by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Sri Lanka office. Following the introduction of Korean dramas and K-pop in Sri Lanka the ‘Korean Wave’ has been spreading around the country. Many Sri Lankans, including younger generations who are interested in Korean culture and language, are studying Korean. The 10th Korean Speech Contest in Sri Lanka will provide a valuable opportunity for Sri Lankans to demonstrate their Korean language skills. 

A TV Documentary on Bilateral Ties will be broadcast on 18 November on Rupavahini Channel. The fifty minute television documentary entitled ‘Friendship of Four Decades’ will review the bilateral cooperation across a whole range of areas of mutual interest, spanning the political, economic and development cooperation spheres and explore the way forward for a future-oriented relationship between Korea and Sri Lanka.

The Korean Ambassador’s and Kukkiwon Cup Taekwondo Championship will be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on 25 November. The Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) Demonstration Team visiting Sri Lanka for the Championship will give a demonstration. Preliminaries will take place on 11 to 14 November at the Sports Hostel Complex, Ministry of Sports, and the final championship will be held on 25 November. The Taekwondo Championship 2017, jointly organised by the Korean Embassy and Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation, will promote and develop Taekwondo in Sri Lanka.

The friendship between Korea and Sri Lanka has been nurtured over a period of four decades. At this meaningful time, Korea Post has collaborated with the Ministry of Posts, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs of Sri Lanka to issue Commemorative Postage Stamps. It is hoped that the variety of programs scheduled during ‘Korea WeeK’, celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties