As we celebrate an enduring 65-year diplomatic bond, we light up the stage with an array of enchanting cultural displays from the noble lands of Korea and Thailand. This is more than just a show; it’s a purposeful endeavour to foster cultural understanding, stimulate soft power exchange, and reinforce our shared humanity.
The curtain-raiser is set into motion with a highly anticipated K-pop cover dance, conjured up by the phenomenal ‘The Stars,’ a troop made of people with Down Syndrome. The stage will then be graced by the mesmerizing Korean cultural treasures of ‘Gilnori’ and ‘Ginori.’ Injecting a shot of tradition into the experience is the Korean Percussion Group ‘In Phung-ryu,’ with their instruments and flags opening the floodgates of the festival’s festive atmosphere.
The Korean Embassy’s Charge d’affaires, Ham, Jeonghan will lead us into the realm of the event with a thought-provoking opener. The carousel of performances includes a unique hybrid of Thai traditional dance and Muay Thai presented by the revered Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, a must-see K-pop cover dance, Thai idol group ‘XI(Exzai)’, ‘Yedam Y,’ as well as Korean traditional dance performances like ‘Chun-aeng-mu’ and ‘Tae-pyeong-mu.’ Other entrancing acts include ‘Sogo-chum,’ ‘Jindo-buk-chum,’ ‘Jang-gu-chum,’ and ‘Bu-chae-chum.’ Adding an adrenaline rush to the occasion is a Hangeul-inspired break dance from the ’20th Century B-Boy’ team and an action-packed Taekwondo demonstration from the ‘Black Leopard’ team.
For the spirited spectators, the ‘Show Your Soft Power’ competition crowns the event. The final 15 nominees from Thailand are geared to dazzle the audience with their talents in vocal art, dance, lip sync, and traditional performances. Mr. Cho, Jaeil, the esteemed director of the Korean Cultural Center, will honour the winner with an award.
A heartwarming extension of the festival wraps up on November 26th at The Child Protection and Development Center (CPDC), Pattaya. A day filled with performances, altruistic activities, and partners such as Jeong Art, Black Leopard, Kowin Thailand, GTO, LG, Coway, and Prothai partaking in donations and volunteer work for the gifted children we serve.
The ‘K-Soft Power Festival 2023 in Thailand’ presents a warm invitation to all for a free visit. Here’s your ticket to explore enchanting booths filled with travel insights to Korea, an authentic taste of Korean cuisine, and engaging on- and off-line events.
In his elaborative note, Ham draws our attention to 65 years of active collaboration between Korea and Thailand. Our recent strides in human and soft power exchange are certainly worth mentioning. This glittering event, themed ‘I love Thailand, I love Korea,’ seeks to attest and amplify the bonds of friendship between our two nations through avenues of soft power exchange.
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