News

Wednesday 1 November 2023

The Opening Ceremony of “Korean Corner” at the Institute of Oriental Studies

 
The opening ceremony of the “Korean Corner” was held in the Institute of Oriental Studies (the Russian Academy of Sciences) on the 1st of November, 2023. The ceremony organizers were: Directorate of the Institute of Oriental Studies (the Russian Academy of Sciences), Center for History and Culture of Korea, Korean Foundation, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Russian Federation.

The opening of the “Korean Corner” was attended by A.K. Alikberov, the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, N.G. Romanova, Deputy Director for Science, and V.Ts. Golovachev, L.D. Garkotin, Deputy Director, B.B. Park, the Head of the Center for History and Culture of Korea, and researchers of the institute who took part in the creation of the “Korean Corner”. The opening ceremony was attended by Lee Do-hun, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation, Kim Se-won, Minister Adviser, Byungji In, the Adviser on Political Affairs, Ekaterina O., the Deputy Director of the Moscow branch of the Korea Foundation. The ceremony participants were oriental scholars from academic institutions, universities, experts, diplomats, representatives of public organizations and business circles, representatives of the South Korean media.

The ceremony began with the ceremonial unveiling of the “Korean Corner” door sign and ribbon cutting. The ARASA ensemble under the Korean Cultural Center in Moscow performed a musical performance in a traditional style, including playing national percussion instruments and Korean traditional dance.

A.K. Alikberov, the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, congratulated on the opening of the “Korean Corner”. He noted the significance of its opening at the Institute of Oriental Studies (the Russian Academy of Sciences), whose researchers had initiated the restoration of diplomatic relations between the USSR and the Republic of Korea and had made efforts to sign an agreement on diplomatic relations establishing in the years 1990 and 1992. Then he added that the opening of the “Korean Corner” " indicated that even during the most difficult times the importance of academic and cultural contacts remained transparent.

Lee Dohun, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation, addressed the present people with congratulations on the opening of the “Korean Corner” at the Institute of Oriental Studies: “In the year 1986, the specialists of the Institute of Oriental Studies opened the way to the direct dialogue and made the establishment of diplomatic relations possible. The Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences always provides support to Korean scholars. “Sokpo Sanjeol” was published – it is one of the first written monuments using Khunmin Chonym, the book “K.I. Weber and Korea". I consider the opening of the “Korean Corner” as an incredibly important event. It is not only the interaction between our countries that is important. Let this place also become a cultural place for all those who love Korea. Mr. A.K. Alikberov, N.G. Romanova, B.B. Park – thank you for your efforts in opening the “Korean Corner”.”

Bella Pak, the Head Center for the History and Culture of Korea of the Institute of Oriental Studies, noted that the work of the “Korean Corner” would creatively complement the activities of the Center for History and Culture of Korea in the study and popularization of the cultural and spiritual heritage of Korea, age-old traditions and Korean modern mass culture. Then she thanked everyone, whose efforts made the opening of the “Korean Corner” possible.