The 14th Festive Korea 2024 featured one of its main programs, “Korea Square” (10.5-10.6), along with the “National Day of The Republic of KOREA” hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong (10.17), which introduced the charm of Korea's traditional martial art, Taekwondo, to the Hong Kong government, representatives from various consulates, and the citizens of Hong Kong. This demonstration performance was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, and was prepared by the Korean Taekwondo Association in Hong Kong (KTAHK). The performance included a comprehensive display of Taekwondo featuring Poomsae, board breaking, and Taekwondo dance, and attracted over 7,000 participants across the events. - Event Photos - ▲Taekwondo Demonstration Performance at Korea Square on 10.5 ▲Taekwondo Demonstration Performance at Korea Square on 10.6 ▲National Day of The Republic of KOREA on 10.17 ▲Audience

Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong (Director Choi Jae-won, hereinafter referred to as KCCHK) held the Korean original musical "Finding Mr. Destiny" performance at the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre from Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, with a total of 5 shows, receiving a warm response from local audiences. Following the great success of last year's musical "Vanishing," KCCHK presented the representative popular work of Korea's Daehangno district, "Finding Mr. Destiny," for the first time in Hong Kong. Since its premiere in 2006, "Finding Mr. Destiny" has held a total of 8,500 performances and continues to be steadily loved. It has not only been performed overseas in places like Japan and Taiwan but also became the first Korean musical to successfully export its rights to China, showcasing the quality of its work, its audience base, and the potential to enter foreign markets. In this performance, the audience included not only musical enthusiasts but also Hong Kong government officials, representatives from major local arts institutions and art schools, actors, and many others. The audience praised the actors' performances and singing abilities, the interesting development of the story, and the excellent interaction between the actors and the audience. Audience members expressed: "This was a perfect performance, the actors' voices were wonderfully moving, and their cooperation with each other was outstanding," "The effort to incorporate various Hong Kong elements such as Hong Kong movies, songs, and Cantonese into the performance was very impressive and touching," "Through the interaction with the audience, we learned how amazing and interesting Daehangno is. Next time I travel to Korea, I want to go to Daehangno to watch a performance." Various comments of appreciation were shared. This performance was one of the key events of the Festive Korea hosted by KCCHK every year. Additionally, with the selection of the "K-Musical Overseas Promotion Support Program" by the Korea Arts Management Service and venue sponsorship from the Hong Kong government (LCSD), this performance received support from both the Korean and Hong Kong governments, adding to the significance of cultural exchange. This year, to expand the scope of cultural exchange, KCCHK invited around 100 students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to participate in an open rehearsal and even conducted backstage tours led by the stage director. Furthermore, KCCHK organized an industry forum with guests including Yea Ju Yeol, General Manager of the CJ ENM Performing Arts Business Division, Yoon Sein, General Director of the Lotte Cultureworks Performing Arts Business Tea, and Lee Hyun-jae, Director of Neo Production, to introduce the current status and future of Korean musicals to local musical and theatrical production practitioners in Hong Kong. Director Choi Jae-won of KCCHK stated, "I believe that in addition to popular genres such as food, movies, TV dramas, animation, and games, the genre of musicals can also capture the hearts of global audiences," "By observing the response of the Hong Kong audience to 'Finding Mr. Destiny,' I am convinced of this." 

From July 30th (Monday) to August 12th (Monday), KCCHK invited two Korean dance instructors to teach a total of 9 classes, including 4 general K-pop classes, 2 special dance classes, 1 class for seniors at a senior center, and 2 K-pop classes for a group from Macau. In total, 172 people participated in these classes. In the general K-pop class, the instrutor taught 'Get A Guitar' by the boy group RIIZE, 'LALALA Rock' by the boy group Stray Kids, 'Supernova' by the girl group aespa, and 'Midas Touch' by the girl group Kiss of Life to the students.  Additionally, for the first time, five special classes were held including the 2 advanced course, class for young seniors, and 2 classes held in Macau ▲Advanced Class : Two instructors created new choreography to K-pop songs and taught it to K-pop cover dance crews and dancers with experience ▲The instructor visited the senior center "Engage" which will be performing at the "K-Pop Community Festival" during Festive Korea for a special one-day class. ▲Special Class was also run in Macau targeting Macau teenagers.  Participants expressed that they were very happy to be able to learn dance directly from their favorite idol and had a great experience making friends who also love dancing. KCCHK plans to invite K-pop dance instructors from Korea every year to provide a unique learning opportunity for local K-pop fans.

Co-organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong, and the Seoul Shinmun Daily, the 'K-POP COVER DANCE FESTIVAL in Hong Kong' was successfully held on August 10 at the Jockey Club Auditorium of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.  The Hong Kong Champion went to SNDHK, a 8-member co-ed group who covered ATTEZ's "Pirate King" and “Guerrilla”. They will represent Hong Kong to compete in the Global Final in Korea in September. The first runner-up went to CHOCOMINT HK, who covered RIIZE's "Boom Boom Base" and IVE's "Blue Blood" and "Heya". The second runner-up went APOS', who covered TWS's "Oh Mymy : 7s", and the third runner-up went to PUZZLE, who covered aespa's "Armageddon". Speech by the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong Winning Team SNDHK with Mr CHOI Jaewon, Director of Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong Performance shot of SNDHK 1st Runner up - CHOCOMINT HK 2nd Runner Up - APOS'

Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong (Director CHOI Jaewon) is opening SeMA×Korean Cultural Center Overseas Exhibition 《Far, Far Side of the World》 from 16 August to 5 October 2024. The exhibition aims at introducing young Korean artists and convey multi-layered meanings based on the historical and geographical background of each country through Korean Cultural Centers in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Osaka. The exhibition with the theme of "connection," which is the institutional agenda of the Seoul Museum of Art for 2024, showcases dynamic contemporary Korean art at Korean Cultural Centers in major East Asian cities. Following Korean Cultural Center in Japan, Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong is the second to open this exhibition, featuring artists Seulki Ki, Woojin Kim, Sejin Song and RYU Biho. This exhibition raises anticipation to present the audience with diverse interpretations and understandings that change according to historical and geographical characteristics, using visual language to create new meanings shaped by different backgrounds. 《Far, Far Side of the World》 features the works of four artists who explore various boundaries, such as those between nations and ethnicities, individuals and society, and life and death. Through their art, the exhibition invites us to perceive and sense the events unfolding beyond the world we routinely imagine. ㅇ RYU Biho exhibits 3 video installation artworks, including the early performance video 〈Invisible City〉 (2006), held in the collection of the Seoul Museum of Art. Through RYU Biho's work, which explores the reality we live in and the 'world of another dimension' that may exist beyond it, the audience will be able to discover how familiar everyday experiences can feel new and unfamiliar. ㅇ KI Seulki exhibits 6 artworks, including the series ‘Unfamiliar Corner’ and ‘Post Tenebras Lux’, held in collection of the Seoul Museum of Art. She focuses on the ambiguity of the boundary between the real world and another dimension, and proposes a new way of perceiving and understanding the world that goes beyond conventional or fixed thought systems. ㅇ KIM Woojin exhibits 2 video installation artworks, including his new work 〈And, I decided to make a play〉 (2024). KIM Woojin focuses on the culture and values that are not quantifiable being marginalized and disappearing in an accelerating trend in a society where everything is digitized. In particular, the artist weaves an alternative narrative about existences and events that are outside the mainstream and not recorded in history through his work that captures the phenomenon of minority languages disappearing. ㅇ SONG Sejin exhibits 4 video installation artworks, including his new work 〈The practice of the way to seeing〉series. SONG Sejin's work, which reveals the boundary that divides the individual and society, making viewers think about the close connection between worlds and events that they do not belong to. About 50 visitors attended the exhibition opening ceremony on August 16, participated in a guided tour of the exhibition by curator Gyusik Lee, and had a chat with Seoul Museum of Art officials and participating artist Sejin Song while enjoying traditional Korean liquor and refreshments.