International figures to discuss power of popular culture

World-class cultural figures like Peter Florence, founder and director of the Hay Festival, will be visiting Seoul next month to participate in the Culture Communication Forum 2011.

Following the success of the C20 event last year in which the Corea Image Communication Institute invited cultural leaders from the G20 countries to experience Korean culture as a prelude to the G20 Seoul Summit, CICI is initiating the annual CCF this year. 

Including Florence, 11 figures from diverse cultural areas such as Willy Bogner, former German alpine ski racer and head of Bogner clothing brand; Australian TV producer Patrick Condon; Chinese CCTV anchorwoman Tian Wei and Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun will attend the forum. Talks are on the way to invite more, including Nobel literature laureate Orhan Pamuk from Turkey. 

The Culture Communication Forum 2011 will be held from Sept. 4-6 at a variety of venues in Seoul where participants can experience Korean culture. Participants will watch the Korean traditional performance “Miso,” visit cultural attractions such as Changdeokgung and Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, enjoy meals at Korean traditional restaurants as well as attend the main forum on Sept. 6 on the theme of competitiveness of popular culture of Korea. CCF 2011 will conclude with a gala event at the Westin Chosun Seoul on the same day.

“During this period, all participants will be able to experience true Korean culture and we hope that they will play a vital role in introducing Korea in their home countries through articles, interviews and other means that are appropriate,” said Choi Jung-wha, head of CICI.

Choi also said a Korean food promotion event will be held at the five-star Taj Group hotels in Mumbai and New Delhi from Sept. 11-25. Held jointly by CICI, Korea Tourism Organization and Taj Group hotels, the event will also feature cultural performances.

Hemant Oberoi, Grand Executive Chef at the hotel who participated in last year’s C20 event kept his promise to hold such an event in his home country, Choi explained.

For more information, visit www.coreaimage.org.

By Park Min-young (claire@heraldcorp.com)