Prof. Idrissa Diabaté, Professor of the Institut National des Arts et de l’Action Culturelle (INSAAC), Côte d’Ivoire, will visit Korea from December 1 to December 7, 2009 by invitation of the Korea Foundation.

Prof. Diabaté studied media and communication in France, particularly focusing on the utilization of communication methods for the development of rural areas. In 1982, he became a professor of communication studies at INSAAC and an associate researcher at the Centre d’Enseignement, de Recherche en Communications (CERCOM) of Universite d’Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire. He has also produced many documentary films on various social issues of Africa since 1986. It is considered that his films have contributed to raising awareness of African people on those issues, and his masterpieces brought him many prizes at the film festivals in French speaking Africa and Europe. Among his works, there are , , , .

During his stay in Korea, Prof. Diabaté will visit organizations related to film arts and media, such as the Korean Film Council, Korean Academy of Film Arts, Korean Film Archive and Secretariat of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), to discuss a way to promote exchange and cooperation concerning film arts between Korea and African countries, as well as between Korea and Côte d’Ivoire. He will also visit the Department of African Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and World Vision Korea, and share opinions on mutual relations between Korea and African countries. Through his visit to Korea, he also plans to produce a documentary film on socio-economic development of Korea for African people.

In addition, he will have opportunities to experience various aspects of Korea by visiting Digital Media City (DMC) and Hyundai Motor Company, and touring museums and historical sites in Seoul and Gyeongju city.