KOREA FOUNDATION

The KF Korea Festival is a comprehensive cultural program which presents a diverse variety of activities to help make the culture and arts of Korea better known among global audiences. For its target region in 2016, KF Korea Festival is being presented in Asia where people-to-people cooperation has become increasingly more important. The Festival events include a gala ballet performance in Laos and Cambodia, on May 17 and 19, by the Korean National Ballet, led by Artistic Director Kang Sue-jin.
    While Laotian viewers have taken a recent liking to Korean TV series, such as My Name is Kim Sam-soon and Dae Jang Geum, the company first performed in Cambodia four years ago to a sold out venue, evidence of the country’s enthusiasm for a somewhat unfamiliar genre, resulting from the lack of a national ballet company there and only limited opportunities to study dance. This year’s Festival offers a ballet gala performance as well as master classes targeted for local students.
    By showcasing high-quality ballet to audiences already familiar with Korean TV programs and K-pop, the KF hopes to introduce more diverse aspects of Korea’s culture and boost exchange efforts between Korea and Southeast Asia.