KOREA FOUNDATION

Poland is a country that can be both as bright and lively as Frederic Chopin’s mazurkas, and as plaintive and sorrowful as the second movement of his Piano Concerto No. 1. At times, it can even be as powerful as the heroic marches in his Polonaise No. 6. Chopin was active in France throughout most of his career, but he is said to have longed for his fatherland so much that he lived with a handful of Polish soil until his death.
  Well-known as home to the Romantic composer-pianist and victim of the Nazi invasion at the start of World War II, Poland commemorates the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Korea next year. In commemoration of this significant occasion, the National Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw has opened a Korean Gallery that will be maintained for at least 15 years. The Korean and Polish governments jointly sponsored the founding of the gallery at the time-honored museum established in the 19th century.
  The Korean Gallery boasts a unique blend of tradition and contemporary culture. It is designed in the form of a hanok, the traditional Korean residence, but its collection goes far beyond the traditional to include modern craftworks. In addition to the artifacts and crafts, photographs and videos displayed in front of the hanok and in the daecheong, the building’s main hall, show the customs and food of Korea’s four seasons.
  To date there have been few spaces that publicize Korean culture in Eastern Europe, and the newly opened gallery is expected to serve as a platform to publicize both the traditions and contemporary culture of Korea.
  In celebration of the gallery’s opening, the Korean Cultural Center in Warsaw has presented a variety of events that have enchanted the Polish public including a calligraphy lecture, a gayageum (12-string traditional instrument) concert, a workshop on Korean cuisine, and a Korean film screening.
  This year marks the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence, and the Cheongju Municipal Dance Company delivered a message of congratulation in September by giving a performance entitled Korean Flavor, Dance, Fragrance in Warsaw. In October, the fourth Korean Film Festival was held in the city for five days, offering a retrospective of Director Im Kwon-taek, among other programs, attended by film critics representing both countries.
  As is often said, the two countries have many things in common, both historically and culturally. They even share the unenviable titles of working the longest hours in Asia and Europe, respectively. That the two countries share so much common ground means that their peoples can easily relate to each other, further evidence of their great potential for an even closer relationship. In this light, these diverse cultural exchanges are hoped to nurture a deeper and stronger friendship between Korea and Poland.

Written by Kim Shinyoung

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