World Cultural Leaders Promote Korea

The G20 Seoul Summit took place in 2010. Enjoying the world's utter attention, Korea seized the opportunity to promote its culture globally. And so, the C20, or Culture 20, Summit was held, with the participation of cultural leaders from around the world.

The G20 Seoul Summit took place on November 11, 2010. With the world's attention on Korea, it was the best chance for Korea to present its culture to the world.

Hence, the "Culture 20" was born. 17 leaders of the culture field like French cultural critic Guy Sorman and Italian founder of the Missoni fashion house Vittorio Missoni were invited to experience Korean culture firsthand. Upon returning to their home nations, they began to spread the word about Korea.

[Interview : PD] "After the C20 in 2010, how did the attendees promote Korea[Interview : Choi Jung-hwa, Director
Corea Image Communication Institute] "One of the C20 attendees, Australia's ABC TV channel CEO Bruce Dover, is working on a special documentary about Korean food. He is also planning to bring over Korean traditional performances. And France 2 TV channel did a 2-hour special about Korea".

Following the steps of the successful C20 Summit, the Culture Communication Forum 2011 took place this year.

It is never easy to bring world cultural leaders to one place! But here they are, ready to experience and promote afterwards, all about Korea.

15 participants from 14 nations took part in the forum, including German fashion mogul Willy Bogner, French journal "Hermes" publication director Dominique Wolton and Australian TV producer Patrick Condon.

Along with them, there are also a photographer, a writer, a food columnist, an anchor and an actor!

[Interview : PD] "What aspect of Korean culture are you interested in

[Interview : Patrick Condon, CEO of Condon Entertainment Australia] "The history was wonderful. The history of food intertwines with culture and it's just a wonderful society".

[Interview : PD] "As a Korean representative in the CCF, what do you expect from foreign cultural leaders

[Interview : Ahn Seong-gi, ActorKorea] "I hope they get impressed by the beauty of Korea, and they promote our country to many people all over the world".

This year's CCF features a very different program from last year's C20, including visits to Hallyu performances, Korean traditional houses and even shopping!

A nonverbal performance attracted the attention of the cultural leaders! It was the ideal opportunity to enjoy the essence of Korean traditional art.

Suddenly, CEO Bogner is invited to the stage! He says that the performance taught him a Korean traditional dance move very well. What does he think about it

[Interview : Willy Bogner, CEO of Bogner Fashion Group Germany] "Well, number one, it was a great honor".

[Interview : ] "He was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. It was great fun. It had a little bit to do with sports, which I love, so nothing can happen because everybody expects me to be bad. OK, it's OK".

The musical "Miso" [미소] is planning an Asia tour featuring a Hallyu cast. It will become a Korean traditional performance of a global scale.

The leaders were invited to a special place after the end of "Miso". It was the home of Korea's 4th president, Yun Bo-seon [윤보선]. Today, it is a place where visitors can experience the essence of Korean culture.

The first step of experiencing Korean culture is taking off one's shoes before walking into a house.

[Interview : Amedeo Schiattarella, President of the Architects' Association of Rome
Italy] "I live in a house which is almost of that period because it has the sense of continuity with the past. I think and I hope my son will live in the same house which I lived. This sense of being in the history in the life is true"

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has taken up the task of coming up with high quality tours that allow visitors to understand the custom of Korea's ancient nobility.

It is time now to head somewhere special late at night. It's none other than Myeong-dong, Korea's shopping mecca acknowledged by both Koreans and foreigners.

[Interview : Anatoly Andreevich Kim, Writer
Russia] "I am 72 years old this year. However, seeing the youth of Korea filled me with joy, and I couldn't help but dance".

[Interview : PD] "Why was Myeong-dong chosen as a venue

[Interview : Kim Ji-hyeon, Department head Corea Image Communication Institution] "We chose Myeong-dong because we wanted to show Korea's young culture and let the participants experience it firsthand".

Korean fashion is becoming better known around the world thanks to Hallyu, and CCF participants had the chance to experience it up close! They had fun comparing Korea's fashion culture with that of their home countries. And forgetting about their fatigue, they took off shopping!

[SOV]
[Interview : Cinda Chavich, Food and travel columnist
Canada] "Yes, that's unusual, I think, to have the shopping mall open all night long, but I think it's fun that people are out and enjoying themselves. It's a beautiful night, the weather's lovely and, yeah, it's fun".

[Interview : Joao Paulo Barbosa, Photographer Brazil] "I'm surprised that I didn't know it was so happy and so warm. I'm very glad to be here".

Finally, the three-day event came to an end. The forum allowed the use of all five senses through sleeping, eating, seeing, touching and feeling. The cultural leaders had a moment to think about how they convey this unforgettable experience to others around the world.

[Interview : PD] "How did you like the CCF 2011

[Interview : Suguira Takao, Chef Japan] "I was surprised at the delicious Korean dishes presented during during the forum. I truly wish to study more deeply about Korean cuisine".

[Interview : PD] "How did you like the CCF 2011

[Interview : Willy Bogner, CEO of Bogner Fashion Group Germany] "I hope that when I come home, I can interpret the many activities of Korean culture a little better, and come back more often".

We look forward to all participants of the CCF 2011 to spread the word about Korea's amazing culture to all over the world.

[STUDIO]

What an amazing opportunity it must have been for these participants.
Myeong-dong certainly is at the heart of tourist culture here.
Well we hope everyone had a wonderful time.