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in July 2013 between Soi 15 and 17 of Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok. Visitors to the centre can enjoy authentic Korean culture in Thailand. The centre is under the jurisdiction of the Korean Embassy in Thailand and is operated by the government of the Republic of Korea. The centre’s objective is to become a neighbour- hood community organization in Thailand, one where people can learn about and share in the cultural heritage of both countries. The Korean Cultural Center welcomes anyone who loves Korea and Korean culture.The centre offers diverse opportu- nities to experience Korean culture and traditional art forms including exhibitions, performances and many other cultural activities. The various K-classes will increase your under- standing about Korean culture and arts. For example, in the K-brush class, you can learn the Korean traditional ink-and-wash style of painting. In addition, you can keep up with the latest K-pop dance moves by attending the K-pop Dance Class.Please check our website (http:// thailand.korean-culture.org) and facebook page (koreanculturalcenter TH) for details.Korea has had great success in exporting its pop culture through the Korean Wave. Please elaborate on this, and the connection between Thailand and Korea.In recent years, Korean pop culture has grown in popularity around the globe. Korean pop songs, widely known as “K-pop” since the mid- 2000s, have won over fans around the world. Korean teen idols have dominated Asia’s pop charts with their upbeat rhythms, catchy tunes and lyrics and stylish dance moves. Notably, a few K-pop groups have Thai members: Nichkhun of 2PM and BamBam of GOT7 are both from Thailand.Meanwhile, the glamorous lifestyles and intriguing love stories of Korean TV dramas have captivated viewers from many countries. One in particular, Dae Jang Geum, is shown in 87 countries including Thailand. The heroine of the series is an orphaned kitchen cook who goes on to become the first female physician to a king.What is the government doing to support the Korean Wave as a cultural export?President Park Geun-hye, as the first female president of the Republic of Korea, has emphasized cultural enrichment many times.In her inaugural speech, she emphasized cultural enrichment as a pillar of her government together with creating happiness, promoting economic growth and achieving world peace.To that end, supporting the private sector is important. We aim to actively encourage the development of cultural professionals, organizations and events. With the development of network technologies, the private sector can replace the government as the main promoter of cultural exchange.Next, it is also important to encourage the blending of modern and traditional cultural and arts forms, as well as Western and Asian cultural and arts forms. We are striving for coexistence and co-prosperity through cultural exchange and cultural hybridization. To achieve these goals, the Korean government is pursuing bilateral and multilateral cultural exchange and will open an Asian Culture Complex in Gwangju this autumn. In 2017, we plan to open an ASEAN cultural centre in Busan.Elite+ 23


































































































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