SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) – South Korea and Australia will celebrate 60 years of bilateral diplomatic ties with a variety of cultural programs, including special episodes of a popular Australian children’s program, the Ministry of Culture said Monday, Seoul Sports and Tourism.
—
The programs will be carried out by the ministry and the South Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchanges (KOFICE) from this month until the first half of next year, as this year marks the anniversary.
—
Starting Thursday, Australian children’s music group The Wiggles will broadcast three special episodes dedicated to Korean culture on its YouTube channel.
—
The Wiggles are a four-member band popular in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, and have amassed approximately 2.5 billion views on their YouTube channel, according to the ministry.
—
On October 14 and 21, the Korean Cultural Center in Sydney will host virtual performances by the South Korean National Orchestra and alternative pop band Leenalchi, among others.
—
From December 2 to May 15, 2022, the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney will host an exhibition of 50 sculptures of arhats that were excavated in 2001 at the site of the Changnyeongsa temple in Yeongwol and are currently housed in the National Museum. of Chuncheon.
—
The ministry said it plans to organize an exhibition at the Korean Cultural Center, tentatively scheduled for next March and through May, of 300 photos and videos taken by Australian missionary James Mackenzie and his family during their work with lepers, orphans and others in need. in Busan, at the beginning of the 20th century.
—
South Korean Culture Minister Hwang Hee said in a statement that the cultural exchange programs will be an opportunity to further solidify the friendship of the two countries and that they hope that the Australian people will gain a better understanding of South Korean culture through through these events.
—
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1961, after Australia sent around 17,000 soldiers to fight alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War.
—
