A blasting experience of K-Culture at the ‘K-Culture Next Door: 2024 Korea Festival’

“Korean culture is no longer Korean culture but world culture.”- Director Jose Javier Reyes, FDCP Chairman

In honor of Korea and the Philippines’ 75 years of friendship, ‘K-Culture Next Door: 2024 Korea Festival’ was created. Just like neighbors, Korea and the Philippines are a “doorbell” away from each other thanks to their influence and support they gave each other through cultural exchange and interaction throughout the years.

Get a taste of Korea in these K-Culture booths

Get to know more about K-culture by learning how to write in hangeul, try out K-beauty products, taste Korean snacks, dance to your favorite K-Pop songs, play gonggi, sign copyright rights, wear hanbok, and learn more about Korea as a country! Bonus: live K-beauty demos were done to show how to properly do Korean-inspired makeup and the proper way of doing Korean skincare.

Fusion of Korean and Filipino performances

The event was hosted by Kring Kim.

The “K” in “K-Culture Next Door” is “Korea” but this event is to celebrate the bond and friendship between Korea and the Philippines. Apart from Korean performances and artists, Filipino artists and performances were also showcased.

Korean and Filipino folk dances were performed by KCC Performance Team- NARA and CEU dance troupe.

Filipino rapper, Young Cocoa performed his songs J Town, Zesto, Mr. Swag, Meow (will be released soon), and Manila.

And what the audience has been waiting for – Korean band, Jannabi filled the Music Hall with screams and cheers as they sang their songs Baby I need you, Summer, Goodnight, for lovers who hesitate, Alokdalok, Jungle, and a cover of What’s Up by 80s American band, 4 Non Blondes. They even teased they might come back to the Philippines soon.

Mini-busking concerts were also performed by various K-Pop dance cover groups and K-Pop cover singers.

Visitation of Korean and Filipino ambassadors and officials

This event wouldn’t have happened without the help of Korean and Filipino ambassadors and officials who also arrived at the event: Korean ambassador, Lee Sang-hwa, FCDP Chairman, Jose Javier Reyes, NCCA Deputy Executive Director for Operation, Bernan Joseph Corpuz, Assistant Vice President for Operations, SM Supermalls MOA, Mr. Perkin So, Social Services Pasay City Social Welfare & Development Department, Ma. Angelica Roa Yu.

Each official gave their speech, saying how ‘K-Culture Next Door’ is an event to honor Korea and Philippines’ friendship and how both countries influenced each other, and their culture became part of their daily lives.

Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa says in his speech:

“It must be remembered that what we are trending today is not merely a history of the nations. But rather a friendship that has grown over the years. So we are here to celebrate the exchanges of peoples and culture became of our two countries that have mutually enriched the lives of both peoples.”

Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa

FDCP Chairman, Director Jose Javier Reyes in return says that Korean culture has become part of the lives of every Filipino. He says in his speech:

“Korean culture is no longer Korean culture but world culture.”

Director Jose Javier Reyes, FDCP Chairman

Jose Javier Reyes also highlights Korea and the Philippines’ 75 years of friendship in his speech. He says:

“We [Koreans and Filipinos] are intensifying our culture as Asians.”

Director Jose Javier Reyes, FDCP Chairman

Though K-Culture was only a two-day event, it was a memorable experience both for Filipino and Korean audiences. As Director Jose Javier Reyes said, Korean culture has indeed become part of our lives as Filipinos and Koreans felt the same way.