India’s biggest Korean festival  ‘Rang De Korea’  begins with Korean traditional wedding, with K-pop bands ‘BugAboo’, ‘Kingdom’

NEW DELHI: On the occasion to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI), the center organized ‘Rang De Korea’, the two days of Korean Cultural fest which opened today at DLF Avenue Saket. The festival begun with the lightening of the lamp by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India Chang Jae-bok and Kumar Tuhin Director General, ICCR, in presence of other dignitaries and thousands of energetic viewers.

Chang Jae-bok while welcoming the ‘friends of Korea’ said, the journey of Korean Culture Centre over the past 10 years in popularizing Korean culture in India has been truly momentous. Thanks to its dedication and efforts, Indian people, particularly youth who are better aware of Korea and its multi-hued culture.

Today, from music to movies, fashion to food, Indian youths have begun loving everything Korean. He also acknowledged the support of Indian partners and the Government of India without whose active cooperation, the cultural centre would not have crossed this significant milestone. We look forward to your continued support. He also appreciated artists, performers and other cultural personalities who played important role in this journey.

The festival started with traditional Korean Music Samulnori and Haegeum performance, which was followed by the first ever Korean traditional wedding ceremony taking place in India on such a grand stage. Two couples got selected through a preliminary event, today, Indian Couple Vishal Gupta and Jyoti Gupta tied their knot in traditional Korean style in the presence of their family and friends. Korea and India both having the same values put a lot of meaning and importance to this gracious occasion, its customs, ceremonies, traditions, and celebration. This special event will be a mirror of Korean culture, reflecting traditional music, dances, and etiquettes.

The noon saw the energetic Taekwondo performance by K-Tigers who are globalizing Taekwondo (Korean Traditional Martial Arts & Sports) through well-made performances and demonstrations.

Then came the ‘ID’ Korean fusion music band that combined the traditional Korean music with the rhythm and modes of the Western music. It made the audience tap their toes on their beats.

The evening could have never been so trilling with enthusiastic performances of boy group ‘Kingdom’ and  of K-Pop girl group ‘BugAboo’ , the rookie groups which are going to lead the new K-pop generation.

The day 1 evening closed with ‘Hanbok’ fashion show directed by Samuel Chung,  vice president of the Korean Culture Promotion Association, who is a veteran and has various experience in the world’s fashion capitals like Paris (just coming from the latest fashion show in Paris). He personally designed and directed the fashion show in India along with his own designers and directing team from Korea. It was excited to see how the Korean traditional clothing, Hanbok was reinterpreted to show India its potential to lead the global fashion trend.

Festival was filled with various experience events such as— Korean naming and calligraphy experience centre where one experienced Korean calligraphy while getting your own Korean name on the spot, a Hallyu flea market which was  voluntarily run by local Hallyu fans, a gallery where the exhibits owned by the KCCI was displayed, a Korea Centre to introduce diverse Korea operated by Korea Tourism Organization, the mascot for the festival event which is a lion, the divine protector animal of Korea and India.