Performances, exhibitions and films all in one place... Korean Cultural Center opens in Malaysia

[Financial News] A Korean Cultural Center where visitors can enjoy Korean performances, exhibitions, films and more will open in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. It will be the 36th overseas Korean cultural center worldwide and the fifth in Southeast Asia.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 30th, the Korean Cultural Center in Malaysia will hold its opening ceremony at 3:30 p.m. that day (local time). Some 70 people, including First Vice Minister Kim Young-soo of the ministry and Malaysian Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Chiu Chun Man, are expected to attend.
The center is located across from the Petronas Towers, one of Kuala Lumpur's leading tourist attractions. With a total floor area of 1,199 square meters, it has a 100-seat performance hall and an exhibition room that doubles as a movie theater on the first floor, and a library, lounge and classrooms on the second. It will be open year-round.
Large light-emitting diode (LED) panels showcasing Korean cultural content have been installed in the lobby's performance hall. Bookshelves line both sides of the seating area, which will serve as a space for reading or chatting on days when there are no performances.
South Korea and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in 1960 and a strategic partnership in 2024. Their joint statement at the time also included a commitment to promote exchanges and cooperation in culture, the arts and heritage.
Artists from both countries will present the opening performance under the theme “Connecting Through Culture.” The Busan National Gugak Center will perform saengso byeongju, crane dance and the pansori work “Heungboga.” Malaysia's national theater, Istana Budaya, will stage the traditional dance “Zapin Budi” and “Puteri Santubong,” based on a Sarawak legend.
Choreographer Lia Kim, head of 1MILLION Dance Studio, will perform a dance piece with the Malaysian youth dance team Jepo Youngsters.
The opening exhibition, “Hanbok Adorned with Art,” organized in collaboration with the Savina Museum, offers a contemporary perspective on hanbok patterns, artistry and diversity. The lounge will showcase traditional craftworks passed down through the Korea Heritage Service and Muds (MU:DS), the cultural goods brand of the National Museum of Korea.
Vice Minister Kim Young-soo said he hopes the Korean Cultural Center will work with many local partner organizations and serve as a hub for bringing new momentum to the K-culture industry as a whole.

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