South Korean Ambassador to Egypt Hong Jin-Wook has expressed his happiness at extending the ongoing exhibition of Egyptian treasures held in National Museum of Korea.
Thanks to the popularity of the ancient Egyptian antiquities which dazzled millions of South Korean people, the National Museum of Korea (NMK) decided to extend the exhibition, which opened in December 2019, for four months until March 2022, South Korean ambassador said.
The Egyptian section, the first of its kind, is a part of the World Cultures Gallery, displaying 94 ancient Egyptian treasures and artifacts, including a 2,700-year-old mummy and sarcophagus.
The exhibition, initially scheduled to run until November 7, 2021, attracted many Koreans who enjoyed looking at artifacts and their symbols that present a tale of life, death and rebirth.
Museum visitors rose by more than 30 per cent after the opening of the Egyptian section.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the museum was closed for a month. A virtual exhibition of the Egyptian section was therefore made available online.
South Korean envoy Hong said the two-way cultural exchange between Egypt and South Korea plays a leading role for a greater understanding between the peoples in both countries.
‘Egyptian people are currently enjoying the cultural activities held by the South Korean cultural centre in Egypt, including K-POP, movie screenings, Korean cuisine and Korean language courses, while many South Koreans are seeking to explore grandeur and glory ancient Egyptian civilisation,’ the envoy said.
He also pointed out that despite the geographical distance between Egypt and South Korea, the cultural exchanges between the two countries have maintained rapid development.
The embassy will soon run a survey to gather information on the South Korea’s image in the eyes of Egyptian people, he revealed.
“This meaningful survey will allow us to gain valuable insights and clear feedback from the Egyptian people on how we further strengthen our bilateral relations,” Hong said.
