In a vibrant celebration of cross-continental unity, South Korea and Egypt marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the cultural event ‘Dialogue of Five Thousand Years of Civilisation’ at the American University in Cairo (AUC).
The event not only honoured three decades of bilateral co-operation, but also charted a visionary path for art and culture to bridge continents and generations.
Symposium Sparks Vision for Cross-Cultural Collaboration
The day began with a high-level symposium divided into six sessions, uniting artists, academics, and culture leaders from both nations. K-culture visionary Yoo Jae-heon, CEO of Yoozam Studio, delivered a keynote address on ‘K-pop and K-Culture Design,’ underscoring Korea’s transformative global cultural footprint. Speakers from both two countries explored pressing themes such as:
– Arts Education in the Digital Age
– Art as a Catalyst for Social Change
– Theatre Exchange: Bridging Traditions
– Smart Cities & Heritage Preservation
– Photography’s Digital Evolution
Cairo Arts Declaration: A Blueprint for Global Creativity
A landmark outcome was the unveiling of the ‘Cairo Arts Declaration,’ a manifesto championing global artistic collaboration. Signed by 11 luminaries, including Korea’s Cho Kang-hoon and Egypt’s Seif Allah Alnaga, the declaration launched the Asia-Africa Artists’ Alliance (A3A).
This pioneering platform aims to:
– Safeguard artistic freedom and diversity
– Foster cross-cultural co-creation and education
– Build sustainable creative ecosystems
Evening Extravaganza: Fusion of Tradition and Innovation
The event crescendoed with ‘Colourful Korea’, an evening captivating performance at AUC’s Memorial Hall. The Saengdonggam Crew fascinated audiences with a digital media show, while QUEEN reimagined ‘gugak’ (traditional Korean music) through a modern vision.
The finale saw the two ensembles ignite the stage with a spellbinding performance — a masterful blend of traditional instruments, commanding vocals, and intricate choreography — that captivated every one and drew thunderous applause.
A Shared Vision for the Future
In a video address, Korea’s Culture Minister Yu In-chon hailed the event as ‘the dawn of a new art ecosystem where artists from Korea, Egypt, Asia, and Africa co-create without boundaries, harnessing cross-continental collaboration to shape tomorrow’s cultural landscape.’
Reflecting on 30 years of bilateral progress, South Korea’s Ambassador to Egypt Kim Yong-hyon, emphasised that South Korea and Egypt have elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership through collaboration in trade, technology, and culture.
‘Egypt, as the cradle of civilisation and a Middle Eastern cultural nexus, and Korea, a global powerhouse of K-Culture, have long thrived on dynamic exchanges,’ he stated.
‘These cultural bonds will undoubtedly deepen our co-operation and solidarity over the next 30 years, turning shared aspirations into reality,’ he added.
