First Korea-Thailand Soft Power Festival Held in Bangkok

A festival celebrating Korea-Thailand Soft Power Exchange is set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Korean Cultural Center in Thailand (KCC) and the Korea Thailand Communication Center (KTCC) will host the "Thailand-Korea Soft Power Festival 2024" on November 9 at Suralai Hall, located on the 7th floor of ICONSIAM in Bangkok.

The event is supported by cultural authorities and organizations from both nations, including Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Ministry of Culture of Thailand, Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), and Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA), with a goal to showcase a broad spectrum of both traditional and popular culture from Korea and Thailand.

The festival will unfold in three parts, starting on the first day with an exchange performance themed "Tradition" followed by "For the Youth" and ending with a visit to a children's facility in Nonthaburi, named "Together with Society," which will feature performances and charitable contributions.

A professional troupe of over 100 Korean dancers will fly in to showcase cultural spectacles, including a royal hanbok fashion show, a Korea-Thailand national flag performance, and traditional Korean dances like Tae-Pyeong-Mu, Jin-Sae dance, and Gil-No-Ri. Ministry of Culture of Thailand will present an array of Thai traditional performances, along with Muay Thai and Taekwondo performance.

The "For the Youth" segment will spotlight a mix of K-POP and T-POP. KOCCA's "On the K" online concert, which gained international popularity during the pandemic, will feature artists like SHINee's Taemin, Secret Number, ONF, and The Boyz, meeting fans in Thailand.

Representing T-POP, New Country from GMM Grammy will also perform, and the champions and runners-up from the 2024 Thailand K-POP Cover Dance will give a special showcase.

A highlight of the "For the Youth" segment is the "Show Your Soft Power" competition, where 10 finalists selected from 100 auditioning teams will compete in dance, vocal, magic, and Muay Thai acts to showcase the dreams and passion of Thai youth.

On November 10, the KCC, KTCC, Korea Copyright Protection Agency, and Korean performance teams will visit Rachawadee Home in Nonthaburi to perform for children and donate Korean products and essentials.

Thailand's recent establishment of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee emphasizes the nation's commitment to soft power in economic development and international cooperation.

The Thailand-Korea Soft Power Festival 2024, expanding on last year's K-Soft Power Festival, aims to be a symbol of this growing partnership.

Major contributors include KOCCA, THACCA, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Seoul Metropolitan Government, Korea Copyright Protection Agency (KCOPA), Korea Agro-Fisheries & Trade Corporation (aT), the Thailand-Korea Friendship Association, Seoul Traditional Culture and Arts Promotion Agency, LG, JINRO, Coway, Jungart & Company, ICONSIAM, KWellness, GMM Grammy, MCOT, Mellow POP, and KTCC Media.

H.E. Mr. Park Yongmin, Korean Ambassador to Thailand commented, "Korea and Thailand, who have long maintained a close brotherly relationship, are both have a rich blend of tradition and contemporary culture. This festival will serve as a means to further strengthen our friendship and to lay the foundation for mutual growth through soft power cooperation."