Korean Culture Caravan Brings Vibrant Traditions to Port Said

CAIRO – 9 May 2025: The Korean Cultural Center in Egypt organized on Wednesday its second Korean Culture Caravan at the Port Said’s Misr Public Library. The event drew enthusiastic crowds eager to experience the richness of Korean culture.

This traveling cultural initiative aims to bring Korean traditions to underserved regions across Egypt, offering a vibrant mix of hands-on workshops, interactive exhibits, and live performances. By fostering cross-cultural exchange, the caravan also hopes to inspire a deeper interest in the Korean language and culture.

The Port Said edition featured an engaging lineup of activities, including:

•           Introductory Korean language classes to spark curiosity about the language and culture.

•           Traditional craft workshops, where attendees created symbolic Korean carnations in honor of Parents’ Day (celebrated on May 8), practiced Korean calligraphy, while others painted intricate Haboe masks.

•           Interactive cultural booths showcasing traditional Korean games such as Tuho (arrow tossing).

•           Virtual reality experiences and Korean film screenings that highlighted Korea’s modern innovations and cinematic excellence.

•           Exhibitions of traditional Korean musical instruments and Hanji (traditional handmade paper), as well as Korean food showcases.

•           Hanbok dress-up experiences, offering participants a chance to wear Korea’s iconic traditional attire, while enjoying a live performance of Gugak (traditional Korean music).  

Parents’ Day held special significance at the event. Organizers explained the holiday’s deep cultural roots and its focus on honoring parents through gestures of love—especially by gifting carnations. Each colour of carnation flower has its own significance. Red carnation means parents, both parents are alive. Pink carnation means one parent is alive. White carnation means both parents have passed away.

 In South Korea, May is known as “Family Month,” marked by Children’s Day (May 5), Parents’ Day (May 8), and Teacher’s Day (May 15)—a celebration of family and respect across generations.

This year, South Korea and Egypt commemorated the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. ‘Port Said, with its legacy as a global crossroads, was the perfect setting to host the Caravan,’ said Oh Sung-ho, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in Egypt. 

‘We hope it contributes to strengthening cultural exchange and mutual understanding between our two countries,’ he added.

‘As we celebrate this milestone, we’re committed to expanding programs that build bridges between our nations—through language education, arts collaborations, and more,’ he said

Looking ahead, The Korean Cultural Center plans to expand the Culture Caravan to additional cities across Egypt, responding to the growing demand for Korean language learning and cultural engagement. More anniversary-themed events are also scheduled throughout the year.

Press release from the South korean Embassy in Cairo