Diplomatic Diary: Korean cultural troupe enthralls audience on Korean National Day reception

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ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Kwak Sung-kyu on Tuesday said that the roots of warm and friendly relations between Pakistan and Republic of Korea are centuries-old and the peoples of both countries are tied in strong bonds of love and mutual respect.

Addressing the audience on the Korean National Day reception, the ambassador said that Pakistan had a special significance for the people of Korea as monks from the country’s northern areas had visited Korea to spread the message of love and brotherhood centuries ago.

“This is the reason that Pakistan holds a significant place in the hearts and minds of Koreans. Visiting Pakistan’s northern areas, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is like pilgrimage for the Buddhist people of South Korea,” he said.

Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati who was the chief guest on the occasion said that it was a matter of prestige and pleasure for him to attend the gathering on the eve of the Korean country’s National Day.

He said that mutual cooperation between Pakistan and South Korea was expanding and future cooperation in industrialisation, science and technology and information technology (IT) may grow further between the two countries.

Minister for Information Technology Khalid Maqboool Siddiqui, diplomats, journalists, people from academia and other walks of life were also present.

A cultural troupe from South Korea, “The Gwandae”, made a traditional performance after the speeches.

The performance originates from the “Goseong Ogwandae Play”, a mask dance drama of five clowns, which has been widely performed in Goseong, the southern province of the Korean peninsula since the late 19th century.

Introducing the performance, Ambassador Kwak Sung-kyu said it was neither the story of the royal court nor the upper noble class. “It was performed in the marketplace among commoners in the rural area. So, it reflects daily life of the under-class people. Of course, its themes focus on cynical satire against the ruling class and sometimes immoral monks,” he elaborated.

“I know today’s performance also consists of several pieces, including Pangut, Lion dance, Sogo drumming, SangMonori, Beona Nori, etc. I hope an increasing number of cultural exchanges will take place in both Pakistan and Korea in the days to come. It would be instrumental in enhancing the understanding of each other as well as, further bonding Korean and Pakistani people culturally,” he concluded.