Ghana has taken its cultural diplomacy campaign beyond Seoul to Youngwol County in Gangwon Province, South Korea, with a colourful celebration showcasing the country’s music, dance, fashion, art and cuisine.
The event, dubbed Ghana Day, was organised jointly by the Youngwol Africa Museum and the Embassy of Ghana in Seoul as part of efforts to deepen cultural ties between Ghana and South Korea.
Ghana’s Ambassador to South Korea, Kojo Choi, said the event provided an opportunity for Koreans to experience Ghanaian culture directly and strengthen people-to-people relations between the two countries.
“Ghana Day” featured traditional Ghanaian music and dance performances, fashion displays and Ghanaian cuisine, attracting a number of Korean guests and other dignitaries.
According to Ambassador Choi, the cultural celebration demonstrated how music, food, fashion and the arts could serve as effective tools of diplomacy and help create lasting connections between communities.
He expressed appreciation to Director Cho Myung-haeng, a former Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, for establishing the Africa Museum in Youngwol and his continued efforts to promote stronger links between Korea and Africa.
The Ambassador said the museum had created an important platform for Koreans outside the capital, Seoul, to learn about and engage with African cultures.
The event was attended by several distinguished Korean personalities, including the Governor of Gangwon Province, National Assembly Member Baek Sun-hee, Jeon Soo-mi, spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Young-chae, Chairman of the Korea-Africa Foundation.
Ambassador Choi also acknowledged the contribution of Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, towards strengthening cultural relations between Ghana and South Korea.
He cited Ghana’s participation in cultural activities, including an exhibition in Yeosu, as part of broader efforts to introduce Ghanaian culture to new audiences across South Korea.
The Ambassador said Ghana’s cultural diplomacy in Korea was increasingly being expressed through cultural experiences rather than formal diplomatic engagements alone.
He noted that taking Ghanaian culture to communities, universities, festivals and cultural spaces outside Seoul would remain an important part of the Embassy’s activities.
The initiatives come as Ghana and South Korea prepare to mark significant milestones in their bilateral relations in 2027, when the two countries will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Ghana will also celebrate its 70th Independence Anniversary that year.
Ambassador Choi said the Embassy would continue using cultural exchanges to strengthen the friendship between the two countries as the 2027 celebrations approach.
He described the Ghana Day event in Youngwol as another step in expanding the Ghana-Korea cultural bridge, following earlier cultural engagements in cities such as Yeosu.
The Ambassador said such engagements could help create greater awareness and appreciation of Ghana among Koreans while opening opportunities for deeper cooperation in tourism, culture and the creative arts.
The Ghana Day celebration forms part of Ghana’s broader efforts to use cultural diplomacy to strengthen international relations and promote the country’s cultural identity and creative industries abroad.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
