The Korean National Ballet, alongside fellow world-class dancers from American Ballet Theater and The Washington Ballet, headlined a major performance event at The Kennedy Center hosted by the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. on July 10, 2024. The spectacular show case of ballet elegance and Korea-US cultural exchange featured original performances and rare collaborations that thrilled a packed house of more than 1,100 special guests and members of the public in Washington, D.C.  This special event presented a curated selection of timeless classics and captivating contemporary works from the global ballet repertoire and feature esteemed principal dancers Hee Seo and Cory Stearns of the American Ballet Theatre and Eun Won Lee and Ariel Martinez of The Washington Ballet as special guests, symbolizing the enduring cultural bonds between two nations.  Each ensemble presented original and classical dance compositions, reflecting their distinctive styles and creative inspirations through a narrative of movement and personal reflection. The Korean National Ballet showcased the essence of classical ballet with performances of iconic works such as “Swan Lake” and “Le Corsaire,” alongside original ballet productions that draw inspiration from Korean culture. Eun Won Lee unveiled a compelling ballet piece entitled “Finding Light,” choreographed by the renowned Edwaard Liang, artistic director of The Washington Ballet. Meanwhile, Hee Seo captivated audiences with a performance of the Pas de Deux from “The Seasons: Summer,” choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky. This unique gala performance offered a rare glimpse into the trends and techniques of Korean and American ballet, fostering a platform for cultural and artistic exchange between the two nations through the medium of dance. See the original event announcement for more background information. 

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. on Friday, June 7 from 6:30 p.m. hosted an evening showing of the exhibition "Merging Realms: Art Across Boundaries" to celebrate its opening. Over 50 visitors enjoyed the event to enjoy special extended hours of the exhibition, a live art and dance performance and a reception. The event coincided with Art Walk Dupont's local community art event First Friday, and featured a live performance by fellow Korean artists Junghee Oh and Songhee Lee-Chung in collaboration with featured artists Dabal Kim. The performance was held in front of Kim's new work Twelve Doors. After the performance, visitors had the chance to engage in conversation with the artists and performers.  "Merging Realms: Art Across Boundaries" is an exhibition of sculpture, installation, fashion and video works by artists Donghun Sung and Dabal Kim on view from June 7 to August 9. Artists Donghun Sung and Dabal Kim have collaborated for decades. Their visually compelling works aim to blur the lines between different cultures, media, spaces, and times. By crossing the social and cultural boundaries between tradition and modernity, myth and history, and feminine and masculine, their collective artistic journey reflects their objective of creating a novel visual world—one that blends values and questions modern dichotomies of knowledge. The exhibition will remain on view at the KCCDC June 7 through August 9, 2024 during regular visitor hours (M-F, 10 AM-noon & 1-5 PM) 2024 with an opening reception during extended evening hours on Friday, June 7 (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.).

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (Embassy of the Republic of Korea) wrapped up the Embassy Adoption Program 2024 with one of its partnering schools Houston Elementary on May 10th. Fifth-grade students gave presentations about Korean culture and what they learned during the semester-long program. Afterward, the students learned how to make japchae (stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables) with Patrice Cunningham, CEO of Taegu Kimchi.  The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. is a longtime participant in the Embassy Adoption Program, which pairs local embassies with elementary and middle school classrooms for a series of cultural workshops and lessons throughout the school year. Presented in partnership with District of Columbia Public Schools and Washington Performing Arts, EAP itself has a long history of providing DC public school children with valuable cultural experiences and knowledge as they learn about the countries of the world first hand. For more information about the Embassy Adoption Program, visit the DCPS EAP website. 

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. showcased the Korean "newtro" (new retro) folk group 'bob' to the Capital region audience on Sunday, May 5 at Capital One Hall's The Vault in Tysons, Virginia. 160 people attended the show which kicked off the 2024 season of the KCCDC's ongoing performing art series OnStage Korea.  OnStage Korea seeks to discover brilliant Korean and Korean-inspired artists and groups performing around the world, giving them an opportunity to showcase their creativity on stage for the American public in the Capital region.  The performance, particularly focused on audience participation, featured a repertoire of 11 mesmerizing songs including original compositions, Korean pop music with a retro twist, and reinterpretations of traditional Korean folk music, minyo. The five members of the group included Suwan Lee (vocals), Yesul Lee (keyboards), Seoyon Hong (Haegum), Minsoo Jung (bass), and   Boreum Kim (drums). They performed "Kkaekkijeogori," "Arirang, Your Song," "Gyeongbokgung Palace," "Summer Time," "Today's youth, Nililiya," "Drink Magic," "Dreaming with a Love Song," "Real to Reel," "Twinkle," "Kwaejina Ching Ching Nane," and "Pyeongchang Arirang." Known for their cross-generational appeal and original compositions that fuse traditional melodies with contemporary style, bob has become one of Korea’s beloved folk ensembles, appearing on national Korean broadcasts. The group’s clever moniker is derived from a playful and literal twist on the word “pop” that reflects their vibrant and infectious sound. With a skillful blend of intricate instrumentation and authentic folk elements, bob creates a dynamic musical experience steeped in Korea’s rich history of retro pop genres. Their repertoire includes lively adaptations of the iconic Arirang and other folk songs (known in Korean as minyo) transformed into upbeat, modern arrangements. Founded in 2016, bob earned the silver prize in the Gugak Broadcasting Company’s 21C Korean Music Project in 2020.

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. showcased a day packed with Korean cultural events on Saturday, May 4th as part of the annual city-wide Passport DC: Around the World Embassy Tour event organized by Events DC.  Despite rain and gloomy weather, the center welcomed over 2,600 guests who enjoyed various activities such as Korean traditional performances, a K-pop singing and dance competition, a cultural display booth and a Hanbok photo booth.  Passport DC is a celebration where embassies open to the public and celebrates the diplomatic community and international culture in Washington, D.C. The day began with traditional Korean performances including Samulnori (traditional percussion performance), Giwonmu (traditional Korean ritual for rain dance), Buchaechum (traditional fan dance), and more. There was also a special performance by the visiting Korean folk group 'bob', featuring a range of traditional Korean folk songs and pop songs. Visitors could also enjoy a Hanbok dress-up activity, a photo booth and the KCCDC's ongoing exhibtion "Imagining Post-Anthropocene" open specially for weekend viewing.  In the afternoon, a K-pop dance and singing contest commenced with 28 soloists and teams participating. Manasi Moni-Trichur won the vocal category singing K-pop singer Sunmi's "Noir" and Howard University's K-pop dance team 1OAK (One of a Kind) won the dance category with their own K-pop mix.