JEDDAH: You can stumble upon a K-pop video somewhere on the Internet because it’s taken the world by storm, and for good reason: K-pop is fun!
The hype is no longer a trend and many are looking toward learning the Korean language in larger numbers than ever before.
The phenomenon has reached the shores of the region, and teens and tweens are flocking to the Internet to learn more, not only about K-pop, but Korean culture as well. This series will cover mini-stories of young ladies who have not only expressed their interest in Korean pop culture, but have taken the extra step to learn the language, perfect it and dream big.
Twenty-one-year-old Samira, a fresh graduate from a Saudi private University has had a love for Korean pop culture since her years in middle school. She explains how in 2010, she accidentally found a TV show online as she was searching the Internet; she stumbled across a Korean drama called “Playful Kiss.” She fell in love with the show from the very first episode and spread the news among her friends, who also recommended other TV shows. She got hooked and called upon her sister to join her and share the love. The friends told other friends and a circle of appreciation grew larger; they had all been watching as well but never told one another.
It started off with dubbed TV shows such as “Jewel of the Palace” or “Dae Jang Geum,” of which she proudly says watched 8 times, and then she grew to love music and more. Of the most famous K-pop singing groups, BTS is her favorite. “They’re international, they have many English lyrics in their songs and that’s very relatable to the international audience. The band is more real than anything. Their music talks about real life issues such as struggles in school which I can relate to immediately,” said Samira.
Samira has since made an effort to learn more. “The first Korean word I learned was ‘dream’ or ‘kkum’ in Korean. I go to learn Korean every week at the Korean International School in Jeddah and I have a dream to go there one day and experience life in Korea. Their values are more prominent than anything else; the level of respect they have for one another and their culture are what drove me to love everything about Korea,” she explained.
Eighteen-year-old Shaima, a freshman at a Saudi private University, was drawn into the world of Korean culture by her elder sister, Samira. The first Korean television show she saw was “Super Junior,” and she hasn’t looked back since.
Unlike Turkish television dramas with the 100+ episodes per season, Korean dramas have significantly fewer. According to Shaima, they are easier to watch and you don’t get bored. She checks specific websites on a daily basis to catch up on what’s new on the Korean drama scene. “After checking for the show I’m interested in at the moment, I can either watch them in their original form or subtitled, depending on the drama, of course,” said Shaima. Of course!
“The dramas are different from what others watch; there’s a different sense to them and you feel like they’re not mastered to be fake. No offense to other international dramas, but Koreans do drama as if they were telling their own life stories— raw and authentic,” exclaimed Shaima.
Just like her sister, Shaima also attends weekly language lessons at the Korean International School in Jeddah, and with the Internet nowadays connecting people far and wide, her lessons served her well. “I have many friends from all over the world and I speak to them in Korean. On our last trip to Paris, I was able to meet up with some of my online friends there and I can’t explain how polite they are. It’s one of the aspects of their society that drew me to them.”
Her love for Korean pop artists has no limits. It was by sheer coincidence that on one of her visits to Paris, a popular K-pop band was performing in the city. With the help of friends back in the Kingdom, the sisters were able to obtain tickets and attend the concert, calling it one of their wildest dreams come true. “It was raining heavily but we didn’t care; we shared a wonderful experience with concert goers from all over the world. Everyone loves Korean bands and that concert did not disappoint one bit!”
Having been exposed to K-pop and Korean dramas from the age of 13, Shaima has fallen in love with everything that is Korean. Her dream and ambition is not only to go and visit, she also strives to live there in the near future.
Big dreams from such a young woman; dream big, kid, you’ll get there one day.
Saudi girls catch ‘K’ fever
Saudi girls catch ‘K’ fever
Deal to enhance heritage conservation in AlUla, China
- Agreement unites expertise in cultural preservation and tourism growth
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla and Dunhuang Academy have signed a strategic partnership to enhance cultural, tourism and heritage collaborations between Saudi Arabia and China.
This partnership marks a key milestone in Saudi Arabia-China relations, combining the academy’s 80 years of expertise in heritage research and cultural conservation with the commission’s dedication to preserving AlUla’s cultural heritage.
The academy manages the Magao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 735 Buddhist caves in Gansu province, famous for their murals and sculptures that reflect Silk Road cultural influences.
The agreement unites the organizations as guardians of unique heritage, history and traditions, according to a recent press release.
The academy’s successful preservation of the Magao Grottoes has earned praise from UNESCO, the World Bank, and the Chinese government.
Both entities will collaborate on a conservation program for historic sites and artifacts in AlUla and western China. They will also organize academic exhibitions and exchange programs for staff and scholars.
Silvia Barbone, vice president of strategic partnerships at the commission, said that China and Saudi Arabia share a rich legacy that has connected people and places across vast distances and centuries.
“Today, our work in global heritage is strengthened by successful collaborations with leading institutions and destinations.”
Barbone added that the academy joins the commission in “our goal to establish northwest Arabia as a hub for research, exploration, and discovery in culture, heritage, tourism, and more, as we drive the regeneration of AlUla.”
The partnership follows the Saudi Travel Expo, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority, where AlUla was prominently featured. The event, held in Beijing’s Tian Tan Garden in October 2024, highlighted AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage.
Su Bomin, director of Dunhuang Academy, said this collaboration was a significant step in “bridging our cultural histories and advancing heritage conservation efforts.
“By sharing our expertise and resources, we aim to foster cultural exchange, deepen mutual understanding, and create innovative programs that will benefit communities in both China and Saudi Arabia.”
In January 2024, the “AlUla, Wonder of Arabia” exhibition, featuring artifacts from the commission’s archaeological collection on public display for the first time, was hosted at Beijing’s Forbidden City UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attracting over 220,000 visitors, the exhibition followed the signing of a partnership agreement between the commission and the Cultural Heritage Administration of China’s Henan province.
Saudi FM discusses Middle East issues with Spanish, British counterparts, UNRWA chief
- Prince Faisal meets Philippe Lazzarini in Riyadh
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received separate phone calls from Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday.
He discussed recent developments in the Middle East with his Spanish and British counterparts, and efforts to address them.
The Saudi foreign minister also met the chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Philippe Lazzarini, in Riyadh. They discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to cooperate with UNRWA on projects benefiting the Palestinian people.
Saudi leadership offers condolences to Chinese president for earthquake victims
- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured
RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their condolences in separate messages to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the victims of the earthquake that hit Dingri County in the Xizang Region of southwest China.
The Saudi leadership extended heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathy to the Chinese president and the families of those who died in the natural disaster, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
On Tuesday, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured.
Citrus festival shows agricultural diversity, economic potential in Najran
- The festival is a vibrant platform for displaying Najran’s agricultural potential
RIYADH: The 14th Najran National Citrus Festival highlights the region’s agricultural investment and marketing diversity, which offers economic returns for farmers and investors alike, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The festival at King Abdulaziz Park walkway in Najran is organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the region.
Participants including farmers, agricultural experts and investors showed innovative solutions and highlighted the region’s robust citrus production.
Hamad Al-Dakman, the director of the agricultural prevention and guidance department at the National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development, Estidamah, in an interview with SPA emphasized the center’s role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
By selecting optimal plant seeds and trees, the center aims to enhance citrus production efficiency while advancing water and energy conservation technologies, Al-Dakman said.
He noted the importance of knowledge transfer and partnerships in supporting the agricultural sector, aligning with the Kingdom’s food-security goals.
Similarly, Najran Association Green’s chairman, Raf’an Al-Amer underscored the association’s efforts to expand vegetation cover, having planted more than 60,000 trees in the past four years.
Plans are underway to plant an additional 500,000 trees by 2027 in collaboration with government and private entities, contributing to the Kingdom’s Green Vision, Al-Amer said.
Farmers and investors were enthusiastic about the festival.
Farmer Ibrahim Saleh Al-Sinan praised the event for addressing farmers’ needs, marketing their products, and allowing visitors to sample and purchase citrus fruits directly.
Agricultural investor Abdullah Fahd Al-Waili highlighted the region’s favorable conditions for citrus farming, including fertile soil, a suitable climate and water availability.
Al-Waili, whose farm in Khbash covers 4 million sq. meters with more than 50,000 citrus trees, noted the economic viability of agricultural investment in the region.
The festival is a vibrant platform for displaying Najran’s agricultural potential, supporting farmers, and driving sustainable agricultural development.
Saudi fund commits $80m for cancer care expansion in Turkmenistan
- The agreement reflects the Saudi fund’s commitment to supporting developing countries overcome obstacles to progress
RIYADH: CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan Al-Marshad signed an $80 million development loan agreement with Rahimberdi Jepbarov, chairman of the Turkmenistan State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs.
The financing supports a project to improve tumor treatment services and establish cancer treatment centers in Turkmenistan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Ambassador to Turkmenistan Said Osman Suwaid attended the event.
The project will enhance healthcare by building and equipping three specialized cancer treatment centers with up to 500 medical beds in different regions.
The centers will feature advanced medical equipment to improve healthcare quality, SPA added.
The agreement reflects the Saudi fund’s commitment to supporting developing countries overcome obstacles to progress.
It underscores the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainable development and ensuring lasting prosperity, SPA reported.
During his visit to Turkmenistan, Al-Marshad also met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to discuss strengthening development cooperation in various sectors.
Meanwhile, the Saudi fund’s Deputy CEO Faisal Al-Qahtani participated in the inauguration of the Busaiteen Bridge, part of the Bahrain Northern Road Project.
The $250 million project, funded through a grant from the Saudi government, aims to ease traffic congestion and boost investment and economic opportunities in Bahrain.
Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa attended the event.
The project is a vital part of Bahrain’s transportation infrastructure, with the Saudi fund collaborating closely with the Ministry of Works for its successful completion.
The Saudi fund’s partnership with Bahrain spans 48 years, during which it has financed 30 projects in sectors like energy, transportation, and social infrastructure. These initiatives have contributed to Bahrain’s sustainable development and economic growth.
