SEOUL: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair, which is being held from June 26-30, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Held at the Convention and Exhibition Complex south of the Korean capital, SIBF’s 66th edition is a celebration Saudi culture, with the Kingdom’s pavilion reflecting various aspects of its cultural heritage.
The pavilion will highlight features of Saudi culture through an integrated experience led by the Ministry of Culture’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, in collaboration with the Heritage Authority, the Fashion Authority, the Film Commission, the Culinary Arts Commission, King Abdulaziz House, the King Salman International Academy for the Arabic Language, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, the King Fahd National Library, the Publishing Society, and the Ministry of Investment.
Throughout the exhibition, LPT will present a diverse cultural program at the pavilion and the exhibition’s main theater, in collaboration with an elite group of writers and authors. The program includes dialogue sessions and seminars on various topics, most notably the Kingdom’s history and antiquities, Saudi women writers, and the contribution of the language in transmitting cultural values, traditions and customs, societal and identity formation, the common features between Korean and Arabic languages and cultures, and the historical and contemporary interactions between the two cultures, including trade, travel and cultural exchanges and their effect on the language.
The program includes seminars on poetry and what it represents to Arabs, the Saudi novel, and the Kingdom’s role in teaching Arabic to non-natives in Korea. One of the seminars will also discuss ways to activate cooperation between Korean and Arab singing.
The Saudi pavilion will also host the inauguration of the “Book of Poems in Korean Language,” which was the result of fruitful cooperation between the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture and the LPT.
The King Salman International Academy for Arabic Language will launch a project for Arabic language in Korea.
There will be live performance of traditional Saudi arts such as the Ardha (a type of group folk dance), and a special display of books and artifacts discovered on Saudi land to enrich the experience of Korean visitors to the pavilion.
A Saudi dinner night presenting national dishes from various regions will also be organized.
Through participating in SIBF, Saudi Arabia aims to consolidate the bonds of partnership and cooperation with Korea, enhance dialogue between cultures and civilizations, and enrich areas of joint cooperation in literature, culture and arts.
Launched in 1954, SIBF is one of the most famous book fairs in Asia and the world. In 1995, the Korean Publishing Culture Association developed the event into an international fair. This year, there are about 90 publishing institutions and companies from 19 countries participating, alongside 350 Korean publishing houses.
Saudi pavilion inaugurated at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair’s
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Saudi pavilion inaugurated at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair’s
- The Kingdom is the guest of honor at the fair
- The 66th edition of the event is a celebration of Saudi culture
KSrelief completes Syria health initiative, continues in Sudan
- Eight volunteer surgeons on the medical team in Port Sudan have already performed eight specialized operations
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian aid agency KSrelief has completed its neurology and urology program in Syria, while continuing a similar initiative in Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
Eight volunteer surgeons on the medical team in Port Sudan have already performed eight specialized operations.
In Damascus, Syria, the Amal volunteer program has concluded.
Twenty-six volunteers in Damascus examined 285 patients and performed 153 neurology and 162 urology operations.
First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia
- Qualified staff fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology will help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims
Madinah: The first flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Wednesday. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is set to take place this year between June 4 and 9.
Authorities are providing qualified staff who are fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology to help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported, and are ready to assist people arriving by land and sea as well as air.
An estimated 1.8 million pilgrims participated in Hajj last year.
Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution
- The session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production
RIYADH: The eighth session of the Digital Communication Conference, titled “Anime in the Digital Space,” explored the transformation of Japanese anime over the past two decades, highlighting the impact of digital innovation and the internet.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production.
Streaming giants such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Funimation were highlighted as pivotal players in the transition, offering translated or dubbed episodes immediately upon release and funding original series such as “Devilman Crybaby” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”
Speakers in the session, including Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary, said that social media and online forums have opened the door to unprecedented engagement among fans, as well as community and cultural interaction, since audiences now take part in evaluating episodes.
Concerns were raised that heavy dependence on technology could erode the handcrafted aesthetic that defines traditional anime.
Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning interest in manga and anime, which dates back to the 1970s, is helping to usher in a revolution in cultural production.
Japanese art forms have captivated audiences of all ages, gaining significant popularity in recent years. Their ability to combine entertainment, culture and education has made them of great interest to Saudi society.
To support this interest, the General Entertainment Authority has hosted events like the Saudi Anime Expo, drawing international visitors.
In line with these efforts, the ministries of culture and education launched the Manga Education program to nurture student talent, as well as integrate arts and culture into public education.
Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah
- Delegation visits International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography
- Visitors reaffirm support for Palestinian cause, call for end to genocide in Gaza
LONDON: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League, Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, met British Islamic leaders in Madinah on Wednesday to discuss issues facing the UK’s Muslim community.
The visitors praised the MWL’s important role in the Islamic world and among Muslim minorities in Europe and the UK, highlighting its work to preserve cultural and religious identities.
They also noted that King Charles welcomed Al-Issa as the first Arab and Muslim figure from outside the UK to visit Buckingham Palace after his coronation.
The delegation visited the MWL-affiliated International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, which tells the story of the Prophet Muhammad’s life.
During the talks they reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and called for an “immediate end to the genocide being perpetrated against the people of Gaza by the brutal war machine of the Israeli occupation government.”
Gaza should be a symbol of unity, not division, among Muslim communities, they said, according to an MWL statement.
The delegation commended the 2019 Charter of Makkah, saying it helped foster interaction with non-Muslim audiences and promoted moderation in addressing contemporary issues.
Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Russian Ambassador Sergey Kozlov in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The pair discussed relations between their countries and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
Also on Wednesday, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki met Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya in Islamabad, the diplomat wrote on X.
They discussed the importance of digital transformation and other topics of interest.
