JEDDAH: The Korean Culture Festival, which was organized by the Consulate General of South Korea, has been held at the Korean International School in Jeddah.

This year’s theme, “Enjoy Korea,” drew around 500 guests to celebrate Korean heritage, culture, and the growing friendship between Saudi Arabia and Korea.

Held annually, the festival is part of the consulate’s efforts to foster cultural exchange and strengthen ties between the two nations.

The event was inaugurated by Consul General Woo Hong-koo, who spoke of the long-standing relationship between South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

He said: “This event provides a valuable opportunity to deepen residents’ interest in Korea. As the world’s 12th largest economy, Korea’s growth has been significantly supported by its long-standing cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

“Through events like this, we hope to inspire more people to explore Korea, a country that warmly welcomes all with its rich culture, dynamic traditions, and the global phenomenon of K-pop.”

One of the festival’s highlights was a pansori concert — a traditional Korean musical storytelling performance — by Chae Soo-jung, the chairman of the World Pansori Association, who traveled from South Korea to participate.

Guests explored various cultural activities, including a kimbap (Korean sushi) cooking class, traditional Korean calligraphy, and a hanbok experience, at which those attending could try on traditional attire.

A new addition this year was the virtual reality corner, offering immersive simulations of modern South Korea.

Han SangJun, principal of the Korean International School, highlighted the festival’s significance, saying: “Beyond showcasing Korean culture and tradition, this festival plays a vital role in building people-to-people connections and fostering mutual respect between our communities.

“It’s especially meaningful to see so many Saudi families and young people actively engage with Korean students, learn through hands-on activities, and create lasting memories. These interactions lay the groundwork for deeper educational and cultural collaboration in the future.”

A highlight was the involvement of Korean school students, who led an interactive segment on traditional games. These included ddakji (a paper-flipping game), gonggi (played with small stones), jegichagi (a Korean version of hacky sack), and biseokchigi (a stone-striking game). The activities encouraged participation from attendees of all ages.

Yeong Na, a representative of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, a government-affiliated organization promoting Korean identity and heritage, attended the festival, and said: “Our goal is to foster a deeper understanding of Korea’s historical journey and national values.

“By participating in events like this we hope to build meaningful cross-cultural dialogue and inspire greater interest in Korea’s past, present, and future.”

Ahmed Fatani, a university student, said: “I have always been a fan of K-pop, but this event showed me a whole new side of Korea. I had seen some of the traditional games but watching them live and trying them myself was amazing.

“The calligraphy and hands-on activities were also really memorable. It made me want to learn more about Korean history and hopefully visit the country one day.”