Crest of Korean Wave
Launched in 1971, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) started as a communication bridge to promote Korean national brands overseas. KOCIS is dedicated to providing global citizens with accurate and up-to-date information about Korea. Its master plan is to boost the global image of Korea and assist in events and exhibitions that raise the awareness of Korean culture both domestically and internationally.
To produce foreign language publications about Korea, it operates the government's official multilingual website, Korea.net. A gateway of information about Korea, Korea.net aims to provide lively news of Korean sights and spots, and offers convenient and user-friendly access to a wide variety of information about the country.
It was recently reported that more than 100 million visitors have viewed Korea.net's web pages. Through the web site, Korea spreads its soft power, improving the nation’s image, not only for short term goals but also for sustainable national growth and development. For this same reason Korea.net also continues to create international Hallyu content.
The Korean Culture and Information Service currently operates in 27 cultural centers in 23 countries around the world. In the Asia Pacific region there are ten Korean Cultural Centers to satisfy demand from consumers of the Korean Wave. They cover Japan, China, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Moreover, there are eight centers in Europe, including the U.K., France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Poland, Belgium, and Hungary. The Americas have centers in four countries: the U.S., Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil. Africa is not an exception – there are centers both in Nigeria and Egypt. In addition to these, Korea.net also cooperates closely with the 41 cultural attachés active at Korean embassies and consulates around the world as they conduct their mission as envoys of Korean culture.
This month, Korea and the U.A.E. upgraded their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership by signing an MOU. According to the agreement, the Korean government will establish a cultural center in Abu Dhabi next year. At the same time, the U.A.E. proposed opening a cultural center in Korea. Those activities are expected to strengthen the bilateral cultural relationship, promoting economic and political exchanges between the two nations.
The purpose of the Korean cultural center is to combine Korean arts and entertainment content and its advanced IT to allow international visitors to watch and hear the essence of Korea. The experience will afford a fitting background to create healthy companionship between Seoul and Abu Dhabi, building a strong consensus. Inside the planned cultural center, there will be a special exhibit that will let all visitors interact in real time with people in Seoul, which is a part of the cultural creativity conversion program of the center.