The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kathmandu is organizing “2017 Korea Culture Day,” first biannual cultural program on May 27, 2017, at Army Officers’ Club, Bhadrakali, Kathmandu.

Highlighting the program ambassador of Republic of Korea to Nepal Park Young-sik said Korean music and culture is very popular in Nepal. Ambassador Park Young-sik said large numbers of Nepalese are working in Korea supporting Nepal’s economic development.

Ambassador Young also said Korea and Nepal also linked by the Lumbini, birth place of Shakyamni Buddha.

According to a press release issued by Embassy of Republic of Korea, vivid aspects of Korean culture can be experienced live in the program that starts at 12 noon till 5 o’clock in the afternoon. There will be K-pop competition among Nepalese K-pop teams that have been selected from different parts of the country. Likewise, a quiz contest “Quiz on Korea” will also take place and visitors can enjoy many delicious Korean food items all free of cost. Around three thousand visitors enthusiastically attended the cultural event last year and Mongolian Namja, a Nepali K-pop team, was selected in K-pop competition that had the opportunity to take part in final competition in Chhangwon, Republic of Korea.

The craze of Nepali youths has noticeably increased this year in K-pop competition. The preliminary round was held on Saturday, May 20, 2017 in Kathmandu in which 67 teams with around 300 participants took part for over three hours. This fact substantiates that K-Pop is growing as a popular culture among Nepali youths. Twelve selected teams will perform their talent in the competition to be held at Army Officers’ Club on Saturday.

Sanjay Gupta will be the Master of Ceremony of the K-pop competition to be held in the Auditorium Hall on the cultural event, in which special performance will be given by Mongolian Namja and Strukpop, the K-pop teams that stood first and second respectively during last year’s competition. Further, Mr. Sabin Rai, the most popular young singer of Nepal will make special performance during the event.

Likewise, Korean Food Festival will begin from 2 o’clock at the Annex B. Seven Korean restaurants running in Kathmandu will sever many delicious Korean food items such as, Bulgogi, Kimchi, Dakgalbi, Kheranmari, Tokbokgi, Kimbaap, Haemuljon, Yaksik, Sungwa etc. all free of cost. Likewise, another attraction of the program is mixing of large bibimbaap by VIPs followed by Korean Ambassador’s speech.

Moreover, visitors can take photographs wearing Hanbok, the national dress of Korea, and also enjoy playing traditional game “Thuho” during the event.

The first team to be selected in the K-pop competition will bag eight hundred dollars worth gift hamper from Samsung and the winner of Quiz on Korea will have a chance to take part in final competition in Korea with free round air ticket and accommodation in Korea. Similarly, special prizes will be distributed to some of the excellent performers in the event. The entrance is free to all Nepali people interested in Korean culture.