Strengthening Korea–Philippines friendship through performances and flavors
Manila, Philippines — The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) kicked off November with two successful cultural events celebrating the shared creativity, friendship, and culinary appreciation between Korea and the Philippines — the 34th Korea–Philippines Cultural Exchange Festival and the 맛있게 드세요(Enjoy your meal): Hansik Workshop.
34th Korea–Philippines Cultural Exchange Festival
The 34th Korea–Philippines Cultural Exchange Festival was held with great success on November 4, 2024, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. Hosted by the United Korean Community Association (UKCA) in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, the Overseas Korean Agency, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC), and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the festival stood as a testament to the long-standing friendship and dynamic cultural exchange between the two nations.
Held at the historic Metropolitan Theater—a symbol of Philippine cultural heritage—the festival drew around 1,000 attendees, comprising Koreans, Filipinos, and enthusiasts of both cultures.
‘Young Villains’ hailed as grand winner at the cultural competition.  |
This year’s event showcased a lively mix of singing, dancing, and speech competitions, with Young Villains, the youngest dance group from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, emerging as the grand winner. Adding to the festivities were special performances by Korean artists Gil Byeongmin (Bass-Baritone), Kim Hyunsoo (Tenor), and Lee Byeori (Tenor) from the hit show ‘Phantom Singer’, who delighted the audience with classical and contemporary pieces.
| ‘Iskollas’ performs hit classics both from the Philippines and Korea. | ‘Phantom Singer’ stars serenades the crowd with their classic and contemporary pieces. |
Representing the Philippines, Iskollas—graduates from the University of the Philippines College of Music and winners of the 2020 festival—performed a medley of beloved Filipino classics by VST & Company and Into the New World by Girls’ Generation, further embodying the spirit of cultural harmony and artistic exchange.
맛있게 드세요: Hansik Workshop
| Workshop participants pose for a group photo after the 3-part Hansik Workshop inspired from the hit Netflix Korean drama, ‘Bon Appétit, Your Majesty’ | ||
Shortly after, the KCC hosted the 맛있게 드세요 (Enjoy your meal): Hansik Workshop, an interactive program dedicated to promoting Korean cuisine, or Hansik, to a wider Filipino audience. The workshop took inspiration from the popular K-drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty and explored the fusion of traditional Korean ingredients such as Doenjang (soybean paste), dried pollack, perilla oil, spinach, and buckwheat noodles into modern recipes.
(left) Spinach Pesto Doenjang Pasta and (right) Dried Pollack Consommé  |
Led by Chef Lily Min, the event included both an exhibition and a hands-on cooking session, emphasizing the cultural significance of Korea’s “Jang (fermented sauce) culture”, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
The workshop fostered cross-sector collaboration and deepened appreciation for Hansik as a cultural bridge connecting tradition, creativity, and community.
Through these November events, KCC reaffirmed its commitment to enriching the cultural connection between Korea and the Philippines—whether through the shared rhythm of music and dance or the shared joy of a good meal.
