Korean-Arab cultural event hailed as a needed first step

Egyptian novelist Salwa Bakr, left, attends the Korea-Arab Literary Forum held on Nov. 18 at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. By Jeong Chi-ho

The Arabian Peninsula remains a faraway and exotic place harboring many mysteries in the minds of some Koreans who read “Arabian Nights” in their childhood.

However, Korea and Arab countries have been long engaged in political and economic exchanges. Today, it is not difficult to spot a Hyundai sedan in the streets of Cairo.

Now both sides have stepped up to promote cultural interchange through the most traditional medium - literature.

The first Korea-Arab Literary Forum was held at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies last Tuesday. Salwa Bakr, one of leading novelists representing women’s literature in Egypt, and Khireyah Al-Sagaf, a female pioneer in the literary world of Saudi Arabia, were invited to the event.

A day earlier, an event celebrating the publication of the first-ever Korean version of a book written by an Arab writer - “The Golden Chariot” by Salwa Bakr - was held at the Prima Hotel in Seoul.

The events were the first carried out by the Korea-Arab Society, which was established in last July. The KAS was formed by the governments, companies and communities of Korea and 22 Arab League states.

“I’m so glad to be here for the first Korea-Arab Literary Forum, which I consider successful and promising,” said Egyptian Ambassador to Korea Mohamed Reda Kamel El-Taify. “The publication of the Korean version of the novel written by Salwa Bakr, our leading female writer, can be called the ‘first baby of KAS.’ KAS and its activities for the coming years will play a key role in promoting cultural exchanges between Korea and Arab countries - which have been rather neglected so far compared to our active trade relations that now reach $85 billion in volume.”

Saudi Arabian Ambassador Abolullah Al-Aifan echoed the sentiment, saying, “Culture has been forgotten for quite a long time in the course of exchanges between Arabs and Koreans. We have concentrated mostly on the political and economic sectors. Now is the time for cultural cooperation. In that sense, the establishment of KAS is a good asset for us in promoting cultural activities [between the Arab world and Korea].”

In light of such efforts, news at the end of October that the Korean Center for Arab and Islamic Culture in the city of Incheon will be closing its doors at the end of the year - just one year after it opened - came to Arab missions in Korea like a bolt out of the blue. The Islamic Cultural Center is the only establishment of its kind in East Asia.

“It is a real setback. It’s hard to understand that the center is closed just after one year [it opened] with no specific reasons,” said the Saudi Arabian ambassador.

“It was Korea that initiated the plan to establish the Incheon center. There was enthusiasm for opening the institution and now enthusiasm for its closing. The situation is really disappointing and all the ambassadors from Arab countries are currently discussing how to settle the matter while talking the issue over with the Incheon government,” the Egyptian ambassador said.

The official reason cited by the Incheon city government for closing the facility was to convert it into a global center that would serve diverse religions and cultures and support a range of foreigners living in Incheon.

However, if the government intends to promote cultural diversity, some think it may be better to maintain the center because there are few chances that people in Korea can meet with cultures other than those of the West.

Yang Hye-jeong, 49, a freelance writer who attended the event, was one of those who voiced such a concern.

“In Korea, there are a slew of Hollywood movies compared to a handful of films from the so-called Third World, including Arab, African and Asian countries. It is true that Korea still largely depends on Anglo-American cultures in terms of absorption of foreign civilization,” Yang said.

“Under these circumstances, it is very encouraging that the first Korea-Arab Literary Forum is held. I hope it will continue to grow to become the venue for diverse cultural exchanges engaging Korea, Arab countries and also other regions around the world.”

By Park Sun-young Staff Reporter [spark0320@joongang.co.kr]