2025 Korea Season Part 2: A vibrant celebration of diverse Korean culture blossoming in Spain

Over in Europe

As the Korea Season, aimed at promoting Korean culture, is taking place in Spain, the country will host a vibrant lineup of K-content events throughout the year.

Our Choi Soo-hyung reports from Spain on the current and future state of Korean soft power.

Wearing a Virtual Reality headset, a participant swings her arms freely, learning a martial art from the Joseon Dynasty.

"I think it's very beautiful to know how Korean culture is, all the temples, and it's funny, it's very fun. The second thing I did, I think, for people who live in Spain, it's a very good way to learn."

Suwon Hwaseong, one of Korea's most iconic cultural heritage sites in Gyeonggi-do Province, comes vividly alive right before your eyes.

"I think that it was quite similar to reality because it showed the colors, spaces in a very realistic way. Also, the explanation and the small details like the ceilings with those color combinations and the small animals looking through were really cute."

At the Korean Cultural Center in Madrid, Korea's traditional culture has been fully digitized through a comprehensive database process, allowing visitors to experience it in digital format, without even setting foot in Korea.

In other sites in the venue, unique reinterpretations of the Joseon Dynasty's white porcelain are on display, all created using "malchong," or horsehair.

Jeong Da-hye became the first Korean artist to win the prestigious Loewe Craft Prize, a leading award in Spain's contemporary craft scene.

"This work merged tradition and innovation. It's very important for Spain also to receive a very natural work like this. The Loewe Foundation was very happy to see this kind of artist, so they selected her in 2022."

Right now, Spain is completely immersed in Korean Culture.

Since 2022, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has selected one country each year with a strong potential to spread Korean culture, offering a year-long series of cultural programs.

This year's Korea Season takes place in Spain.

In particular, the Korean Cultural Center here is set to host around 60 events throughout the year.

"The center is carrying out this year's Korea Season under the key theme of "expansion." Beyond just popular areas like K-pop, we are working to highlight all things across K-culture, from fine arts and exhibitions to literature, webtoons, fashion, and beauty."

Moreover, after Han Kang's Nobel win last year, Korean literature is gaining a lot of interest in Spain.

That's why, in the second half of the year, Korean literature events will take center stage.

"October has been designated as Literature Month, and we're promoting Korean literature as a focus country at Madrid's Liber International Book Fair. At the same time, we'll be the guest of honor at Barcelona's Kosmopolis International Festival of Literature."

"Through the end of this year, a dynamic cultural journey will unfold across Spain, connecting the richness of Korean culture with the world.

Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News, Madrid.