The Korean Embassy has resumed with the 12th Edition of the Korean Film Festival in Nigeria, five years after it went on break during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The latest edition, with several movies screened, was a three-day event that was hosted at the Silverbird Cinema, in Abuja, September 19 to September 21, 2024.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Korean ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, expressed delight with the return of the festival, saying, “I have come to deeply feel that South Korea and Nigeria share a strong cultural affinity, especially in their love for music and dance.
“Due to this cultural affinity, various elements, such as fashion and cuisine, along with music, are resonating in Nigeria. Particularly, there has been a significant surge in the spread of dramas and films”, he said.
“Along with the global hit ‘Squid Game’ in 2021, the most-watched drama series on Netflix Nigeria in 2022 was ‘Alchemy of souls’.
“Thus, I have come to realize the importance of introducing Korean films to Nigeria, one of the world’s top three film-producing countries globally.”
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Obi Asika, said millions of Nigerians had fallen in love with K-pop [Korean music] and K-drama [Korean drama].
He said Nigeria will continue to learn from the Koreans to improve its entertainment industry.
