The Korean Embassy in Nigeria has officially launched the Korean Film Festival, marking its return after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s festival, the 12th edition, is taking place at the Silverbird Cinema in Abuja from 19 September to 21 September, 2024, showcasing a variety of films.
At the opening ceremony, the Korean ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, expressed his excitement about the festival’s revival following its hiatus since 2020.
He said: “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 added: “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 realise the importance of introducing Korean films to Nigeria, one of the world’s top 3 film-producing countries.”
Also speaking at the event, 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 would continue to learn from the Koreans to improve its entertainment industry.
