South Korean First Lady tours Brazil exhibition with Brazilian counterpart, notes cultural similarities

South Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee engaged in 'First Lady diplomacy' during her visit to Brazil, touring an art exhibition alongside Brazil's First Lady Rosângela da Silva. The two leaders explored Brazilian art, focusing on works inspired by traditional culture.

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Today, I felt that Korea and Brazil, while having different histories and traditions, are very similar in their gratitude for nature's bounty and their spirit of sharing joy with neighbors.

During the visit to the cultural center of the Federal Court of Accounts in Brasilia, Kim and Silva viewed pieces depicting Brazilian festivals. Kim noted the resemblance between a Brazilian festival featuring dancing around a bonfire and Korea's Ganggangsullae, a traditional circle dance. They also discussed shared customs, such as releasing balloons or lanterns into the sky, and the warm color palettes used in the artworks, finding numerous similarities between the two cultures.

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I hope that this cultural empathy will become a precious opportunity to connect the two countries even more closely.

The conversation extended to cultural exchange, with Silva mentioning children studying Korean in the Amazon. Kim responded, expressing that hearing about this made her feel the world is becoming more interconnected. Kim emphasized her hope that this cultural empathy would serve as a valuable bridge between South Korea and Brazil, despite their different histories and traditions.

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I expect that cultural exchanges like today will continue in the future, allowing the two countries to understand each other better.

Silva echoed this sentiment, expressing anticipation for continued cultural exchanges to deepen mutual understanding. She also extended an invitation to Kim to visit the Amazon and experience Brazil's Carnival on a future trip. The two first ladies exchanged gifts, with Kim receiving a brooch featuring a Brazilian traditional hat motif and Silva receiving one with Korean symbols like a 'gat' (traditional hat) and a fan.

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I hope you will visit Brazil again and also explore the Amazon and experience another representative Brazilian festival, Carnival.