The opening ceremony of the House of Korean Culture and Art took place on April 20, in Tashkent.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in together with their spouses solemnly opened this Palace of Friendship and Culture.
– In the guise of this magnificent building, which has decorated our capital, modern architectural solutions are harmoniously combined with elements of traditional Korean culture. This is a clear confirmation of strong friendship and the highest level of relations that have developed between our countries, – said the Head of the state.
– This is the center of friendship and harmony. I think that it will become a common home for the Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan, Koreans and all Uzbekistan people working here. It will bind our fraternal peoples and countries that have much in common, – said Moon Jae-in.
The stage presents an artistic composition about the resettlement of Koreans to Uzbekistan and their life in the country in friendship and harmony.
In 1937, tens of thousands of Koreans from the Far East unwittingly found themselves on Uzbek soil. People of Uzbekistan, with their sincere generosity, took a sincere part in the fate of the resettled Koreans, despite the difficulties of that time, warmed and sheltered them, shared the last piece of bread with them. Thanks to their diligence, vitality and strong will, as well as the similarity of our mentalities and values, the Koreans gained their second homeland here.
The Korean diaspora is an integral part of multinational people of Uzbekistan and takes an active part in all cultural events held in the country.
The Korean diaspora has erected a monument at the Friendship Park in Tashkent as a sign of tolerance, sincerity and gratitude, for a peaceful and tranquil life in Uzbekistan.
Today, more than 180 thousand citizens of Korean nationality live in Uzbekistan. About three hundred of them are awarded high state awards.
As for representatives of all nationalities, necessary conditions have been created for our citizens of Korean nationality for the preservation and development of national culture, language, traditions and customs. There are dozens of centers of Korean culture. Korean philology is taught in 12 higher education institutions, Korean is taught in 48 schools and lyceums.
Books and newspapers are published in Korean, concerts and festivals, sports competitions are held.
The heads of state also became familiar with the exhibition of works by Korean artists of Uzbekistan.
The House of Korean Culture and Art has a 478-seat cinema and concert hall, a conference hall, a library, an art gallery, a restaurant, and office facilities. It will become a place of attraction for the general public, especially for the younger generation, a center for the mutual enrichment of cultures. This day will become a bright page in the history of relations between Uzbekistan and South Korea as strategic partners of a special level.
