Korea is Back: Culture to Deepen Bilateral Ties with Malaysia - Ambassador Yeo

By Nur Elysa Amirah Suhaimi & Nur Atiq Maisarah Suhaimi

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) -- South Korea views Malaysia as a key partner in expanding its soft power presence, with culture identified as a strategic pillar to deepen bilateral ties, said South Korea’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Yeo Seung Bae.

The embassy has just concluded a 12-day K-Culture Festival, running from June 11 to June 22, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) and other Korean government agencies.

Yeo said that the event exceeded expectations, attracting over 35,000 people of all ages and backgrounds, clearly reflecting South Korea’s success in promoting its national appeal to Malaysians.

“This festival featured various events spanning food, tourism, beauty and music, held continuously over 12 days,” he said, noting it was also organised to mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Malaysia.

“This event also coincided with the formation of our new government earlier this month, so through this festival, the embassy wishes to convey the message that Korea is back,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at the Embassy recently.

Among the festival highlights, Yeo said, was a cooking show featuring Michelin-starred Korean chefs who introduced premium and Halal-certified Korean beef to the Malaysian public.

Other key events included a Tourism Roadshow, which showcased popular South Korean travel destinations, especially those favoured by Malaysians, and a K-Beauty segment led by experienced Korean makeup artists, where participants could try and learn about Korean cosmetics.

“The most popular event was the Korea-ASEAN Music Festival, which brought together artists from Korea and all 10 ASEAN member countries. Around 4,000 people, mostly young Malaysians, attended, and it was truly a beautiful sight,” he added.

Held under the theme ‘Feel the Vibes, Savour the Flavours, and Explore with Style’, the K-Culture Festival 2025 aimed to introduce the Korean Wave (Hallyu) and deepen cultural ties integrated into the daily lives of Malaysians.

Looking ahead, Yeo revealed that the South Korean government plans to open a Korean Cultural Centre in Malaysia early next year, to make cultural events like the K-Culture Festival a regular and accessible feature for the public.

“Our aim is to ensure the festival is not a one-off event. Through the cultural centre, we hope to make Korean culture more accessible, whether for those who can afford to visit Korea or for those who cannot. We want everyone in Malaysia to have the chance to experience Korea, right here in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

-- BERNAMA