Photo Exhibition 'India and Me' by Dr. Kim Yang-shik opens at ICC

1. As part of celebrations to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Korea, the Indian Art Museum (IAM), Seoul in association with the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) & the Embassy of India, Seoul is organizing a very special photographic exhibition- ‘India and Me’ from 16 to 27 December, 2013 at ICC. The exhibition showcases the four-decade long journey of love of India by Padmashri Dr. Kim Yang-shik.

2. The exhibition was inaugurated by Ambassador Vishnu Prakash, Mr. Chang-Soo Ko, Former Ambassador of Korea to Pakistan & Korean Poet and Mr. Sang-rak Yeo, Honorary Chairman of SGI. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Prakash hailed the contributions of Dr. Kim Yang-shik to strengthen India-Korea relations and acting as ‘interpreter’ of India for the South Korean people. He observed that India was fortunate to have a friend like her. He also thanked her for supporting the setting of ICC Busan to which she has loaned a number of Indian artifacts. In her address, Dr. Kim Yang-shik recalled how her elder brother had kindled a love for poetry in her and changed the course of her destiny by introducing her to Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry and India.

3. Padmashri Dr. Kim Yang-shik, a distinguished poetess, author, philanthropist, founder & President of Tagore Society of Korea and Chairman of IAM was awarded the Padma Shree, one of the highest civilian awards of India, in 2002 for her extraordinary dedication to promote bilateral culture, education and art exchanges. Her passion for India has continued to strengthen over time. She has translated several works of Rabindranath Tagore, including Gitanjali, in Korean language and has also written a number of books. She is an executive member of the Korean Modern Poets' Association, Korean Women Writers' Association and Korean Branch of the International PEN Club.

4. The Indian Cultural Centre (http://indoculture.org/) was set up in Seoul in 2011 for intensifying cultural exchanges between Indian and Korea. To expand cultural activities further, another Cultural Centre has been established in Busan on 6 December 2013. The Centre offers regular Yoga, dance, Hindi language & cooking classes, as well as, movie shows, besides holding fortnightly events all across South Korea, including film, culture and food festivals, exhibitions, music and dance programmes, quiz contests & workshops. All friends of India are invited to avail of facilities of ICC Seoul and Busan.

Seoul
16 December 2013