RAWALPINDI: Noreum Machi, a South Korean musical troupe, enthralled the audience at a special event organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC).

Ambassador Suh Dong Gu, accompanied by MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, MPA Raja Hanif, Lubna Rehan Pirzada, additional commissioner Tariq Mehmood Tariq, Naheed Manzoor and RAC Resident Director Waqar Ahmed attended the event as special guests.

The performance was part of the Korea Month festivities. Every October, the embassy organises events to commemorate National Foundation Day and celebrate the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Pakistan. The cultural show consisted of two performances: one by Noreum Machi and another by Yong-Bu Ha.

Noreum Machi played traditional Korean percussion instruments but simultaneously exuded a modern air.

The group previously visited Pakistan in 2006, and since then has gained popularity in South Korea, making around 200 successful international tours in over 60 cities around the world. The troupe returned to Pakistan after 10 years in good spirits.

Yong-Bu Ha, an internationally acclaimed artist and dancer, has been called an intangible cultural asset by the Korean government.

The event was organised to give Pakistanis a taste of Korean culture, and Yong-Bu Ha and his group also performed a rendition of Jivay Jivay Pakistan.

In his welcome address, Korean envoy Suh Dong Gu expressed gratitude to the RAC for its support, and said as the new ambassador, he would put a special emphasis on cultivating closer cultural ties and people-to-people contact between South Korea and Pakistan.

He said even though Rawalpindi and Islamabad are twin cities, he felt that most cultural events – particularly those arranged by the diplomatic community – took place in Islamabad.

“That is why we decided to arrange this special event in Rawalpindi, to show our respect for the rich culture and history of the city,” he said.

He said he was pleased to share unique aspects of Korean culture through the performances.

MNA Tahira Aurangzeb said friendship between the two countries was time tested, but people-to-people contact needed to be improved so both countries could understand each other’s culture and values.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2016