Last year, I attended the KCCN Memories of Joseon Event (Exploring the Joseon Dynasty through the lens of Korean History), which was hosted at the Korean Cultural Centre Abuja. The KCCN of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, located on the 2nd Floor of the Rivers State Building in Abuja, was established in May 2010 by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to promote Korean culture, strengthen friendship, bilateral relations, and understanding, and facilitate cultural exchanges between Nigeria and South Korea through cultural and educational programs.
As a historian, I’ve always been fascinated by the history, beliefs, culture, and customs of societies and nations all over the world, so when I noticed the call for applications on the KCCN Instagram page, I was overjoyed and promptly registered to attend the event. Like other Nigerians, I became interested in Korean culture after seeing Boys over Flowers and other Korean dramas in 2011/2012. Since then, I’ve been working hard to learn the Korean language as well as its history and culture. I recently became interested in Kpop, which has strengthened my commitment to study Hangul and better understand Korean culture in order to interact effectively with the different Korean idols whose songs I listen to, like BTS, Seventeen, TXT, StrayKids, and BlackPink.
Thus, taking part in the KCCN event was really rewarding for me since it was a step closer to realizing my ambition of visiting South Korea. The event started with a lecture about the Joseon dynasty. As a history student and fan of Korean historical dramas, it was exciting to learn more about the Joseon dynasty, which according to the presenter was created in July 1932 and lasted until August 1910. I also learned about the 26 kings that ruled in the Joseon Dynasty (especially King Sejeon the Great and his Hangeol Invention) and the five Joseon palaces (Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Gyeonghuigung Palace, and Deoksugung Palace).
Another intriguing feature of the presentation was the section on hanbok, which, as we all know, are an important part of Korean culture. I learned more about the numerous Korean hanbok and their progression through the dynasties. At the end of the presentation, I sipped Korean tea with the other participants, wore the traditional hanbok for the first time, and took many photographs in a makeshift design of a traditional Korean house setting.
I had a great time taking photographs and videos, learning about the history of the various artworks in the center, and practicing writing my name in Hangul. I also had the opportunity to engage and connect with other Hallyu fans. At the end of the event, my photo was printed, autographed, and posted on the KCCN memory wall, alongside my thought about the event. Overall, it was a fantastic trip, and I hope to have more opportunities to visit the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria and South Korea in the near future.