KOREA FOUNDATION

In June, ASEAN Culture House hosted “Easy Access Laos” in cooperation with the Embassy of Laos, Seoul. On June 20, “Easy Access Laos” commenced with a “Lao Travel Workshop” led by the travel writer Dong-sik Park. Through local information about Laos and pictures that Park took in Laos, the audience was able to gain a better understanding of the culture of Laos.

From June 22 through 23, various interactive programs were held that allowed visitors to experience Lao culture. On June 22, visitors had a chance to experience and learn more about Laos through the “Laos Culture Class,” with students from Laos currently studying in Korea as guest lecturers, and “Narration of Laotian Folktale and Cookie Decoration Class Using Symbolic Icons of Laos” for children and a Lao cooking class for adults. On June 23, the chef of the famous Lao restaurant “Laopiak” was invited to host a dialogue on Lao culinary culture and a food tasting session.

“Laos Hanmadang” was held on both days at ASEAN Culture House, during which visitors enjoyed Laos as much as possible, trying on traditional Lao clothing, composing three-line poems about Laos, participating in a water gun quiz contest, and making key chains using symbolic icons of Laos. ASEAN Culture House hopes that “Easy Access Laos” will helped increase public interest in and understanding of Laos while creating an opportunity for expansion of Korea-Laos relations.