16/05/2026
𝐊-𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀 – 𝐀 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐫-𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞
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𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗶, 𝟭𝟱/𝟬𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – Universidade Católica Timorense (UCT), in collaboration with KOICA, hosted the K-FESTA Korean cultural festival. The event was organized to promote cultural exchange and friendship between Korea and Timor-Leste, and to provide a meaningful opportunity for students and the local community to better understand each other’s cultures.
The event was held with the participation of Ambassador Chang Hayeon of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Timor-Leste and KOICA Country Director Kang Younhwa. It was attended by approximately 400 participants, including representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Timor-Leste, KOICA volunteers and staff, the Rector of UCT, as well as faculty members, lecturers, students, and community members. Together, they experienced the diversity and beauty of Korean culture.
K-FESTA featured a variety of programs, including Korean language activities, Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) experience, traditional Korean games, as well as music and dance performances. Participants had the opportunity to directly experience both traditional and contemporary aspects of Korean culture, thereby deepening their understanding of both cultures.
In addition, students of Universidade Católica Timorense performed a traditional Korean folk song, “Arirang,” as well as a dance performance to a K-pop medley, further enriching the atmosphere of the event. Their energetic performances received great applause from the audience and created a meaningful moment of shared appreciation and friendship toward Korean culture.
The purpose of this event goes beyond simply introducing Korean culture; it aims to strengthen ongoing cooperation and mutual understanding between Korea and Timor-Leste. It also seeks to foster an open-minded global perspective and appreciation for cultural exchange among students by providing them with international cultural experiences.
In particular, this event, jointly organized by KOICA and UCT, once again highlighted the importance of strengthening friendly relations between Korea and Timor-Leste through education and cultural exchange. Through this event, students were able to respect and learn from different cultures and traditions while directly experiencing the value of cultural exchange.