* The South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Kim Young Chae in a chat with the Director General National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe.
The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture(NCAC),Otunba Segun Runsewe has said that there is need to further explore and reinforce the mutual cultural relationship that exists between the South Korea and NCAC and the Federal Government of Nigeria that dates back to 2010, for the benefit of mutual cultural benefits for both countries.
Runsewe stated this when the Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea, His Excellency, Kim Young Chae paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
The NCAC boss noted that Nigeria has benefited a lot from the mutual relationship with South Korea in areas of education,poverty eradication, trade and many more, adding that the trade between the two countries as at 2011, was well over $3 million.
At the meeting held at NCAC headquarters in Abuja, Otunba Runsewe took his time to inform the South Korean Ambassador on the forthcoming programme of NCAC called the International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) and to seek the participation of South Korea.
He also sought partnership with the Republic of South Korea in organizing a joint exhibition in Nigeria and in South Korea noting that this will be very rewarding to both countries.
The South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Kim Young Chae in his response, stated that the embassy of South Korea will be interested in joint programme for school children and other cultural programmes that would make Koreans to understand Nigerians better.
He proposed a joint food festival as well as arts and crafts exhibition later in the year.
On capacity building, Runsewe the told the South Korea Ambassador to Nigeria that the need for capacity building for NCAC staff on seminars, workshop and conferences on arts and culture, festivals, exchange visits and exhibitions between South Korea and NCAC cannot be over emphasized.
Responding, the Ambassador responded that the Korean Cultural Centre will soon be upgraded so that NCAC can use it to project Nigerian films and programmes.
He promised to work with NCAC to achieve a sustainable mutual understanding between South Korea and Nigeria.
