Students perform in a commencement ceremony at the K-pop Academy of the Korean Cultural Center Indonesia during KOREA 360, a promotional hall dedicated to Korean culture, in Jakarta on Aug. 24. Courtesy of KCCI By Lee Gyu-lee Indonesia has been showing a growing fascination with Korean culture in recent years.
And at the forefront of the rising popularity stands the Korean Cultural Center Indonesia (KCCI), leading the charge in promoting all things Korean. Kim Yong-woon, director of the Korean Cultural Center Indonesia / Courtesy of KCCI Since its establishment in 2011, the center has played a crucial role in expanding the influence of K-culture in Southeast Asia, catering to the growing interest among Indonesians in exploring diverse aspects of Korean culture. “Hallyu (Korean wave) in Indonesia started with K-dramas and K-pop and is expanding into more diverse areas.
In particular, Indonesia's young generation, or millennials, is sensitive to the latest trends in Korean culture,” Kim Yong-woon, the Director of KCCI, told The Korea Times in a recent written interview. Under Kim's leadership since April 2020, KCCI has intensified efforts to promote Korean culture, arts, sports, and tourism through a variety of programs and events, while also facilitating cultural exchanges between Korea and Indonesia. One of the most popular programs is the annual K-Pop Academy, which offers dance courses for Indonesian youth.
Organized with support from Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Spor.