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Cultural cooperation between Russia and the Republic of Korea

	Cultural ties between Russia and South Korea are regulated by intergovernmental Agreement on cultural cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea signed in November 1992. However contacts in the field of culture started developing even before the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on September 30, 1990. During Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988 performances of ballet dancers from Bolshoi, Mariinsky and other theatres and symphony orchestra concert were successfully held in South Korea.


	Steady interest to Russian culture and art and acknowledgement of Russia's leading role in world culture in South Korea create objectively favorable conditions for the development of cultural cooperation. Nowadays cultural and humanitarian exchanges became an important integral part of the whole complex of bilateral relations. Active political contacts between the two countries have largely contributed to the promotion of Russia-South Korea cultural cooperation lately.

	Series of bilateral cultural events were held within the framework of celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea (2000), 300-year anniversary of Saint-Petersburg (2003), "Days of Moscow" in Seoul and "Days of Seoul" in Moscow (2004), 120-year anniversary since the first treaty between Russia and Korea was signed and 140-year anniversary since the beginning of voluntary migration of Koreans to Russia (2004).

	Mainly within the framework of bilateral cooperation there are held the performances of Russian groups in the ROK. Korean culture and art are still not widely presented in Russia notwithstanding overall increasing interest of Russian people towards Eastern culture.

	Performances of Mime-theater "Lizedei", Obraztsov's State Marionette Theater, dramatic theater group "Derevo", Slava Polunin's "Snowshow", Moscow and Saint-Petersburg Ice Ballets, I.Bobrin's Ballet on Ice, Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater are held in South Korea regularly.

	One should particularly point out the Korean performance tours of N.Kasatkina and V.Vasilyov's State Theater of Classical Ballet (2001), Taganka Theater (2002), Ermolova Moscow Drama Theater (2003), Bolshoi Ballet Theater (2004, 2005), ballet and opera of Mariinsky Theater (2004, 2005), concerts of D.Khvorostovsky (2003, 2005), Yu.Bashmet and "Moscow Soloists" (2004, 2005), "Living Tolstoy" exhibition in Seoul Museum of History (2004-2005), participation of "Night Watch" movie in Pucheon Fantastic Film Festival (2005).

	In 2003 educational center "Pushkin House" opened in Seoul. Center offers Russian language courses and educational programs in Russia. In 2005 "House of Russian Culture" was established in Seoul. It has a moderate library, seminar and conference room, Russian cuisine restaurant and caf?.