CICI holds 17th Culture Communication Forum at Italian ambassador's residence

The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) held its 17th Culture Communication Forum (CCF) on Thursday at the Italian ambassador’s residence in Seoul, featuring two themes: a “Hidden Talents Challenge,” in which diplomats and public figures performed their own musical numbers and an audience-vote contest on the future and competitiveness of K-culture.

“The ultimate purpose of cultural communication is to enjoy together and win each other’s hearts,” CICI president Choi Jung-wha said during her opening remarks of the CCF at the residence in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Thursday.

Choi also expressed hope that the Hidden Talents Challenge and the card-news contest would serve as a venue for mutual understanding between Korea, Italy and beyond. She credited the global rise of K-culture to a balance between “savoir-faire” — knowing how to make it well — and “faire savoir” — knowing how to tell it.

Italian Ambassador to Korea Emilia Gatto personally delivered a welcoming speech in Korean during the forum.

“This is really the house of all Koreans, all Italians and all friends of Korea and Italy,” Gatto said in Korean. “Welcome to your house — it’s not mine.”

In his congratulatory address, Ryu Jin, chairman of Poongsan Group and the Federation of Korean Industries, pointed to a string of recent milestones, including this year’s Oscar wins for “KPop Demon Hunters” (2025) and a Grammy nod for a K-pop act, as evidence of momentum long in the making.

“Behind this success are pioneers who sowed the seeds early on, CICI among them,” Ryu said.

Four participants took the stage for the Hidden Talents Challenge: Ambassador Gatto, who closed the program with Jimmy Fontana’s “Il Mondo” (1965); Actor Park Joong-hoon, performing Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (1961); architect Hong Tae-sun, playing Chopin’s “Étude Op. 25 No. 1” (1837) on the piano; and Spanish-born hanbok (traditional Korean dress) ambassador Fabio Gonzalez Prieto, who sang Lee Sun-hee’s “Inyeon” (2005).

Winners across categories of the card-news contest were chosen by live mobile vote.

The 17th edition of the CCF brought together ambassadors, business leaders and cultural figures, with more than 50 people in attendance. Among those present were Ryu, Samyang Foods Chairman Kim Jung-soo and the ambassadors of Belgium, Singapore, Peru and Luxembourg.

The CICI is an affiliate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on public diplomacy and promoting Korean culture worldwide.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]