Korea to host K-culture festival in Mexico alongside World Cup

A K-culture festival will be held in Mexico in tandem with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Through the Korean Embassy and Korean Cultural Center in Mexico, the festival aims to introduce content that bridges Korean tradition and contemporary culture while expanding cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The festival will have four themes: “ Pasion que Une,” translating to connecting through passion; “ Luz que Une,” meaning connecting through light; “ Miradas que Unen,” translating to connecting through perspectives; and “ Ritmos que Unen,” meaning connecting through rhythm.

The festival will feature a range of events throughout June, such as a media façade, a contemporary art exhibition, traditional Korean performing arts and K-pop cover dance performances.

As part of the festival, “Día de Corea” ("Korea Day") will be held in Zapopan, Mexico, on Saturday. The event is being organized through the K-Initiative council, a collaborative platform led by Korea’s overseas diplomatic missions.

The event will offer events involving Korean food, culture, content and sports.

“The event aims to promote the appeal of Korean culture to both local residents and football fans worldwide,” the Culture Ministry said in a press release. “Two Korean War veterans are to attend the event, further highlighting the friendship and solidarity between Korea and Mexico.”

A media façade by artist Lee Lee-nam will be showcased on the same day and area as part of the Luz que Une theme.

The large-scale media art installation blending the cultural symbols of Korea and Mexico will not only deliver the excitement of the World Cup, but also a message of cultural exchange, according to the Culture Ministry.

An exhibition reinterpreting Korean tradition through media art and AI-generated art will also be held at the National Museum of World Cultures, or Museo Nacional de las Culturas del Mundo, in Mexico City.

Traditional performances and Mexican K-pop cover dance teams will stage celebratory performances in key locations across Mexico City, Monterrey and Zapopan.

“Recognizing the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a significant global platform for showcasing the creativity and appeal of K-culture, the Culture and Foreign Ministries plan to host a series of cultural events throughout the tournament to foster exchanges between the people of Korea and Mexico,” the Culture Ministry said.

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BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]