On 12 August 2025, KOTALIA, thanks to and on behalf of Professor Lee Seok min's events agency Onnamu Corporation, with which we collaborate and with which we create events in Italy on Korean culture and history, had the pleasure of being able to wear the Hanbok here in Genoa and create a mini event, in the "PeXto per Amore" location in via Calata Salumi, in the splendid setting of the Porto Antico.
During the past few weeks, Professor Lee came specifically here to Genoa to consolidate our collaboration, but above all, to start a series of events on the promotion of Korean cultural heritage, which will feature Korean tradition, culture and history, through performances that will tell, show and make people discover South Korea.
What better opportunity could there have been to start making Korean culture known and promoted while waiting for the next events, here in Genoa but not only, which we will provide information on in the coming weeks.
Our first mini event was characterized by Hanbok tests, both male and female, where the talented Minji Seo, Professor Lee's assistant, looked after and dressed those who wore the Korean dress and styled their hair, with Korean decorations, such as the Daenggi.
We had a masterclass on Minhwa painting, and in particular, given the success that "Kpop Demon Hunter" is having, the legend about the two animals depicted was told through a coloring drawing depicting the tiger and the magpie drawn exactly in the original style of Korean folk painting.
There was a space dedicated to Korean quizzes, which included questions about Korean culture and places to learn about and visit with prize gadgets and much more.
During the day, in the PeXto per Amore location, the people who came to visit us, including a part of the Korean Community of Genoa to our great joy, wore the hanbok and were able to take photos around the Old Port, as well as having learned more about Korean culture.
Despite the great heat, with immense happiness, the participation was great, and our great satisfaction was also to see on the faces of many people the emotion and smile of trying the Hanbok for the first time, and also learning by playing, distant places and Korean traditions, which merged together on this day with some of our Ligurian traditions.
At our stand, the desserts of the famous Genoese biscuit factory Grondona, which gave sweetness and energy through its products, were offered to our participants and the Genoese tradition also and above all came through the fun and instructive preparation, with the very fragrant basil, of the "Pexto per Amore" Mortar Pesto, where it was possible to learn how to "cook" it cold, as our original recipe requires, thanks to Paolo Silvestri and Stefania Arici, the very kind managers of the place, who were present with us and who taught their recipe to adults and children.
Onnamu Corporation and Kotalia have a unique objective which is to be able to be a common thread for our respective countries, making our cultures known on both sides, merging together to tell our story, through our history and the popular tradition that sees us united, even if we are geographically distant, under the same sky.
Indeed, despite the geographical and cultural distance between Korea and Italy, the two countries share some interesting historical and cultural connections.
Both countries boast a rich artistic and cultural tradition. Italy is famous for its contribution to Western art and culture, while Korea has a long history of distinctive art and culture in the East Asian context. At different times, both countries saw their arts influenced by external currents, but they also influenced other cultures with their traditions.
Official diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy were formally established in 1884. However, the interaction between the two countries dates back to older times. In the 17th century, Italian missionaries such as Jesuit Father Matteo Ricci began to establish contacts with East Asia, laying the foundation for future cultural dialogue.
Another common element is the history of national divisions. Italy was unified relatively late in the 19th century, after centuries of divisions under the rule of various states and foreign powers. Likewise, Korea has experienced a long history of division, culminating in the separation of North and South after World War II, a division that still persists. Both countries faced the daunting task of rebuilding and developing their economies and societies after devastating conflicts. Italy, after World War II, and South Korea, after the Korean War, both made notable economic and social progress in the decades that followed.
Both Korea and Italy are famous for their culinary traditions. The Italian Mediterranean diet and Korean cuisine, known for kimchi and its varieties of fermented dishes, are prized for their distinctive flavors and nutritional value. Both countries have seen a growing popularity of their cuisines around the world.
In recent decades, both Italy and Korea have had a significant impact on global popular culture. Italy with its fashion, cinema and music, and Korea thanks to the explosion of K-pop, Korean films and TV series, have both left a lasting imprint on the global cultural landscape.
So despite their differences, Korea and Italy share various historical and cultural experiences, contributing uniquely to the richness of global heritage.
We are ready and are working for many other exclusive events with Onnamu Corporation and Kotalia both in Genoa and throughout Italy, to allow all lovers of Korea and especially those approaching this new country for the first time, to discover and learn as much as possible about the Country of the Calm Morning, through cultural and historical connection, this is our primary objective.
Paola Pelissa