Czech Centre to open in Seoul

Prague, March 12 (CTK) - Another Czech Centre will open in Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, in the spring, joining the 21 existing ones, Czech Centres' representatives told journalists yesterday.

Its establishment was planned long ago due to the great popularity of Czech culture among Koreans, the Czech Centres' representatives said.

The new Czech Centre will be seated in the Castle Praha compound, a replica of Prague's medieval Old Town Hall managed by the owner of a restaurant chain in Seoul.

The building has been standing since 2005 and its size corresponds with 60 percent of the original Old Town Hall.

The Prague City Hall has provided some documents for the construction, Czech ambassador to Korea Jaroslav Olsa said.

The opening of the centre in Seoul was being prepared for half a year. It will be administered by two Czech women who reside in Seoul and who have been cooperating with Czech Centres, Czech Centres' director Vilma Anyzova said.

There are 21 Czech centres situated on three continents, for instance, in Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Vienna, New York and Tokyo.

Established by the Foreign Ministry, they publicise Czech culture as well as Czech products, goods and companies in the world.

Olsa said the Republic of Korea was now one of the most important partners of the Czech Republic in many respects.

Last year, it was the third biggest business partner outside Europe for the Czech Republic and over 100,000 tourists came from Korea there.

Olsa said there was a number reasons for Koreans liking Czech culture.

"Both countries are relatively small in their environment and they are more or less ethnically homogeneous, not being very multicultural," Olsa said.

Olsa said Koreans had known Czech art, classical music in particular, as well as literature since the early 1920s.

Karel Capek's drama R.U.R. was the third theatrical piece to be translated into the Korean language in 1925.

After the fall of the Communist regime in 1989, contacts were re-established, Olsa said, adding that Czech film and contemporary music were successful in Korea.

Czech musicals have also scored many successes there, he added.

At present, there is a large exhibition of Czech contemporary painting from the collections of the National Gallery in Seoul.

It is visited by some 500 people every day, organisers say. It is to last until April 21.