Chennai's MCC celebrates its Korean ties with K-pop, literature and food at annual cultural festival  

Madras Christian College celebrated its Korean ties by organising its seventh annual Korean cultural festival with the NUAC (National Unification Advisory Council) chairman Joo Jin,  Young- seup Kwon Korean Consulate General (Chennai), Korean Association chairman Jo Sang Myan as the guests of honour. The Korean professor organising the event said that this was an occasion to celebrate the College's MOU with universities in Korea. Students who pass the Korean course are also handed over certificates at the event. 

Prof. Lee Hwarang, a Korean national and a resident on MCC campus was excited to speak to us about the 7th Annual Korean Cultural festival and the Korean language course that MCC offers.“ We organize this fest to develop the Indo Korean relationship, to share and celebrate the differences and similarities among the countries,” said Prof. Lee Hwarang when asked about the aim of the festival. “I find Indian and Korean culture very similar when it comes to our values and principles. The Korean cultural festival helps us work as a team, to understand our cultural background and to learn through the organizing process“, says Unnamalai, a final year Political Science UG student at MCC.

The Madras Christian College offers a one year course in the Korean language that provides a forum for students not just to learn the language but also understand Korean culture and its values. Started in 2012, the diploma course is headed by Prof. Lee Hwarang. The completion certificate is given to students at the Korean Cultural Festival every year.

The MOU with institutions like Korea University, Hanyang University, Seoul National University and others also helps students get first-hand experience through the exchange programme. The festival is conducted on the campus premises but it is also financially supported by the Korean government, Korean consulate, Korean association and Korean natives living in Chennai.

“By being part of the Korean Cultural fest, I miss my home little lesser. Volunteering for the program feels nostalgic and it helps me relive experiences from home”, says Lee Eunsco, a second-year Business Administration UG student at MCC.