On October 23, the Korean Cultural Centre India successfully hosted the ‘Korea Culture Day 2026’ at Select CITYWALK, Delhi, bringing together music, traditional arts, food and interactive cultural experiences to celebrate the growing friendship between India and the Republic of Korea.
Organized under the theme ‘One Light, Two Cities,’ the festival brought together the shared cultural values of India’s Diwali and Korea’s Chuseok, highlighting the spirit of community, togetherness and mutual understanding that connects the two countries.
The event also incorporated the annual Rang De Korea festival into the broader ‘Korea Culture Day’ initiative, strengthening opportunities for cultural exchange and people-to-people connections between the two nations.
The festival comes at a pivotal time in India–Korea relations, following the April 2026 summit, where leaders of both countries agreed to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges alongside economic and strategic cooperation, fostering greater mutual understanding of their respective cultures and traditions.
Lee Seong-ho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E., speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival, highlighted the importance of cultural exchange in bringing the people of both countries closer. Drawing a parallel between Chuseok and Diwali, he noted that both the festivals share a common spirit of cherishing family and community and spreading light, even though they have their distinctive traditions. He emphasised that cultural exchange goes beyond presenting one’s culture to another, serving instead as a means of building mutual understanding, fostering new connections and deepening the friendship between India and Korea.
The two-day festival, which concluded on October 24, featured six performance teams from Korea, showcasing the breadth of Korean performing arts, from traditional music and Taekwondo to classical crossover, contemporary instrumental fusion and K-pop.
The Daekyeung University Taekwondo Demonstration Team opened the line-up with a showcase of Korea’s iconic martial art, combining athleticism, discipline and choreographed demonstrations. Eolssigu, a Korean traditional fusion ensemble, presented music rooted in Korea’s traditional heritage, while violin duo Ayuni brought a classical crossover dimension to the programme. Atti Classic, a mixed-gender vocal quartet, showcased vocal crossover performances, followed by DEEPER, which blended electronic dance music with live instrumental elements.
The festival reached its musical highlight with a special performance by K-pop boy band NTX. Winning over the audience with their energetic stage presence, the group also performed the Hindi song ‘Kesariya’ from the film ‘Brahmastra’ and danced to a medley of popular Indian songs, including ‘Kaala Chashma’ and ‘Koi Mil Gaya.’
Beyond the stage, visitors explored Korean culture through food, traditional games and K-content, alongside an array of experiences offered by participating brands and organisations. The event featured Star Entertainment, the Indian distributor of the film ‘Hope,’ as well as Orion and MIXXO (E-Land), bringing together food, entertainment and lifestyle experiences.
A striking installation designed as a corridor of light served as the festival’s visual centrepiece, reflecting the theme ‘One Light, Two Cities’ and symbolising the cultural connections between India and Korea. Through its diverse programme, the festival encouraged visitors to discover Korean culture beyond the familiar worlds of K-pop and Korean dramas.
Kang Kwon Su, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India, said, “This event has been designed to give a diverse range of visitors, including young people in India, the opportunity to experience Korean culture firsthand and deepen mutual understanding between the two countries. We will continue to expand cultural exchange programmes in major Indian cities, creating more opportunities for local and Korean cultures to come together in diverse ways.”
Korea Culture Day 2026 served as a vibrant celebration of shared values, artistic expression and cross-cultural friendship, reinforcing the role of cultural exchange in bringing India and the Republic of Korea closer together.
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