South Korea began its year-long celebrations of 40 years of diplomatic ties with Bangladesh on Wednesday, mesmerising a select audience by its opera and folk music at the Ambassador’s residence.
A group of five leading Korean musicians –tenor, soprano, cellist, pianist and flutist – performed in the show of ‘enriching the relationship between Bangladesh and Korea further’.
A strong development partner of Bangladesh, Korea opened its embassy in Dhaka in early 1975, more than a year after the establishment of the diplomatic relations in 1973.
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency opened its office in Dhaka in 1978 as there was a ‘strong demand’ for the promotion of trade and investment.
According to the Korean embassy in Dhaka, in the 70’s, Korean entrepreneurs came to Bangladesh to set up garment factories, ‘many of whom are still active in Bangladesh’.
A World Bank development report recently said the boom of Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry that wheels its economy is because of initial training from Korean Daewoo Corporation in 1979 when Bangladesh had no modern industry.
The Corporation teamed up with Bangladesh’s Desh Ltd and trained up its 130 newly recruited and educated employees who later left Desh to start their own clothing businesses for the industry to flourish.
According to the embassy, Bangladesh is Korea’s priority partner country when it comes to the development cooperation as it is the fourth largest recipient of Economic Development Cooperation Fund loan from Korea.
It says due to duty-free access of Bangladeshi products in Korea, the exports from Bangladesh to its market have increased drastically – by 75 percent – in 2011 as compared to 2010.
Korean investments in Bangladesh range from textiles to power generation to the development of energy and natural resources, shipbuilding and ICT.
Big companies like Samsung and LG are expanding their commercial presence in Bangladesh while small and medium-sized enterprises are also coming.
Korea is also building a Korean Export Processing Zone in Chittagong, the first private EPZ in Bangladesh that expects to attract investment of $ 1.3 billion from all over the world.
Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, before the start of concert, said Bangladesh has a ‘deep-rooted culture while Korea has a long history of struggle and culture’.
He lauded the initiative of classical shows as he said they deal ‘with all aspects of life’.
“It (classical music) deals with the humanity first, then nationality and then religion.”
Before the concert, Ambassador Lee Yun-young said the event would “provide a good opportunity for Bangladesh people to experience and enjoy the performance of the Korean artists at first hand”.
He said the event would serve to enhance mutual understanding and further promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.’
He wished continued prosperity of Bangladesh and an ‘everlasting friendship’ between the two countries.
All the musicians at the show teach on their subjects at universities in Korea and Singapore.
Tenor Kang Moo Lim is regarded as one of the most acclaimed tenors of the day with his presence in world’s leading stages including US, Japan, Italy, Russia, Germany, Spain, Brazil and Australia. He performed about 1200 numbers worldwide.
Soprano Park Sung Hee won first prize in many international competitions like Riviera Etrusca, Padova, Dino Caravita, Cecina Lirica. She is also the ambassador for publicity of the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Korean jazz team and musical instrument enthralled Bangladeshi audience earlier in 2011 and 2012.
As part of year-long celebrations, officials say, cultural shows will be organised at least two months apart this year.
