North Gyeongsang tourism body to host 19th Arab Cultural Festival in Gyeongju on Thursday

The North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Tourism Corporation announced Monday that the 19th Arab Cultural Festival, co-hosted by the Korea-Arab Society and the corporation and sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be held Thursday at Munmu Hall in the Culture Center of Gyeongju Expo Grand Park.

The Lebanese traditional dance troupe Hayakel Baalbeck has been invited to perform, bringing centuries of Arab cultural heritage to Korean audiences.

The troupe drew international attention last December when it performed the traditional dance "Dabke" at a welcoming ceremony during Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon.

Dabke is a traditional group dance long practiced across the Levant region, including Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestine. It is known for its dynamic rhythms and synchronized ensemble movements.

Before the main performance, a "Culture Talk" segment hosted by Sami Rashad, a broadcaster originally from Egypt, will also be held.

Rashad will guide the audience through Arab culture and the history of exchanges between Korea and the Arab world, offering an accessible and engaging introduction to a culture that many Koreans may find unfamiliar.

The choice of Gyeongju as the venue adds particular significance to the event. The ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom has long served as a crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations, and artifacts such as the stone warrior statues at Gwaereung, the golden sword from Michu Royal Tomb and the glassware from Cheonmachong tomb all bear witness to the city's history of international exchange. The Culture Talk segment is expected to deepen that connection by offering audiences a chance to better understand Arab culture.

The Korea-Arab Society is a public-private organization established in 2008 to promote exchange and cooperation between Korea and the 22 member states of the Arab League.

Admission is free and open to all. Further details are available on the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park website, and walk-in entry on the day of the performance will also be accepted.

Choi Seong-su, secretary-general of the Korea-Arab Society, said the festival would offer "a special occasion where Korean tradition and the exotic dances of the Arab world come together," adding that it would give the public a rare opportunity to experience Lebanese culture and art up close.

Kim Nam-il, president of the North Gyeongsang Province Cultural Tourism Corporation, said he hoped the performance, rooted in Lebanese tradition and culture, would "broaden mutual cultural understanding and exchange between Korea and Lebanon, and help establish Gyeongju as an international cultural tourism city where the arts of nations from around the world come together."