T

o increase its “soft power”, South Korea opened on Thursday its first Southeast Asia representative office of the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) in Indonesia.

The office aims to connect businesspeople in the creative industry sector and to strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries, a statement from the agency said.

The KOCCA is a South Korean government agency affiliated with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry.

Its office in Indonesia is located in Slipi, West Jakarta.

Over the last few years, South Korean culture has won the hearts of Indonesian youth with K-Pop and Korean TV dramas. South Korean artists and boy/girl bands such as Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, Kim Woo-bin, Lee Jong-suk, Song Joong-ki, SNSD and Big Bang are very famous among young Indonesians.

Many Indonesians are increasingly interested in learning the Korean language and learning about Korean culture.

KOCCA vice president Kang Man-seok said South Korea would mainly focus on mobile games and animations as K-Pop had already become well-known in Indonesia.

“We [South Korea] see mobile games and animation as the most potential sector to attract the Indonesian market,” he said adding that South Korea would keep developing and promoting K-Pop and drama.

He said Indonesia’s huge population offered his country the chance to introduce its culture and arts to
millions.

Besides Indonesia, KOCCA has opened representative offices in the US, Japan, China and Europe.

Indonesian Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) head Triawan Munaf said Indonesia and South Korea signed a cooperation agreement in the creative industry sector last May.

“The agreement proves that the two countries are serious about developing creative industries to improve the welfare of both countries,” he said.

The office opening ceremony was conducted on the sidelines of the K Content Expo Indonesia 2016 festival, co-hosted by KOCCA and Bekraf from Thursday to Saturday at ICE convention hall in Tangerang, Banten.

The festival featured Korean-made games, animation, TV dramas, film screenings and a K-Pop concert.

The South Korean Embassy is also holding a month-long Korean festival with art performances, films, food and travel fairs, dance and singing competitions at the Lotte Shopping Avenue in South Jakarta. (sha)