More and more Koreans take interest in Mongolian culture

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• published: 15 Jul 2016
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한국 속 몽골 Korea and Mongolia's ties go way back in history to the mid 13th century. Interactions between the two in those times influenced the traditions and social customs held in both countries to this day,... creating a strong affinity between them. With this age-old bond, more and more Koreans are looking up their neighbors way up in the north,... and President Park Geun-hye's official state trip to Mongolia is expected to accelerate these activities. Traces of Mongolia in Korea: Our News Feature tonight with Oh Soo-young. At an academy in eastern Seoul,... students of various ages and backgrounds are learning how to speak Mongolian. "I'm learning Mongolian because I fell in love with the country when I went there for volunteer work. Mongolians love to dance. Dancing is one of my favorite hobbies, so I think the country suits me very well." "Not many people in Korea study Mongolian so I thought learning the language would bring a lot of opportunities." Their reasons for taking up the language vary, from pure fascination with the culture to potential business opportunities,.. but regardless of their motives,... they say they're looking forward to closer relations with their northern neighbors. "Koreans and Mongolians share the similar genes. Also, in terms of language, history and culture, Mongolians are Korea's closest cousins. The Korean and Mongolian language share the same syntax, so Mongolian is really the easiest language for Koreans to learn and vice versa. The two cultures also share the same rites of passage, ways of living, social taboos, a tradition of giving children pocket money on holidays and even wrestling techniques." These strong similarities can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when Korea became a vassal state of the Mongolia-led Yuan Dynasty in China. "Relations stalled with the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty in the mid-14th century. But when Mongolia gained independence from the Soviet Union, Korea became the first Asian country to form diplomatic ties." To promote further exchange between the two cultures today,... two Korean cities have formed sister city relations with the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbataar. "Just an hour away from Seoul, in Namyangju City,... a Mongolian town offers an all-round cultural experience. With historical exhibitions, traditional handicraft and performances, visitors can learn more about the Mongolian heritage." Ancient artifacts and paintings are displayed in the museum... and the traditional tents called ger... reflect the nomadic ways of living passed down for generations. "Looking at the artifacts made me realize how closely related we are to the Mongolians and the Chinese. I felt a huge connection." Khoomei Mongolian throat-singing that imitates sounds of nature and pays tribute to ancestors Inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010 There's also a regular performance featuring traditional Mongolian throat-singing,... a Unesco-listed intangible cultural asset,... accompanied by traditional instruments and dancing. "I think the morin khuur is the most unique Mongolian instrument in our show. The strings are made from horsetail. It produces good sounds, sounds that stir up emotion." "As I dance, I want Korean audiences to feel like they're actually in Mongolia. I give it my all. When they clap, I'm energized by the sense that they're genuinely taking in our culture." Another daily performance with horses wows the crowd,... taking spectators beyond the Korean meadows to the vast steppes of Mongolia. More and more Koreans are taking an interest in their neighbors up north, finding ways to explore the similarities and differences in their two cultures... and deepening an age-old connection. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News. Visit ‘Arirang News’ Official Pages Facebook(NEWS): http://www.facebook.com/newsarirang Homepage: http://www.arirang.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arirangtv Twitter: http://twitter.com/arirangworld Instagram: http://instagram.com/arirangworld