The Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) of Seoul is an office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). Its purpose is to promote and to improve awareness of the Italian language and culture in Korea through the organization of events and the provision of cultural services.
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the advisory committee and its staff, the Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul fulfils this commitment by cultivating cultural exchange between Italy and South Korea in different areas of interest, ranging from arts to humanities and science.
The initiatives undertaken by the Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul include: developing academic exchanges; organizing and supporting exhibitions and festivals; incentives towards the publication of Italian books; promoting the study of the Italian language; and collaborating with local institutions in planning events involving music, dance, film, theatre, architecture, literature, etc.
The IIC also offers:
- a library service, open to the Institute members and to students enrolled in Italian courses for the consultation and loan of books, videotapes, CDs, DVDs and magazines;
- courses in Italian language and culture held by qualified native Italian teachers;
- two annual exam sessions to obtain a certificate of Italian as a foreign language.
For concert events, for some art exhibitions and for wider-reaching events, the Institute works in collaboration with:
- local art institutions and museums, such as the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art-Korea, the Seoul Museum of History, the Sejong Center, Seoul Arts Center, Asia Culture Center etc.
- musical institutions, such as the Korea National Opera, the Sol’Opera, the Suji Opera, the Gloria Opera, the Korea Opera Group, the Beseto Opera etc.
- cultural bodies of the European Union, such as the British Council, the Goethe Institut, the Institut Francais, the Cesky Centrum.
- the Italian Departments of the Universities located in its jurisdiction;
- with numerous Institutions dependent on the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the Korea Foundation Cultural Center and the Korea Film Archive, etc.
The main festivals in which the Institute usually actively and regularly participates include the Busan International Film Festival, the Jeonju International Film Festival, the Seoul International Extreme-short image & Film Festival, the DMZ Korean International Documentary Film Festival, the Buchon International Fantastic Film Festival, the Green Film Festival, the SIDANCE-Seoul International Dance Festival, the Jarasum Jazz Festival, the Assitej Korea International Summer Festival, etc.
