The event highlighted Kim Koo’s vision of cultural power and featured a cultural contest, award ceremony, and youth dialogue programme

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN), led by Director Jeon Joo-ho, held a commemorative cultural event on Thursday, May 21, at the Centre to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Baekbeom Kim Koo and the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

The event brought together about 80 guests, including Nigerian citizens, members of the diplomatic community, cultural and arts professionals, contest winners, and participants. Key attendees included Director Jeon Joo-ho of KCCN, representatives of the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM), Youth Orientation for Development (YOD), and members of the local arts and culture community. Participants reflected on Kim Koo’s philosophy of the “power of culture” and the significance of cultural diversity.

Baekbeom Kim Koo was a leading figure in Korea’s independence movement and served as President of the Korean Provisional Government. After Korea’s liberation, he envisioned a nation that would contribute to the happiness of humanity and world peace through the power of culture. In “My Desire,” a text included in Baekbeom Ilji, Kim Koo wrote, “The only thing that I desire in infinite quantity is the power of a noble culture,” a message that continues to resonate with UNESCO’s values of a culture of peace and cultural diversity.

As a pre-event programme, KCCN organised the “Kim Koo 150th Anniversary Cultural Contest” under the theme “Culture as Power: Shaping Nations through Creativity and Identity.” The contest invited Nigerian nationals and adult foreign residents in Nigeria to express, through videos and essays, their thoughts on the power of culture, creativity, identity, and cultural diversity. More than 200 entries were received across the video and essay categories.

During the event, KCCN introduced the life and philosophy of Baekbeom Kim Koo, as well as the significance of the 2026 UNESCO commemoration of his 150th birth anniversary. The programme also featured an award ceremony and presentation of selected contest entries, allowing participants to share their own interpretations of how Kim Koo’s vision of cultural power connects with cultural diversity and cultural exchange today.

A talk session with local speakers was also held in collaboration with YOD, focusing on the contest theme and exploring the relationship between culture, identity, and diversity. Participants discussed how the cultural experiences of Korea and Nigeria can contribute to mutual understanding and how younger generations can play a creative role in strengthening cultural exchange.

Director Jeon Joo-ho said, “This event provided a meaningful opportunity to share Baekbeom Kim Koo’s message on the ‘power of culture’ with young Nigerians and to reflect on the meaning of the World Day for Cultural Diversity. As culture serves as an important bridge connecting different people and societies, KCCN will continue to expand cultural exchanges between Korea and Nigeria.”