OSAKA -- A group of young South Korean residents in Japan will launch a three-day performing arts workshop here Friday in a bid to increase awareness throughout the local community of traditional South Korean culture.
The initiative, sponsored by the Osaka regional headquarters of a group affiliated with the pro-Seoul Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan), comes ahead of the World Cup soccer finals, which will be cohosted by South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30.
Its aim is to inspire South Korean youths residing in Japan to explore cultural avenues in their search for both a personal and national identity, as well as increasing grassroots exchanges with the Japanese, members said.
The workshop, which will consist of five courses, including "changgo" drum performances and a traditional mask dance, will also be attended by teachers from South Korea to ensure authenticity, they said. The cost of the workshop is 16,000 yen.
Participants will be able to fashion masks and other items for use in traditional performances, members said.
There will also be a free public performance of "madang" theater Sunday.
The workshop's organizers said awareness among young South Korean residents in Japan of their common traditional cultural heritage could bridge diverse beliefs and opinions over nationality.