At ceremonies held on August 23, Korean National Assembly Rep. Yoon Sang Hyun, who is also Special Assistant to President Park Geun-hye, and Park Woosub, Mayor of Nam-gu District in Incheon Metropolitan City, inaugurated the Philippine Culture Community Center during the Opening Festival of the Pyeonghwa Market in Sungui-dong.

First Secretary and Consul General Iric C. Arribas represented the Philippine Embassy at the ceremonies, which was also attended by Jang Seung Duk of the Nam-gu District Council. The center is among the country-specific multicultural public spaces Nam-gu Mayor Park pledged at the Juan Media Festival in late September 2014 to open at the Sungui Pyeonghwa Market.

In his remarks, Consul General Arribas expressed appreciation to Incheon and specifically to Nam-gu for establishing the Philippine Culture Community Center to foster friendship, camaraderie and goodwill among Filipinos and other residents of Incheon Metropolitan City. He thanked the Korean people for welcoming and opening their hearts to Filipinos.

The three-storey Center features an art space for exhibits and cultural performances by Filipino artists, a venue for Filipino community gatherings and a dry goods store specializing in imported Filipino food. Consul General Arribas met the members of the Filipino community dance group “Captured” during the tour of the Center. END