Korean, Brazilian first ladies stress cultural bonds during gallery tour
Kim Hea Kyung and Rosangela Lula da Silva explored Brazilian art in Brasilia, drawing parallels with Korean traditions during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit.
First lady Kim Hea Kyung, left, and Brazilian first lady Rosangela Lula da Silva pose for a photo at the art gallery of Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts in Brasilia on July 27.JOINT PRESS CORPS
BRASILIA, Brazil — First lady Kim Hea Kyung visited an art gallery at Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts in Brasilia on Monday with Brazilian first lady Rosangela Lula da Silva, where the two spent time viewing Brazilian artworks during President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to the country.
"I vividly remember introducing Korean culture while we toured a traditional market and cultural sites together during your visit to Korea in February,” Kim said, expressing gratitude for the Brazilian first lady’s hospitality. “Today, I am very much looking forward to experiencing Brazilian culture firsthand."
The Brazilian first lady replied that she was "delighted to share Brazil's culture and traditions" with her Korean counterpart, adding that she hoped the visit "would become a meaningful occasion that further deepens the friendship between our two countries."
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his wife visited Korea in February to strengthen bilateral ties. During the visit, Kim presented a custom-made hanbok (traditional Korean attire) to the Brazilian first lady.
The two first ladies toured an exhibition titled “Festival of Light: Popular Celebrations and Brazilian Art” (translated).
The Brazilian first lady explained that the exhibition featured artworks inspired by Brazil's traditional festivals held every June and July.
They also visited an immersive exhibition recreating a terreiro — an open-air festival square in northeastern Brazil — complete with colorful flags, a bonfire and the scent of cinnamon.
As the Brazilian first lady explained that people gather around bonfires during the festivals to sing, dance and celebrate the harvest, Kim said Korea also has Chuseok, a harvest holiday during which families and neighbors share food and give thanks for abundance.
"During Chuseok, people enjoy ganggangsullae, a traditional folk dance in which participants form a circle while singing and dancing," Kim said. "In that sense, it resembles Brazil's festival culture as both bring people together in a circle and unite their hearts."
First lady Kim Hea Kyung, right, greets Brazilian first lady Rosangela Lula da Silva during a visit to the art gallery of Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts in Brasilia on July 27.JOINT PRESS CORPS
The two also discussed cultural similarities while viewing artwork inspired by paper lanterns shaped like hot-air balloons.
When Rosangela Lula da Silva asked whether Korea had something similar, Kim replied that Korea also has sky lanterns that people release as they make wishes.
Observing the vivid colors used throughout the exhibition, Kim remarked that "the bright yet warm color palette also reminds me of Korea's dancheong [traditional Korean decorative coloring on wooden buildings] and minhwa [Korean folk painting]."
The two also spoke about the growing popularity of Korean culture in Brazil.
"The growing popularity of Korean culture, including K-dramas, has led to a rising number of people learning Korean in Brazil," the Brazilian first lady said. "I recently had the opportunity to speak with a child studying Korean in the Amazon region, and I even used some of the Korean expressions I learned during my visit to Korea in February."
Kim responded, "Hearing that children are learning Korean even in the Amazon truly makes me feel that the world is becoming more closely connected."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
