A new Korean Cultural Center opened in New Delhi, India on Thursday, December 13, with an opening ceremony attended by Korea＇s Culture Minister Choe Kwang-shik.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Cultural Center located on Ring Road, New Delhi, is four stories tall, covering 1,826 square meters of floor space. The center has an AV room where visitors can watch video materials and an exhibition hall, and plans to offer Korean language, taekwondo, and traditional music classes.

This is the first Korean Cultural Center to be opened in South Asia and the 24th in the world since the first centers opened in Tokyo and New York in 1979.

Among the dignitaries present at the ceremony were Minister Choe, Indian Minister of Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch, and Korean Ambassador to India Lee Joon-gyu.

Korea and India are far apart geographically but have had cultural and religious exchanges since ancient times. Gandharan Buddhist art, which was developed out of a combination of Greek, Syrian, Persian, and Indian artistic styles, influenced the construction of Seokguram Grotto in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang Province) - a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Korea＇s most important national treasures.

Hyecho, a monk from the Unified Silla Period (676-918), went on a pilgrimage to ancient India and surrounding countries and wrote the travelogue Wang Ocheonchukguk Jeon in 727 after returning to China during the Tang Dynasty.

India dispatched medical troops to Korea during the Korean War (1950-1953), and the two countries entered into diplomatic relations in 1973. The two countries celebrated the Year of India in Korea and the Year of Korea in India in 2011, holding various cultural events.

Before heading to India, Minister Choe attended the closing ceremony for the Korea-China Year of Friendship 2012, which was held at Meilanfang Theatre in Beijing on Tuesday, December 11. Over 1,000 people including Choe and diplomats based in China attended the ceremony.

This year is also the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam. Choe plans to attend a ceremony held at Hanoi Opera House on December 14 for the 2012 Korea-Vietnam Friendship Year. Over 600 people including Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh are expected to attend the event.

There will be a performance based on a story of Li Yong-sang, a member of Vietnam＇s Li Dynasty, who ended up in Goryeo (918-1392) 800 years ago after fleeing from persecution in his country. Li became the progenitor of Hwasan Li clan in Korea.

There will also be various events for the public the next day. The programs include traditional arts and music performances as well as Taekwondo and B-boy presentations.