Date

November 13, 2019

Page

8

Contact

Embassy of the Czech Republic,
Eunmin Lim (Curator of the AAIPS Gallery)

Office

02-3701-7340, www.aaips-gallery.com

E-mail

communications@asaninst.org

* For Immediate Release

“1989 Velvet Revolution – The Fall of the Iron Curtain” at the AAIPS Gallery

A Photography Exhibition Organized by the Visegrád Group

To Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Communist Regime

 The embassies of the four Visegrád countries – the Embassies of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary in Seoul – have organized a photography exhibition entitled “1989 Velvet Revolution – The Fall of the Iron Curtain” to commemorate the 30^th anniversary of the fall of the communist regime. The exhibition will be held at the AAIPS Gallery of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies at Jongno-gu, Seoul, from November 16^th until December 1^st, 2019.

 With the Czech presidency of the Visegrád Group in 2019/2020, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Seoul invited the Embassies of the group’s three other countries to cooperate in this exhibition, as the Czechoslovak Velvet Revolution is closely intertwined with the revolutions and events of the other nations of former communist bloc.

 This exhibition brings a selection from a larger exhibition currently being held at the Prague Castle. A Castle spokesperson comments, “It is a selection of truly unique moments that often do not need any further words or explanations. The photographs accurately reflect the unique atmosphere, enthusiasm, hope, determination, and desire for freedom of that time. Outside and inside, there are screens showing the most important events.”

 The viewers can see the best of Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Polish, Bulgarian, Romanian and German photographers. Their work offers an extensive photographic testimony to the turnaround year of 1989 in Central Europe, marking the end of a barrier that had divided the world for more than four decades. The event will evoke memories in those who lived through those times and witnessed those exciting moments. It will also bring younger generations closer to the dramatic events, more so than history books can ever do.

 Gustav Slamečka, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Korea, said, “These photographs record the events that happened 30 years ago in countries geographically distant from South Korea. With those events, the Cold War disappeared into history, but here, on the Korean Peninsula, it is still ongoing in the form of the division of Korea. This is why it is all the more significant that this exhibition is being held in Seoul. We hope that this exhibition will inspire Korean people to dream about the fall of the iron curtain and overcome division in the future.”

 This exhibition was created in cooperation with the Office of the President of the Czech Republic as well as the Prague Castle Administration, and is held under the auspices of Miloš Zeman, the President of the Czech Republic.

 The AAIPS Gallery of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies is hosting this exhibition as a part of its program to broaden the base of public diplomacy through a collaboration with the diplomatic community in Korea, with the aim to introduce a variety of different cultures to Koreans.

* [Reference] About the Photography Exhibition, “1989 Velvet Revolution – The Fall of the Iron Curtain”