Kathmandu: The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal participated as the guest of honour at the Mask Art Exhibition held at Patan Museum, Lalitpur, on December 5. The event was organised by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal in collaboration with Lalitpur Metropolitan City, with support from IMACO of South Korea.
The exhibition features 100 masks in total, 60 from Nepal and 40 from South Korea, highlighting the rich artistic and cultural heritage of both countries.
Woo Hyuk Cho, Secretary General of IMACO, attended the event and said the exhibition aims to introduce South Korean masks known for their cultural, educational, and aesthetic significance, while also promoting cultural tourism at both domestic and international levels.
Korean Ambassador Park Taeyoung said both Nepal and South Korea share a long tradition of mask culture that reflects deep cultural and spiritual values. He noted that Buddhism has played an important connecting link between the two nations, and the mask traditions of both countries share similarities in representing transformation and spiritual or social identities.
Ambassador Park added that Korea and Nepal enjoy a long history of friendship and growing cooperation in economic, social, and cultural sectors. He said Korea is proud to support initiatives that strengthen people-to-people ties and encourage creative partnerships. He also highlighted that thousands of Korean tourists visit Nepal annually, drawn not only by the Himalayas but also by Nepal’s rich cultural heritage.
Officials from Lalitpur Metropolitan City, representatives of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal, IMACO delegates, Korean Embassy officials, and a large number of visitors attended the event. The exhibition will run until 7 December 2025.
