Kathmandu: The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal, Park Taeyoung, joined as the guest of honour at the Mask Art Exhibition held at Patan Museum, Lalitpur, on December 5.
The exhibition was organised by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal in collaboration with Lalitpur Metropolitan City, with support from the International Mask Arts & Culture Organization (IMACO) of South Korea.
The exhibition showcased a total of 100 masks, 60 from Nepal and 40 from South Korea, highlighting the diverse artistic traditions and cultural heritage of both nations.
Deputy Mayor Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, FHAN President Rabindra Shakya, IMACO Secretary General Woo Hyuk Cho, and representatives from Lalitpur Metropolitan City were also present at the exhibition.
“Cultural events like this exhibition not only preserve traditions from the early generation, but also inspire the next generation to value their heritage. They promote cultural tourism, open doors for artists to reach global audiences. Today’s exhibition highlights one of the most fascinating dimensions of Nepali cultural heritage, “The Art of Mask-Making,” said Ambassador Taeyoung.
Korean Ambassador Park Taeyoung further added that 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.
The Secretary General of IMACO, Woo Hyuk Cho, who also attended the exhibition, said that 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.
“IMACO has been really eager to working forward to mask-related organizations, so I found out that in Nepal, Kathmandu and Patan is a city with wonderful mask approaches and arts,” said the Secretary General Woo Hyuk Cho. “We at IMACO worked really hard with FHAN and the Patan Museum. So I have brought a co-theme for Korean Masks, they are all displayed in the gallery, and so if you go to the gallery, you can also find out what IMACO is supposed to mean.”
The exhibition is set to run from December 5 to 7.
