This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and the Republic of Korea. Both nations share fundamental values and are firmly committed to an international order based on law and multilateralism.
In recent years, ties between Spain and South Korea have been strengthened through high-level exchanges, such as the state visits of Their Majesties the King and Queen in 2019, that of the President of Korea in 2021, and the official visit of the President of the Government in 2022, who closed the 14th edition of the Spain-Korea Forum, held in Seoul on November 16 and 17.
La presentation of the 75th anniversary logo On March 26th at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, the commemorative events began. Previously, on February 21st, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries, José Manuel Albares and Cho Tae-yul, held a bilateral meeting in which they highlighted shared values, the strengthening of cooperation in multiple areas—especially in technology and renewable energy—and the strategic importance of the Spanish-Korean relationship.
Did you know…?
K-Lab
The K-Lab digital platform, jointly promoted by the GREGAL research group of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and Casa Asia, aims to contribute to generating a dynamic and rigorous space for information, knowledge, and specialized analysis on relations between Spain and South Korea in five areas: public diplomacy, culture and language, society, economy, and technology.
Its objective is twofold: to generate expert knowledge about the connections between the two countries, and to put it at the service of society through rigorous, yet widely accessible, communication to different sectors and audiences.
As a digital platform, K-Lab serves as a catalyst for the production and dissemination of content on a wide range of topics, through news, reviews, analytical articles, research reports, and specialized studies, facilitating interaction between experts and the interested public.
It was presented publicly last November 12 in Barcelona, as well as the April 3 in Madrid.
In its few months of existence, the platform has surpassed 75 views and more than 280 followers on Instagram.
Activities
Inauguration of the Cervantes Institute in Seoul
The opening of the Instituto Cervantes in Seoul will meet the growing demand for Spanish language learning in the country. The new 800 m2 center occupies the seventh floor of the UNESCO Korea building, on a central pedestrian street in the capital. The Institute currently operates in a Cervantes Classroom at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies since 2011. The new headquarters, whose construction site was visited by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during his visit to Korea in 2022, will expand the educational and cultural offerings and will include several classrooms where Spanish will be taught, as well as a library and staff room, among other facilities.
“The Sea of Music” Festival
This festival is organized by the Cartagena City Council. This year, its 18th edition is being held from July 26th to 30th. It dedicates a Special to South Korea with a program that showcases its rich artistic diversity through music, art, film, and literature. Participating bands include Leenalchi, Jambinai, Bewave, and the great jazz diva Youn Sun Nah, one of the most prominent figures in the independent scene. The festival is supported by Casa Asia.
XVI Spain-Korea Forum
The sixteenth edition of this bilateral forum, organized by Casa Asia, the Korea Foundation, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, with the support of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, and Cooperation, and the embassies of both countries, will be held in the second half of the year. The latest edition of this platform for dialogue and cooperation took place on November 13 and 14, 2023, in Barcelona and Tarragona, bringing together representatives of civil society, public administrations, and the economic and cultural worlds of Spain and Korea.
Webinar “Trends in Contemporary Korean Literature in Translation: In Search of the 'New' Han Kang?”
Last November, author Han Kang became the first South Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Not only that, but she would also be the first Asian woman to receive the award. In this webinar, taking place on April 28, we will analyze the changes in the canon of South Korean works translated after this milestone and the strategies publishers and agencies are using in their pursuit of South Korea's new literary phenomenon.
Moderate the debate:
Dr. Ester Torres-Simón, Autonomous University of Barcelona UAB.
In charge of:
Ainhoa Urquia Asensio She is an associate professor in the Department of East Asian Studies at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and a doctoral candidate in Translation and Intercultural Studies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), where she is a member of the GREGAL Research Group: Japan-Korea-Spain/Catalonia Cultural Circulation. She also works as an editorial translator from Korean and a book reader.
Korean Film Festival 2025
The Korean Film Festival 2025 will be held from September 3 to 7 at the Cinemes Girona in Barcelona. The KFFB is the first exclusively Korean film festival in Barcelona, and was created with the aim of bringing Korean culture and cuisine closer to home through film. This year's edition will feature around twenty titles, highlighting the best of independent and commercial cinema produced in South Korea. The KFFB is in collaboration with Casa Asia and with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Barcelona.
Kosmopolis 2025
Also know as The Amplified Literature FestivalKosmopolis is a biennial literary event held since 2002 at the Centre for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB). This year, the Festival focuses on South Korean literature, with Casa Asia Collaborate. Five days of high-intensity dialogue, discussions, recitals, performances, installations, and concerts.
Courses
Online course: “History of Korea, from its origins to the present”
From April 24 to June 5, 2025
Online course: “The literary universe of Han Kang”
From 29 from April to 27 from May of 2025
The Korean Wave
The rise of Korean popular culture in Spain has been notable in recent years, driven mainly by the K-pop phenomenon, which has won over thousands of Spanish fans, filling stadiums and topping the charts. This musical interest has opened the door to other facets of Korean culture, such as K-drama, with series that have become popular on different platforms, or films such as the Oscar-winning Parasites (2019), not to mention K-beauty, which has revolutionized the cosmetics industry in Spain.
On the other hand, Korean literature, or K-lit, has also found its place, with such renowned authors as Han Kang, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature this year, gaining international recognition and prestige.
In parallel, Korean film festivals are organized in our country, such as the Korean Film Festival Barcelona and the Madrid Korean Film Festival, and music festivals such as Music Bank Madrid.
On a global level, Korean culture is seducing the world with its blend of tradition and modernity. The “Hallyu” or “Korean Wave” has made South Korea a cultural reference point, not only in Asia, but throughout the world.
Interesting information
Institutional Information:
Country profile of the Republic of Korea
Diplomatic Information Office of Spain (OID)
Country profile of South Korea
ICEX - Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade
75 years of history of Spain-Korea diplomatic relations
Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Spain
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents a logo commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations between Spain and the Republic of Korea.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
News about the 75th anniversary:
Spain and South Korea: twins in different worlds
Northeast Asia
Spain and South Korea commemorate the 75th anniversary of their bilateral relations
The Spanish
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