Translation
Mrs. Kim meets next-generation leading artists, Korean cuisine experts, and members of the Korean Culture Association at the UN in succession.
While President Lee Jae-myung, visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, was meeting Wall Street leaders at the New York Stock Exchange on the morning of the 25th to encourage investment in Korea, his spouse First Lady Kim Hye-kyung was at the Korean Cultural Center in New York, offering encouragement to young Korean artists.
The event was moderated by Lee So-eun, a lawyer and singer-songwriter, and featured participants including Yoon Da-in (optical illusion artist), Park Hye-sang (soprano at the New York Metropolitan Opera), Hwang Joo-min (Broadway musical actor), Kim Tae-i (curatorial fellow at the New Museum, Hanwha Life), Chun Chan Jun (Head of CG at Crafty Apes), Wang Hyun-ji (film foley artist with C5), Kim Lora (creative director at Oscar de la Renta), Andrew Kwon (founder of the fashion brand ANDREW KWON), and Ahn Soo-yeon (poet and translator).
Kim Cheon-su, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in New York, remarked, “I expect that these individuals may become the next Nam June Paik or even greater.”
First Lady Kim relayed, “The President told me, ‘Go, listen well, find out what they need, and what challenges they face.’ As a mother of children around your age, I find your achievements truly admirable,” as she encouraged the next-generation artists.
The participants said, “The change in Korea’s image due to the spread of Hallyu has been happening at an astonishing speed, even from the perspective of artists working locally. With the growing interest and affection for Korean culture, the doors of opportunity are opening wider for Korean artists.”
Film sound-effects specialist Wang Hyun-ji, the first Korean ever nominated for the 2025 Emmy Awards, shared, “As an international student, I often felt the lack of a community where I could communicate with seniors in my field and receive advice. Going forward, I want to help foster the growth of young Korean artists who dream of making it in New York.”
New York-based translator Ahn Soo-yeon added, “My work goes beyond transferring language—it is about bridging cultures and building a global community. I hope international workshops and exchange programs can be further expanded so that more Korean literature and poetry can be introduced worldwide.”
