Thursday 14 / November / 2024
The best way for someone to learn about a foreign country doesn’t necessarily involve traveling. Last December, the Korean Embassy initiated Oman-Korean Nuri (OK Nuri), to help individuals explore each other’s cultures.
“It surprised me how well Korean Culture is so Similar with us yet its defined and has a lot of values, ethics, rules and manners that fascinated me from the first sight,” Khulood Al Hajri, OK Nuri President said.
The name of the club is a reflection of the similarities the two cultures share. In the Arabic language, ‘Nuri’ means ‘my light’. In Korean, the same word is defined by ‘inspiration’.
According to Hajri, the social club has drawn more than 39 members within just two months of its launch and they’re mostly women.
“Ok Nuri is about the relationship between Oman and Korea in general and how the Korean culture impacts Omanis in the country. This kind of club is to gather both cultures and to combine them.
Studies conducted by the club show that women tend to be more interested in Korea than their Omani male counterpart. According to Hajri, most of the Omanis visiting Korea were women, and most of the members are women.
“Omani women are very interested in the Korean culture for many reasons. Their beauty products, fashion line and even music and film. But, also their traditions and values are similar. For example, our cultures are very strict, we share the same way of thinking and we are both very respectful,” Hajri said.
The club has hosted three events since its launch last December. The members also act as personal tour guides to Korean guests. OK Nuri spent countless hours introducing Oman to new Korean visitors, including trips to Jebel Akhdar and exploring Oman’s many treasures.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for Omanis to explore other cultures. Being in one place isn’t going to take you very far. My advice is to not be afraid of opening new doors to new cultures and exploring what other countries have. By doing so, it makes you realize how different, similar, all of us are and how this is an advantage for us to learn new and better things to implement in our own country,” Hajri stated.
