Embassy of India
Seoul
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Report on International Day of Yoga Celebration
Embassy of India in association with Korea Yoga Association, a Non-Governmental Organisation registered under Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, organised the 4th International Day of Yoga on 17 June 2018 at Gwanghwamun Plaza, the heart of Seoul city.
2. The half day event held in the afternoon of 17 June witnessed participation of more than 1300 enthusiastic yoga practitioners and lovers. Congressmen Mr. Ahn Min-seok, Mr. Kim Hui-sun, President of the IDY Organising Committee, Mr. Jang Jong-su, President of the Korea Yoga Association, Mr. Jeong Chang-soo, Secretary General, Seoul Sports Council, Professor Jeong-seo, Wongkang Digital University among other dignitaries participated at the event. Republic of Korea was represented by Ambassador for Public Diplomacy Ms. Enna Park, who delivered a special remarks on the occasion.
3. The event started with recitation of Shanthi mantra, was followed by demonstration of Yoga Protocol by India yoga teacher for the participants and then joint performance of yoga protocol by all the participants. Registration fee collected from the participants were donated to UNICEF as good will gesture.
4. As part of the IDY event, more than 30 booths were installed at the venue introducing Indian culture, yoga and other yoga related products by different entities.
5. The event was widely covered by both print and online media in addition to TV media. Ambassador of India gave an interview to Arirang TV, one of the prominent English channel in Korea on the occasion of IDY.
6. Thanking PM Modi for his letter inviting H.E. Mr. Moon Jae-in, President of the Republic of Korea to join International Day of Yoga celebration, President Moon Jae-in posted a congratulatory tweet on 21 June, the day of IDY celebration, and thanked PM Modi for his invitation. President Moon noted that Yoga seeks to achieve harmony between nature and man as well as between body and mind and said that Yoga is widely loved by Koreans. Highlighting IDY event held at Gwanghwamun square on 17 June 2018, Moon expressed hope that yoga will spread happiness and peace all around the world. In response to PM Modi’s thanks tweet (in Korean language), President Moon thanked PM Modi again for his Korean tweet in Hindi language. It may be noted that President Moon tweeted despite being on a three day State Visit to Russian Federation.
7. On 21 June, Embassy organised a IDY celebration in the morning at the Indian Culture Centre, which witnessed participation of more than 30 Korean and Indian friends. Further, PM Modi’s speech from Dehradun and yoga demonstration was live telecasted at the Indian Culture Centre for the benefit of participants. Earlier the Indian Yoga Teacher conducted a Yoga Protocol session for the participants before PM Modi’s speech.
8. In the evening, the Indian Culture Cenre in Busan organised another IDY event, which witnessed participation of around 500 people. The event in Busan, the second largest city in South Korea, was coordinated by Honorary Consul General of India in Korea, who is also the Director of the Indian Culture Centre, Busan. Ambassador delivered a special remarks on the occasion, which had participation of senior governmental dignitaries, Friends of India, businessmen among others.
9. In addition to these main events, Embassy organised a Yoga Festival in association with Korea Yoga Alliance at Jeongseon, Pyeongchang on 2-3 June 2018 and a Yoga Workshop at Gangwon province on 19 June 2018. Further, Embassy will be organising another Yoga Workshop on 28 June at EXPO Park, Daejeon in association with Art of Living Korea and Wongkwang Digital University.
