English | Korean I am grateful to welcome you to the Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles (KCCLA) for the year, 2008. KCCLA is the largest facility outside of Korea to provide insights into the rich cultural heritage of Korea through specialized programs, sponsored events, films, art exhibitions, and multiple learning sources to the general public for more than a quarter of a century. The Korea Center Los Angeles(Korea Center, LA) has now been in operation for more than a year. The Center was established to initiate cultural exchanges by providing services and information on Korean culture & art, entertainment and tourism. It is jointly operated by the Korea Culture & Content Agency, the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korean Film Council. These four agencies, including KCCLA, work together to promote Korean culture ranging from entertainment industry to tourism. The Center is a magnificent place and opportunity for everyone to share and appreciate Korea's contemporary trends. The Korea Center, LA has launched a mission to endorse the rising phenomenon - The Korean Wave - a thriving variety of Korean entertainment that has captured the attention of the world. The Center is the ideal venue that offers a comprehensive exposition of this phenomenon: Korean films, online games, animation character merchandise, state-of-the-art technology, popular television series, and much more! The Korean Cultural Center has developed new events and programs for the year 2008. We are committed to more frequently offer a variety of exhibitions, performances, cultural workshops, traditional music recitals, and modern dance performances in every venue of the facility. We will also host more joint-performances with our brethren of diverse cultures in Los Angeles - these include: Mexican, African-American, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, European, and South American. KCCLA has organized the sponsorship professional artists to perform traditional dances and music recitals and prominent venues in Southern California such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Getty Center, and the Pacific Asia Museum. KCCLA has planned a cultural seminar for the Los Angeles Police Department. Police officers will learn about Korean history, language and customs so they may become more familiar and amicable with the burgeoning Korean Community in LA. Furthermore, we plan to offer the general public a more tangible cultural experience by presenting Korean cultural workshops such as food etiquette, tea ceremonies, and Films. We will also promote more Taekwondo events and tournaments not only in Southern California but in the entire country. KCCLA has made technical advances in our facility. We have installed a Film Archives and Screening Room in the library, so our guests can watch recent Korean films on DVD or educational DVDs about Korea registered in our library archives. Ari Hall on the 3rd floor has completed its renovation and a new and improved lighting system was installed in January of 2008. Having the chance to explore the rich traditions of other cultures is the best method to create enduring relationships among diverse nationalities and cultures. KCCLA will continue to provide this opportunity for you by showcasing the extensive history as well as dynamic modern trends of Korea. We wish you a continued success in all of your endeavors and may all of your wishes come true in 2008. Sincerely, Jongyul Kim Director Korean Cultural Center Copyright © 2005 Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles, All rights reserved.