The Czech-Korean Society (체코-코리아협회, Česko-korejská společnost, CKS) was founded in 1990 in order to improve mutual understanding in both regions and deepen awareness about Korea in the Czech Republic and vice versa. The CKS is a non-profit non-governmental organization actively developing and supporting mutual contacts of people and institutions from the Czech Republic and Korea, in the areas of culture, education, sport, tourism, science and engineering, and economic and trade cooperation.
The CKS organizes various educational and social events focused on promoting Korea in the Czech Republic (conferences, lectures, round tables, happenings, contests, community meetings, film screenings, language courses etc.) and co-operates with Czech and Korean governmental, educational and cultural institutions on their Korea-related projects (exhibitions, delegations, workshops, media outputs etc.).
Recently, the CKS has actively worked with Korean institutions, e.g. with the Korea Foundation (“EXPLORING KOREA“ – an educational project in 2006 and 2007 launched to raise awareness about Korea among Czech public), the Academy of Korean Studies (“2014 Prague Hallyu conference” – international academic conference on Korean popular culture in Europe) or the Arts Council of Korea (Korean Days in Ostrava in 2012-2015). In the Czech Republic, the CZK works with major state as well as private institutions, e.g. the Institute of International Affairs of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Association of International Affairs in Prague, and a number of Czech universities.
In 2010, the CKS’s Film Club was launched with regular monthly screenings of Korean movies. Also, Language Center of CKS was opened in 2014 in order to focus on the Korean language activities. Since 2007, the CKS has organized annual Korean days in Ostrava and in 2014 the first Korean Days in Prague were organized at the National Gallery in Prague, so far the two biggest Korean cultural festivals in central Europe. On the occasion of the President Park Geun-hye’s visit to Prague in December 2015, the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech-Korean Society was established, supporting Czech-Korean business ties.
The CKS is an all-volunteer organization headed by a board of directors. All activities are carried out by an executive team of 10-15 Korean studies graduates and professionals from Korea-related fields. You may contact the team at E: info@cks-korea.cz, M: + 739 594 979 or W: www.cks-korea.cz.
