The Corea Image Communication Institute welcomed 60 foreign diplomats and opinion leaders with a calligraphy class Tuesday night, marking the opening of the 21st Korea Culture Quotient Program.

Hosted at the residence of Malaysian Ambassador Rohana Ramli, the meeting gave an opportunity for the participants to welcome the spring program by learning and experiencing the art of calligraphy.

Popular Hangeul calligrapher Kang Byung-in entertained the guests, explaining the art of calligraphy and the symbolic significance of strokes. Before welcoming guests to try themselves, Kang created an example before the crowd with the word “flower,” an element in many of his works. As he wrote the word over and over, Kang gently lifted pressure off the brush, so as to evoke the flower blossoming through spring.

Several foreign participants, including the Malaysian and Singaporean ambassadors, were given the opportunity try their hand at calligraphy themselves, carefully replicating Kang’s work before presenting it to the crowd.

Culture Quotient programs are offered twice a year, offering a platform for foreign and local leaders to experience Korean culture. The current 10-week spring program will offer sessions about Korean beauty and art as well as a trip to Gangneung and PyeongChang in Gangwon Province, the 2018 Winter Olympics sites.

CICI is a nonprofit organization established in 2003 by Choi Jung-hwa, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and a veteran French-Korean interpreter.

By Zoe Samios (zoesamios@heraldcorp.com)