A free month of Korean culture in Buenos Aires this November.

A month of activities at four venues

Throughout November, the Korean Cultural Center in Argentina spreads a free agenda of film, literature, cooking, art and performances across the city. There are four venues: Club Eterno, Palacio Libertad, Manzana de las Luces and the center itself, based at Palacio Bencich since 2018, according to Ámbito.

The program celebrates the institution's 20 years; it opened in the country in 2006. It also overlaps with National Kimchi Day, a date set by law 27,720 and observed every November 22. Several activities require advance registration.

The main event on Sunday, November 22

On Sunday the 22nd at 6 pm, the Sala Argentina at Palacio Libertad hosts 'Corea vibra en Argentina' (Korea Vibrates in Argentina). The Namdo National Gugak Center arrives from Korea with music, folk dance and traditional performing arts.

The repertoire adds three dances: Chunaengjeon, the spring nightingale dance; Buchaechum, the fan dance; and Taepyeongmu, tied to peace and prosperity. The day before, on Saturday the 21st at 3 pm, the same group gives a demonstration at the Korean Cultural Center.

That afternoon also brings cooking and beauty. On the Plaza Seca at Palacio Libertad, Sandra Lee leads two workshops called '20 años, 20 bibimbap' (20 Years, 20 Bibimbap). The first session starts at 2:30 pm and the second at 4:30 pm, and you must sign up beforehand. Teams combine Korean and Argentine ingredients to make their own version of the dish. From 2 pm to 8 pm, the terrace also offers a K-beauty space with skin-care routines.

Film and books all month long

Palacio Libertad shows Korean films on Sundays the 15th, 22nd and 29th. The Sala Manuel Antin hosts those screenings at 6 pm. Titles include The Host, directed by Bong Joon-ho, and Luck-Key, directed by Lee Gae-byeok.

Manzana de las Luces offers a series that runs from historical drama to horror and auteur cinema, with The Novelist's Film, Christmas in August, Two Sisters and The Face Reader. It screens every Wednesday in November, on the 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th, from 7 pm in the Sala de Representantes.

Club Eterno adds four contemporary Korean literature meetings. They gather on four Thursdays, the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th, between 7 and 8 pm. They are led by Agustina Larrea, Juan Mattio, Julia Ariza and Nicolás Braessas, with readings by authors such as Bora Chung and Kim Hye-jin.

Art, beauty and Museum Night

From Wednesday the 4th, the Korean Cultural Center shows the painting exhibition 'Ecos de la ciudad' (Echoes of the City). It was organized with the MMCA, the Korean museum of modern and contemporary art, and gathers works from its Art Bank program on how current painting represents urban spaces.

The K-beauty classes are taught by a specialist from Korea and require advance registration. On Thursday the 12th and Friday the 13th they run from 10 am to 1 pm, and on Saturday the 14th they are held in the evening, from 7:30 to 10 pm. They cover skin care and makeup: hydration, face masks and massages.

On Saturday the 14th, between 7 pm and 2 am, the center joins Museum Night. There will be a norebang, that is, a space for singing, along with a station for making postcards, a photo area and Korean games.

Useful facts

Everything is free, but the bibimbap workshops and the K-beauty classes require advance registration, so it is wise to reserve a spot before going. If you want just one outing, Sunday the 22nd packs the 6 pm show, the afternoon cooking workshops and the K-beauty space from 2 to 8 pm at Palacio Libertad.

For film, note Sundays at 6 pm at Palacio Libertad and Wednesdays at 7 pm at Manzana de las Luces. The literature meetings are on Thursdays from 7 to 8 pm at Club Eterno.