- MCST and MOFA to jointly hold Korean culture events throughout June in Mexico, where the 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off

To mark the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minister CHO Hyun, MOFA) will host a K-culture festival in Mexico for the people of Korea and Mexico to enjoy together, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Mexico and the Korean Cultural Center in Mexico.

Held under the themes "Pasión que Une" (Connecting through Passion), "Luz que Une" (Connecting through Light), "Miradas que Unen" (Connecting through Gaze) and "Ritmos que Unen" (Connecting through Rhythm) the festival will feature a wide range of cultural events, including media façades, contemporary art exhibitions, traditional Korean folk performances, and K-pop cover dance events. Organized through the “K-Initiative Council,” which is operated by overseas diplomatic missions to promote interagency communication and collaboration, the festival is designed as a global celebration that connects sports and culture, bringing together audiences from around the world and local citizens.

Mexico is one of the key hubs for the spread of the Korean Wave in Latin America, where interest in Korean culture—spanning K-pop, dramas, beauty, food, and lifestyle trends—continues to grow steadily. In particular, the Korean national football team will play all three of its group-stage matches in Mexico during this World Cup (two in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and one in Monterrey, Nuevo León), which is expected to further heighten local interest in K-culture.

Diverse Cultural Programs Connecting Korea’s Tradition and Modernity to Be Showcased During the World Cup

In Mexico, the events—led mainly by the Embassy, the Korean Cultural Center, and the local office of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO)—will introduce content encompassing both Korea’s traditional and contemporary culture, broadening exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries.

First, Mexico and Korea will be connected through passion in Zapopan, which is part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area and closely linked to central Guadalajara. On June 6, the K-Initiative Council will hold “Korea Day (Día de Corea)” in Zapopan, Jalisco—a comprehensive cultural festival that brings together K-food, K-culture, K-content, and K-sports. The event will showcase the appeal of Korean culture not only to local residents but also to football fans from around the world, and will be joined by two Korean War veterans, underscoring the friendship and solidarity between Korea and Mexico.

On the same day (June 6), media artist LEE Lee-nam’s media façade “Connected by Light (Luz que Une)” will be unveiled on the exterior wall of the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Zapopan) in Zapopan, Jalisco, creating synergy with the event. This large-scale media art piece, blending the cultural symbols of Korea and Mexico, will convey both the excitement of the World Cup and a message of cultural exchange.

The National Museum of World Cultures in Mexico City, in collaboration with Korea’s Savina Museum of Contemporary Art, will host “Translating Tradition, Imagining the Future,” a contemporary art exhibition that reinterprets Korean traditional culture through media art and artificial intelligence (AI) art. At the Global Village in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City, a multifunctional Korea Promotion Pavilion linking Korean tourism resources with K-content will be operated. In partnership with the National Museum Foundation of Korea, the Korean Cultural Center will present a special exhibition of MU:DS—the National Museum of Korea’s museum merchandise brand—at the Korea Promotion Pavilion, showcasing the appeal and excellence of cultural merchandise that combines Korea’s tradition and modernity.

In addition, at major venues in Zapopan, Jalisco, as well as in Mexico City and Monterrey, performers and groups—including the traditional performance groups Yeonhee Nanjang ON:R and The Gwangdae, K-Tigers, and Mexican K-pop cover dance teams—will present celebratory performances wishing for the successful hosting of the World Cup and success for the Korean national team.

The MCST and MOFA noted that the 2026 FIFA World Cup serves as a meaningful international stage for showcasing the creativity and appeal of K-culture to the world. Accordingly, they plan to continue holding a variety of cultural events throughout the World Cup so that the people of Korea and Mexico can communicate, strengthen bonds, and grow closer together.