The Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN) has shown keen interest in fostering a collaboration between Nigeria’s Afrobeat sound and traditional Korean music, aiming to use K-pop’s global popularity to promote cultural exchange.
This intention was shared by KCCN Director Jeon Ju Ho during the launch of an exhibition titled “K-pop Meets Korean Traditional Music” held on Tuesday at the Centre’s premises in Abuja.
K-pop, which has grown into a worldwide music sensation, draws from Korea’s rich traditional sounds. Ju Ho noted, however, that while K-pop is widely loved in Nigeria, many fans are unaware of the traditional Korean musical elements within it.
“When it comes to Korean traditional music, to be honest, there has not been any collaboration around Afrobeat,” he said.
“We are hoping for more collaborations and opportunities so that traditional Nigerian music can also be introduced to Korea.”
He emphasised that the exhibition aims to expose Nigerian audiences to the lesser-known roots of K-pop by showcasing traditional Korean instruments also used in modern productions.
Ju Ho added, “People often overlook traditional music because they’re more familiar with K-pop. But through this exhibition, we want to ignite interest in cultural exchange and pave the way for Afrobeat to meet Korean tradition.”
With Afrobeat gaining global recognition and K-pop already an international powerhouse, Ju Ho believes a fusion of the two could create fresh, exciting music and strengthen the cultural relationship between Nigeria and South Korea.
