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Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries

Coordinates: 39°0′28.68″N 125°44′35.04″E / 39.0079667°N 125.7430667°E / 39.0079667; 125.7430667
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Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
대외문화련락위원회
Hancha
對外文化連絡委員會
Revised RomanizationDaeoe munhwaryeollak wiwonhoe
McCune–ReischauerTaeoe munhwaryŏllak wiwŏnhoe

The Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries (CCRFC; Korean: 대외문화련락위원회) is a North Korean organization tasked with organizing cultural exchange with other countries.[1]

The committee was founded when the North Korean state was declared. It was modeled after its Soviet equivalent, the All-Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.[2] Initially the organization sought to generate goodwill toward North Korea abroad, but after the North Korean famine it has concentrated on acquiring resources.[3] It seeks hard currency from tourism, cultural diplomacy, and foreign direct investment.[2]

The committee supports the Korean Friendship Association and other friendship societies. The staff of the committee leads a relatively cosmopolitan life with access to foreign travel, people, and goods. Its personnel includes higher-ups in the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the state security apparatus. The staff arrange business deals with foreigners to evade international trade restrictions and receive a share of the proceeds. Although these deals have had limited success, the committee remains influential as a point of contact for journalists and other foreign visitors, whose guides may be representatives of the committee.[2] Its activities overlap and to some extent compete with those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[3]

The current chairwoman is Kim Jong-suk and vice-chairman So Ho-won.[4][5] It is based in Pyongyang.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries". North Korea Tech. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "North Korea's Cultural Relations Strategy". North Korean Economy Watch. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Philippines donates to DPRK school". North Korean Economy Watch. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Science Book Fair Opens". North Korea Leadership Watch. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  5. ^ "DPRK-Cuba Solidarity Committee Meets". North Korea Leadership Watch. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  6. ^ Worldwide Government Directory with Intergovernmental Organizations 2013. CQ Press. 2013. p. 890. ISBN 978-1-4522-9937-2.
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39°0′28.68″N 125°44′35.04″E / 39.0079667°N 125.7430667°E / 39.0079667; 125.7430667


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