Minister Park, Director Youn, Mrs. Kang Suejin, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Good afternoon.

It is a great pleasure for my husband and me to be mark the 60-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Korea here at MMCA, and to open in that regard the very first solo exhibition of Asger Jorn in Korea – and in Asia. What a fitting way to celebrate the 2019 Culture Year and the Danish-Korean partnership.  

We have just had the pleasure of seeing the exhibition – “Alternative Languages” - and the result and the modern curation is impressive. An excellent combination of Nordic minimalism and Korean cool. Thank you to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and Museum Jorn in Denmark for your vision in making this beautiful exhibition - by one of Denmark’s most important modern artists - a reality. As the Danish patron of the 2019 culture year, I have no doubt that the exhibition will contribute to strengthening the cultural partnership and warm relations between our countries.

Jorn made the art piece “Three-Sided Football” you can see in the exhibition to demonstrate, that art can serve as an alternative system that offsets conflicts and provides a different perspective on the world. I agree. Music, design and art in all its forms can express experiences, visions and dreams in an alternative language. Strengthening cultural bonds is an important way for us to communicate and understand each other’s past and present, which supports the creation of a common future. 

This is the purpose of the 2019 culture year. And the reason that I am honored to be patron of the cultural year together with Korea’s patron, Mrs. Kang Suejin. 

The ambition of the 2019 Culture Year is to build on our existing cultural bonds, the long-standing friendship between our nations and to pave the way for more and deeper cultural dialogue and exchanges. Between our artists, cultural institutions and people. 

Hans Christian Andersen and his much-loved fairy tales are a big part of the Danish culture. I hope many of you will get the opportunity to experience his insightful and moving stories at the Seoul History Museum. 

The creative world of design and crafts, cutting-edge animation movies, innovative art installations, architecture and music are other cultural jewels, that will enrich and add flavor to the 2019 celebrations in Korea.

I am confident, that this year will serve to reinforce our cultural bonds and the brand of Denmark in Korea. And that of Korea in Denmark. Just as the interesting and thought-provoking exhibition by Kim Beom did. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibition in Aarhus with Mrs. Kang Sui-jin during the official opening of the cultural year in Denmark. 

Denmark and Korea may be geographically far apart, but our countries have much to offer each other. We both strive for green, liveable and sustainable societies. We encourage creativity and innovation in our children and companies. We aim to meet challenges with courage, innovation and new collaborations – the very themes of this important visit to Korea. 

It is my strong hope, that the 2019 culture year will create the foundation for an even stronger Danish-Korean partnership in the future. 

Thank you.