Korea’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jeong Yo-an, says the Korean Film Festival will deepen cultural understanding, foster creative collaboration and strengthen friendship between Korea and Nigeria.
Yo-an made the remark at the opening of the 14th edition of the Korean Film Festival, organised by the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN) on Thursday night in Abuja.
The three-day festival, which began on Thursday, is aimed at bringing Korean storytelling and perspectives to Nigerian audiences.
The festival featured Korean films including “The King’s Warden,” “The Book Fish,” “Move Those Grave,” “Lucky Chan-Sil” and a short film by the winner of the 2026 Korean Cultural Centre Film Contest.
The ambassador said the festival had, over the years, brought Korean stories closer to Nigerian audiences while promoting values such as friendship, justice and human dignity.
“The spirit of this festival is to share stories, deepen cultural understanding and to strengthen the friendship between Korea and Nigeria through film.
“I just want you to enjoy today’s film, not only as a Korean story, but as a good human story that we can all share across borders; such a story will bring Korea and Nigeria a little closer together,” he said.
Yo-an said Korea had thousands of years of history and, according to Korean tradition, its first kingdom was Gojoseon, traditionally founded in 2333 BCE.
He said ancient kingdoms such as Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla later emerged, while Balhae flourished in the north and Unified Silla ruled the south. He added that Goryeo later emerged, from which the modern English name “Korea” was derived.
According to him, “The King’s Warden” was not only a story about a king but also about friendship, loyalty, courage and human dignity.
“The film leaves us with one simple, powerful question: when power and position disappear, what remains is our humanity, compassion, courage, loyalty and respect for human dignity.
“History is shaped not only by kings and powerful people, but also by the choices and courage of ordinary people.
“We are here for the global popularity of Korean films, dramas, music, food, and culture as it continues to grow,” he added.
“The King’s Warden” is a 2026 historical drama film directed and written by Jang Hang-jun. The film explores the life of the deposed King Danjong during his exile in 1457.
According to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the movie, released on Feb. 4, had recorded 16,921,889 admissions across 2,262 screens, generating approximately 120 million dollars in box office revenue as of Sept. 3.
Mr Israel Audu, Executive Director of the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF), said the Korean Film Festival in Nigeria was a remarkable platform that continued to strengthen cultural understanding and people-to-people relations between Korea and Nigeria.
Audu, who is also Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Film Festival Association (NFFA), expressed delight at witnessing the power of film to bring two cultures closer together.
According to him, film is a language that transcends borders, connects people, preserves culture, tells stories and creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue.
He noted that through cinema, a young Nigerian filmmaker could tell a story that resonated with an audience thousands of kilometres away.
Audu said the KCCN and KADIFF short film contests had demonstrated incredible creativity and encouraged the storytelling abilities of Nigerian filmmakers, particularly emerging talents.
“As juries, our responsibility was not simply to select films, but to recognise originality, creativity, storytelling, technical excellence and the ability of filmmakers to communicate meaningful ideas through the language of cinema,” he said.
He commended the KCCN for its continued commitment to promoting Korean culture and strengthening cultural relations through film.
“We at KADIFF value this opportunity to collaborate with the centre. Together, we can build platforms for Nigerian filmmakers to learn, participate, compete, and connect with audiences worldwide.
“To the participating filmmakers, I encourage you to keep telling your stories, learning, creating and never underestimate the power of your voice.
“Africa has countless stories waiting to be told, and you are among those who will shape how the world sees and understands our continent,” he added.
Audu thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the film festival, saying they made the year’s edition remarkable.
“May this friendship between Nigeria and Korea continue to grow stronger through film, cinema and creative collaboration.”
Meanwhile, some Nigerians who watched the movies expressed satisfaction with the lessons from the films.
A movie enthusiast, Grace Moses, a student, said the film festival was refreshing and entertaining.
Moses, who said it was her third time attending the festival, said she was impressed by the showcase of films.
According to her, “The King’s Warden” demonstrated that there are bad and wicked people.
The movie centred on the tragic story of a young king who was dethroned and explored the domestic life and psychological isolation of the deposed King Danjong during his exile in 1457.
“We need more of such a festival, because it is really refreshing,” she said.
Another movie enthusiast, Reign Moses, who attended the festival with her siblings, appreciated the KCCN for organising the event.
“We had fun and no dull moments throughout the movie. Such a festival is bringing the two countries together for better understanding of their cultures,” she said.
