The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Pakistan will host a reception to commemorate the Republic of Korea’s National Day and Armed Forces Day, highlighting the friendship and growing cooperation between Korea and Pakistan.The event will showcase Korea’s advanced defence industry and technological capabilities, while also offering guests an opportunity to experience a wide range of Korean culture, including K-pop, traditional Korean fan dance, Taekwondo and Korean cuisine.A key feature of this year’s celebration is that active participation of Pakistanis from K-pop performers, university students to national Taekwondo athletes and local entrepreneurs, reflecting the spirit of friendship and exchange being built together by the people of Korea and Pakistan.Key Points for Media Coverage■ Korea’s advanced defence industry and technological capabilities■ K-Culture: K-pop performances by winners of the 2025 K-pop Festival, a traditional Korean fan dance by NUML’s “Hanullim,” and a Taekwondo demonstration by Pakistan’s national team■ Korean Cuisine: High quality, authentic Korean cuisine prepared by a Korean chef from the Embassy of the Rebublic of Korea, together with the participation by the Pakistani operated “Bok Dak Bok” Korean Food Station.■ K-Beauty: K-Beauty sheet masks will be distributed to guests as souvenirs■ The broader significance of these programmes in promoting Korea-Pakistan culturaland people-to-people exchange, friendship and cooperation.
Arrival of Guests
2National Anthems of the Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
3Welcome Remarks by H.E. HAN Sungho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
4 Remarks by the Chief Guest
5 K-Culture Performances (K-pop Performance, Traditional Korean Fan Dance by NUML’s “Hanullim”, Taekwondo Demonstration by Pakistan’s National Team) 6
Dinner featuring Korean Cuisine
7 Souvenir Distribution – K-Beauty Sheet Masks
. Korea’s Advanced Defence Industry and Technology
As part of the National Day and Armed Forces Day celebration, the Embassy will highlight the advanced capabilities and technological excellence of the Republic of Korea’s defence industry.Building on its strong technological and manufacturing capabilities, Korea has continued to strengthen its competitiveness in the global defence sector. The event will provide an opportunity to introduce the technological strengths and capabilities of the Korean defence industry to Pakistani government and military officials, distinguished guests and other participants.The showcase is expected to further enhance mutual understanding in the defence sector and highlight the potential for broader cooperation between Korea and Pakistan.
2. K-Culture: Korean Culture Shared and Performed by Pakistanis
The celebration will feature a diverse programme of K-pop, traditional Korean fan dance and Taekwondo, bringing together both contemporary and traditional elements of Korean culture.What makes the programme particularly meaningful is that Korean culture will not simply be presented to a Pakistani audience. Rather, Pakistanis who have developed an interest in and connection with Korean culture will themselves take centre stage.
● K-pop Performance – Winners of the 2025 K-pop FestivalThe K-pop stage will feature winners of the 2025 K-pop Festival organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Pakistan.The programme will include performances to Stray Kids’ “CHK CHK BOOM” and BTS’ “MIC Drop,” as well as a performance featuring music by LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT and KATSEYE.By interpreting and performing Korean music and choreography themselves, young Pakistani K-pop enthusiasts will demonstrate the growing popularity and reach of K-pop and the Korean Wave in Pakistan.
● Traditional Korean Fan Dance by NUML’s “Hanullim”Students from “Hanullim,” a traditional Korean fan dance group at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), will present a traditional Korean fan dance.Hanullim was established in April 2025 through a cultural class under the Seed Program for Korean Studies of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS). The students have learned and performed traditional Korean fan dance under the guidance of Korean instructors Yoon Buyeon and Jang Eunsook, Senior Instructor at NUML.
The group currently includes students from NUML’s Department of Korean Language & Culture, students studying Korean through the Department of Translation & Interpretation, and learners from the Islamabad King Sejong Institute.NUML is Pakistan’s only formal university-level institution providing Korean language and culture education, and plays an important role in promoting Korean language learning and cultural exchange between Korea and PakistanThe participation of Pakistani university students in traditional Korean fan dance demonstrates how interest in Korean culture in Pakistan is expanding beyond contemporary popular culture such as K-pop to include Korea’s traditional cultural heritage.
● Taekwondo Demonstration by Pakistan’s National Team
The event will also feature a Taekwondo demonstration by athletes from the Pakistan Taekwondo Poomsae National Team.Master Choi Sung-oh, a Taekwondo instructor dispatched to Pakistan by Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters, currently serves as the head coach of Pakistan’s national poomsae team.The team competes in recognized and freestyle poomsae events and has achieved notable results at international competitions. Most recently, Pakistani athletes won silver and bronze medals at the 2026 Gangwon-Chuncheon World Taekwondo Demonstration & Breaking Championships.The participation of Pakistan’s national athletes in a Taekwondo demonstration at the Republic of Korea’s National Foundation Day celebration highlights the sporting and people to people ties between Korea and Pakistan.
1. Naila – First Pakistani female athlete to compete in the Taekwondo poomsae event at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games; advanced to the quarterfinals.
2. Zena Sheraz – Qualified among 16 countries out of 44 and represented Pakistan at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
3. Ameer Hamza – Also qualified among 16 countries out of 44 and represented Pakistan at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
4. Usman Sial – International-level athlete and captain of the demonstration team.
5. Muhammad Sarmad Waheed – Member of Pakistan’s national poomsae team with international competition experience.
3. Korean Cuisine: Connecting Korea and Pakistan through Food
High quality, authentic Korean cuisine prepared by a Korean chef from the Embassy of the Republic of the Korea will be served, giving guests an opportunity to experience the authentic taste of Korea.The event will feature “Bok Dak Bok” Korean Food Station, a locally based Korean restaurant operated by Pakistanis, presenting Korean cuisine to guests.The participation of a Pakistani-operated Korean restaurant is particularly meaningful, as it demonstrates how Korean food is increasingly being introduced to local consumers by Pakistanis themselves.Together, the participation of Bok Dak Bok and the Korean dishes prepared by the Embassy’s Korean chef demonstrate how food can serve as another bridge connecting the people of Korea and Pakistan.
4. K-Beauty Souvenir
Guests will receive K-Beauty sheet masks as souvenirs, offering them an opportunity to experience another popular aspect of contemporary Korean culture.Alongside K-pop, Taekwondo and Korean cuisine, the K-Beauty souvenirs will provide guests with another accessible way to experience the diversity of Korean culture.The event highlights the active participation of Pakistani youth, university students, national athletes and local entrepreneurs, reflecting how Korea and Pakistan are building friendship and cooperation together through people-to-people exchange.Korean culture is no longer unfamiliar to many Pakistanis. From K-pop and Taekwondo to Korean cuisine, traditional culture and K-Beauty, it has become increasingly visible and established in Pakistan. This event provides an opportunity to showcase how Korean culture has taken root locally through the active participation and interest of the Pakistani people.Through defence, K-Culture, Korean cuisine and K-Beauty, the event aims to further strengthen mutual understanding and deepen ties between the people of Korea and Pakistan.