Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries

Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	대외문화련락위원회
Hancha	對外文化連絡委員會
Revised Romanization	Daeoe munhwaryeollak wiwonhoe
McCune–Reischauer	Taeoe munhwaryŏllak wiwŏnhoe

The Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries (CCRFC) 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 .^[4]^[5] It is based in Pyongyang.^[6]

References[]

^ "Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries". North Korea Tech. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "North Korea's Cultural Relations Strategy". North Korean Economy Watch. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Philippines donates to DPRK school". North Korean Economy Watch. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
^ "Science Book Fair Opens". North Korea Leadership Watch. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
^ "DPRK-Cuba Solidarity Committee Meets". North Korea Leadership Watch. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
^ Worldwide Government Directory with Intergovernmental Organizations 2013. CQ Press. 2013. p. 890. ISBN 978-1-4522-9937-2.