A Korean diplomat's love affair with Kurdish clothing, poetry
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Choi Kwang-Jin, 52, consul general of South Korea to Erbil, has lived in the Kurdistan Region capital for about two years, but his interest in Kurdistan began in his first visit 15 years ago.
“Fifteen years ago, the Kurdistan Region was in turmoil and there were a lot of political situation, economic situation, the social and cultural situation is worse that you could expect… Fifteen years later, I came and then I saw a sea of changes in Kurdistan. I think Kurdistan Region is going in a right direction for the development of economy, politics and international relationships,” Choi said in an interview on Kanni Halabjayi’s entertainment show on July 8, 2020.
In his first visit, he met with veteran Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and picked up some fashion tips, gaining an appreciation for traditional Kurdish clothes (jili Kurdi).
“I like this jili Kurdi because the trousers is almost the same as the Korean’s. Korean traditional trousers is just like these. I read one article from the jili Kurdi specialists that this jili Kurdi was the first in the world, first in the world for the trousers for men,” he said.
As a poet, he takes inspiration from the Kurdish language and enjoys reading his translated poems. “Actually I am a poet… but the Kurdish language makes me much more powerful because the Kurdish pronunciation is a little bit mythical and then very beautiful,” said Choi.
“Fifteen years ago, the Kurdistan Region was in turmoil and there were a lot of political situation, economic situation, the social and cultural situation is worse that you could expect… Fifteen years later, I came and then I saw a sea of changes in Kurdistan. I think Kurdistan Region is going in a right direction for the development of economy, politics and international relationships,” Choi said in an interview on Kanni Halabjayi’s entertainment show on July 8, 2020.
In his first visit, he met with veteran Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and picked up some fashion tips, gaining an appreciation for traditional Kurdish clothes (jili Kurdi).
“I like this jili Kurdi because the trousers is almost the same as the Korean’s. Korean traditional trousers is just like these. I read one article from the jili Kurdi specialists that this jili Kurdi was the first in the world, first in the world for the trousers for men,” he said.
As a poet, he takes inspiration from the Kurdish language and enjoys reading his translated poems. “Actually I am a poet… but the Kurdish language makes me much more powerful because the Kurdish pronunciation is a little bit mythical and then very beautiful,” said Choi.