SEOUL, South Korea – IBK Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), in collaboration with the Korea Mecenat Association, announced the launch of the 'IBK Moduda School Concert 2025.' This initiative aims to foster integration within multicultural societies, with its inaugural performance held on June 18 at Bosan Elementary School in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Now in its third year, the 'Moduda School Concert' series has consistently utilized non-verbal performances to ensure that students from multicultural families can enjoy the shows without language barriers. This unique approach allows for universal understanding and appreciation, regardless of a child's linguistic background.

This year's concert series will run until September, visiting five elementary schools with high concentrations of multicultural students in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, and Busan. The theme for these performances is "Respect for Differences and Harmony," featuring original Korean traditional music and performing arts. This theme is particularly relevant in South Korea, a country that has seen a significant increase in its multicultural population over the past two decades. As of 2023, the number of multicultural residents in South Korea exceeded 2.2 million, highlighting the growing need for inclusive programs like the 'Moduda School Concert.'

Bosan Elementary School, the venue for the first performance, exemplifies this demographic shift, with 53% of its student body comprising students from 24 different countries. During the concert, the traditional Korean music and performance group 'Go-on' presented a creative traditional Korean musical performance that tells the story of forest animals preparing for a rain-making ritual during a severe drought. The narrative, accompanied by the powerful sounds of traditional Korean percussion instruments (samulnori), effectively conveyed the value of diversity and cooperation.

A particularly impactful moment in the performance was the reinterpretation of "Binari," a traditional Korean ritualistic song for blessings, into the African folk song "Kumbaya." This thoughtful adaptation resonated deeply with the audience, especially given that approximately 60% of the multicultural students at Bosan Elementary are from African families. This customization demonstrates IBK and the Korea Mecenat Association's commitment to tailoring performances to reflect the unique cultural makeup of each school's student population, ensuring maximum engagement and relevance.

A teacher from Bosan Elementary School who attended the performance remarked, "It was heartwarming to see the students laughing and harmonizing together, transcending language and cultural barriers through the shared experience of Korean traditional performing arts."

An IBK official expressed the bank's hopes for the program, stating, "We hope that children from diverse backgrounds will learn about understanding and respecting diversity through the medium of traditional Korean culture, particularly traditional Korean music." This initiative underscores IBK's broader commitment to corporate social responsibility and its recognition of the importance of cultural integration in a rapidly diversifying society. The 'Moduda School Concert' serves as a vibrant example of how cultural programs can play a vital role in fostering a more inclusive and harmonious community.

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