| Korean Culture and Information Service | |
| Type: | Cultural institution |
| Founder: | Government of South Korea |
| Location: | Government Complex-Sejong, 408, Galmae-ro, Sejong-si 30119, Republic of Korea |
| Key People: | Park Jung-Youl (Director) |
| Area Served: | 27 Countries |
| Focus: | Korean culture, Korean language |
| Homepage: | www.kocis.go.kr/eng/main.do# |
The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS;) is an affiliated organization of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism[1] of the South Korean government and runs 32 Korean cultural centers in 27 countries. The goal of the organization is to further enhance the image of Korea's national brand by promoting Korean heritage and arts through these cultural centers.
It was announced in January 2024 that the service would shut down and become a part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[2]
¤ To upgrade the country's nation brand and to publicize government policies
¤ To promote the spread of Hallyu and to expand cultural exchanges
¤ To produce promotional content and to facilitate its use
¤ To foster cooperative media relations
In its early years, as the Korean Overseas Information Service (KOIS), it also issued foreign language propaganda reports, such as on the Third Tunnel of Aggression.[3]
December 1971 — Inaugurated as the Korean Overseas Information Service (KOIS) under the Ministry of Culture and Information.
January 1990 - Affiliated with the Ministry of Information upon the division of the Ministry of Culture and Information into two separate ministries.
February 1998 - Affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism upon the disbandment of the Ministry of Information, and its name changed to the Korean Overseas Culture and Information Service (KOCIS).
May 1999 - Affiliated with the newly launched Government Information Agency, and its name reverted to Korean Overseas Information Service(KOCIS)
February 2008 - Affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) in accordance with a revision to the Government Organization Act, and its name changed to the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS).
February 2012 - Transferred responsibilities for the missions and tasks entrusted with the Korean Cultural Centers and Culture and Information Officers to the International Cultural Affairs Division of the MCST
September 2013 - Reassumed responsibilities for supporting and evaluating the Korean Cultural Centers and Culture and Information Officers as well as for specific executions of the Centers' programs from the International Cultural Affairs Division of the MCST
January 2015 - Reassumed the full remaining responsibilities for the work of the Korean Cultural Centers and Culture and Information Officers form the International Cultural Affairs Division of the MCST
See main article: KOREA.net. KOCIS manages KOREA.net, the official web portal of the South Korean government.[4]