President Park Geun-hye Monday attended an event to promote South Korean culture in New York on the last day of her trip to the U.S., Cheong Wa Dae said.

Park toured an exhibition on Korean culture, including the traditional Korean clothes, or "hanbok," and Korean food, at the Korean Cultural Service New York, South Korea's presidential office said.

It is the first time that a sitting president has visited a South Korean cultural center since 1979, when South Korea opened its first overseas cultural center.

The move underscored Park's commitment to enhancing South Korea's culture.

South Korea views the culture industry as one of its future growth engines amid growing popularity of its pop culture, including soap operas and music, in China, Japan and other Asian countries in recent years.

South Korea has designated the last Wednesday of every month as a culture day to provide the public with easier access to cultural events and sites.

Park also met with more than a dozen Americans whom South Korea calls "K-Culture supporters" at the Korean Cultural Service New York. South Korea hopes that the supporters will help spread South Korean culture across the U.S.

"I have high expectations for your activities," Park told the supporters. She also expressed hope that the American supporters can help deepen mutual understanding between the two countries through culture.

High-profile participants included Seth Andrew, a senior adviser to the chief technology officer at the White House.

Andrew founded Democracy Prep Public Schools, a college preparatory school in New York, after being inspired by South Korean education while he taught English at a South Korean middle school, according to the presidential office. (Yonhap)

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