Signing of Declaration of Intent for Five Year Cooperation between the State Hermitage and Korean Air Company

29 June 2009, signing ceremony of Declaration of Intent for five year cooperation between the State Hermitage and Korean Air Company took place in the State Hermitage, at the Pavilion Room.

Declaration of Intent was signed by Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the State Hermitage, and Mr. Young-Ho Cho, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Korean Air airline in the presence of the ambassador of Republic of Korea in Russia Gu-Hung Lee and Chairman of External Relations Committee of St Petersburg Alexander Prokhorenko.

In accordance with the agreement the company is going to assist the Hermitage to realize the programme on publication of information printed materials as well as posters of temporary exhibitions that take place in the museum in the coming five years.

In 2008 Korean Air sponsored the programme on development of audio guides in Korean language for the Hermitage by providing financial support for its executor - Delia LLC. For the first time services in Korean language appeared in the State Hermitage due to this joint project. Korean language became the first Asian language of the museum multimedia guide.

"Creation of audio guide for the Hermitage is a beautiful step into the Russian market. Also, it is a contribution to the development of cultural bonds. As language is the most important part of culture. Korean guide is becoming an important part of both our cultures," pointed out director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky.

"By brining to your notice a multimedia tourist Hermitage guide Korean Air presents Korean language, source of our national pride and cultural heritage. We are sure that the present sponsorship programme raises cultural exchange between Korea and Russia to a new higher level," noted Mr. Young-Ho Cho, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the company. "Long-term perspectives of our sponsor support to the Hermitage were consolidated by the signed Declaration of Intent. This is the latest initiative of Korean Air that is aimed at strengthening of cultural relations between the countries and the peoples. Acting as 'corporate cultural attache' we intend to find ways of uniting cultures and communities all around the world," added Mr. Cho.

After signing of the Declaration of Intent and press-conference that took place in the Council Room of the Stage Hermitage the guests made a tour of the museum and got acquainted with the work of the new multimedia guide in Korean language.

Korean airline timed a number of events to the introduction of multimedia services in Korean language in the Hermitage. In the course of the year Korean Air presents special series of luggage labels with the image of world-famous canvas of Paul Gauguin Woman Holding a Fruit that will be out to passengers of the first and prestige class on the travel itinerary Seoul - Moscow and Seoul - St Petersburg. Furthermore, by the end of this year Flying Art Ambassadors will start their work on route St Petersburg - Seoul. Employees of the new service that underwent serious professional selection process will tell the passengers flying to St Petersburg about museums, tourist programmes and places of interest of the city and on the way back will introduce cultural and tourist attractions of Korea using illustrated City Guides published in 2008 by Korean Air airline.

Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the State Hermitage

Mr. Young-Ho Cho, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Korean Air airline

Singing of the Declaration in the Pavilion Room

A pleasure handshakes between Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the State Hermitage, and Young-Ho Cho, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Korean Air airline

At the press-conference

Photograph as memento on the Jordan Staircase