South Sudanese Model Abuk Aman Brings Dinka Heritage to Korea

(SEOUL) – Abuk Aman, a South Sudan born model of Dinka heritage, will appear at the Seoul Africa Festival in South Korea this week, highlighting both her personal journey and the growing cultural connections between Africa and Asia.

Aman, who now resides in South Korea, spoke to Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on 11 September 2025 ahead of the event. She is set to take part in a fashion show on 13 September as part of the festival, which is jointly organised by Yonhap and Africa Insight, a civic group focused on strengthening cooperation between Africa and international partners.

At 183 centimetres tall, Aman has built a presence in South Korea’s modelling industry, representing one of the few South Sudan born figures in East Asia’s fashion sector. Her participation in the Seoul Africa Festival reflects wider efforts to promote African culture, art and talent to new audiences while also raising awareness of Africa’s diverse societies.

The Seoul Africa Festival is designed to encourage cultural dialogue, provide a platform for African voices, and support stronger international understanding. It brings together African artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and models, with the fashion segment offering an opportunity to showcase African inspired designs to Korean and international audiences.

For Aman, the event is also a way of highlighting the talent and potential of South Sudanese youth in the diaspora, many of whom continue to pursue opportunities abroad in sectors such as fashion, sports, music and business. She said in the interview that the platform is not only about modelling but also about representing the values, traditions and aspirations of South Sudanese people.

The festival is organised with support from civic groups and media partners and forms part of a growing interest in Africa in South Korea. According to Yonhap News Agency, the collaboration between Yonhap and Africa Insight aims to strengthen advocacy for African issues and foster people to people exchanges that can lead to longer term partnerships in areas such as trade, investment and cultural cooperation.

For South Sudan, the participation of young nationals like Aman in international platforms provides an important reminder of the country’s soft power potential. While South Sudan faces ongoing economic and political challenges, individuals representing the nation on global cultural stages can help project a positive image and open doors for future connections.