The Korean Cultural Center has opened in Rome, Italy, marking the 31st such center worldwide and the tenth of its kind in Europe.

The South Korean government on Wednesday held a ceremony to mark the center's opening, attended by 200 dignitaries representing South Korea, Italy and the Vatican. Among the attendees included South Korean Ambassador to Italy Lee Yong-joon, South Korean Ambassador to the Vatican Kim Kyung-suk and Italian Senator Antonio Razzi.

Lee Su-myung, a former head of the Korean Cultural Center in Poland, was named the inaugural president of the Rome center.

During the ceremony, Korean Culture and Information Service Director Kim Gab-soo hoped that Italians will appreciate the cultural aspects of the center as much as South Koreans appreciate Italian classical musical and artwork by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

Italian Vice Culture Minister Ilaria Borletti Buitoni wished South Korea and Italy will expand their exchanges through the cultural center.