South African Ambassador to South Korea Sindiswa Mququ speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the South African Embassy in Seoul, Feb. 11. Yonhap

South Africa's top envoy has expressed hope that K-pop supergroup BTS will visit her country to perform as part of its world tour, saying it will be her "big assignment" to make it happen.

Ambassador Sindiswa Mququ made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, as she highlighted cultural exchanges as a vital component of bilateral relations with South Korea and noted that Korean pop culture content has been well received in her homeland.

"South Africa is a recipient of what you're exporting, in terms of K-pop, K-drama and K-culture broadly," Mququ said. "K-culture, or 'K-everything' that is offering, sends a very important message that you're communicating and that we're working collaboratively."

"I know that South Africans want (BTS to come)," she said. "I have a big assignment now, and I'm also appealing to you if you have connections to BTS, because they want BTS to go to South Africa."

BTS' upcoming "Arirang" world tour is set to kick off April 9 in South Korea and span 34 cities around the world, including Tokyo, Mexico City, Madrid, London and others. South Africa is not currently included in the list.

"I must get hold of BTS managers to say we need you in South Africa," Mququ quipped, adding that she hopes to be invited herself at Gwanghwamun Square, where BTS is scheduled to hold a comeback concert next month in celebration of its new album's release.

"I hope that we'll be invited there," she said.

As part of such cultural exchanges, the ambassador unveiled plans to invite South African artists to her host country next year, as South Korea and South Africa are set to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. One of the potential candidates is Pretty Yende, a world-famous South African soprano, Mququ said.

"That is our start. We hope to bring musicians from South Africa and collaborate with them," she said.

Source: Korea Times News