KOREA FOUNDATION

Fulfilling Role as Korean-ASEAN Cultural Exchange Platform

A year ago on September 1st, the ASEAN Culture House took its first steps as a friendly cultural exchange platform between Korea and ASEAN to promote enhanced cultural familiarity while allowing visitors to enjoy all that ASEAN culture has to offer. Since opening its doors amid the congratulatory and supportive atmosphere of ministers from both Korea and all 10 ASEAN member countries, the ACH has been constantly working to establish open communication with residents, students, multicultural families and specialists of each academic sphere. The ACH aims to provide a platform for the bilateral exchange of culture and human resources between Korea and ASEAN countries in light of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN’s establishment.

A variety of projects filled the schedule over the past year, including lectures introducing ASEAN society and culture, exhibitions, performances, culture workshops, exchanges between Korean and ASEAN youth, exchange programs for multicultural families from ASEAN, and much more. These efforts have produced a better understanding of ASEAN culture with the participation of over 20,000 people, including both Koreans and political and social figures from abroad.

As a hub of culture and art exchange with ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Culture House vows to stay faithful to its role while promoting cultural exchange between Koreans and ASEAN natives residing in Korea. This will help forward the agenda of the New Southern Policy rooted in the core values of community, people, peace and mutual prosperity.

Operating under the auspices of the Korea Foundation (KF), whose headquarters were relocated to Jeju Island this past July, the ASEAN Culture House has its eyes set on pioneering the public diplomatic exchange of Korea, in tandem with the Seoul Global Center, seeking global bilateral cultural exchange, and the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum Secretariat, a leader of the New Northern Policy. The ACH looks forward to everyone’s continued interest in and support for its work.

Sihyung Lee, President of the Korea Foundation