KOREA FOUNDATION

Last July, under the theme, “Malaysian Society and Culture,” as part of the Easy Access Malaysia series, I delivered a lecture with a particular focus on Malaysia’s status as both a multiethnic and a multicultural society. I am very pleased and honored that the lectures served as an opportunity to comprehensively and thoroughly inform both Busan locals and foreign residents about the culture, society, people, nature and history of Malaysia. I hope for an even closer and more cooperative relationship between Korea and the ASEAN member states through the ASEAN cultural, societal and historical programs available at the ASEAN Culture House.

The more you get to know about the ASEAN Culture House, the more you feel yourself drawn in by all that it has to offer. From its cultural experience zone that provide visitors with the chance to try their hand at and taste different ASEAN cuisine, to the exhibition hall and cultural performances that bestow a glimpse of the history, culture and way of life of ASEAN countries. Members of our Center were able to build an understanding of other cultures while getting to know one another. I hope that the ACH can continue to evolve into a haven of mutual communication to help overcome misconceptions about multicultural families while also serving as a platform for cultural exchange between the peoples of Korea and ASEAN.

The ASEAN Culture House hosted a special ceremony honoring the winners of the “ASEAN in Korea, Korea in ASEAN” photo competition, designed to celebrate diversity and multiculturalism between Korea and the many countries of ASEAN. The ceremony was likewise an opportunity to educate Busan citizens on the work of the ACH, as it spoke to the Culture House’s underlying purpose of promoting co-existence and collaboration. The ACH will continue to be an important venue in the future for Koreans and foreigners to explore the depths of ASEAN countries’ cultures via selected lectures,films, culinary classes, and creative artistic experiences.