The countries of ASEAN have traditions to accept diverse outside civilizations on the base of different ethnicities, languages, and religions. The ASEAN Culture House’s Permanent Exhibition Gallery offers three perspectives—on religion, the arts, and life—in order to help guests better understand the diversity and dynamism of the ASEAN member countries. Through these perspectives and their stories, we hope to provide visitors with a fun and easily accessible introduction to ASEAN.

The first section of the exhibition, entitled “Spiritual Beliefs of ASEAN”, explores what faith means for the countries of ASEAN, from Islam, Buddhism, and Catholicism to indigenous religions. Visitors will be able to see the characteristics and values of the major religions of each of the region’s 10 countries, including the mythical backgrounds that are often the source of particular religious tales. The second section, “Arts of ASEAN”, conveys the beauty of ASEAN cultures inspired by religion and legends. Finally, “Life in ASEAN” is comprised of everyday objects related to the housing, food, and clothing of the peoples of ASEAN. By observing the items used in Southeast Asia to cook food, make clothing, and engage in various aspects of daily life, visitors will gain a sense of what it is like to actually live and work in an ASEAN country.

In addition, by using the digital device to choose stories about any of the items housed in the Permanent Exhibition Gallery that draw their interest, visitors will gain close personal, up-close access to the age-old traditions of ASEAN through the most modern of digital technologies. We hope that this direct experience of the culture and deeply-rooted traditions of ASEAN through the lenses of religion, arts, and life helps guests to become better aware of and more personally interested in the ASEAN region.

Host

The Korea Foundation

Organizer

ASEAN Culture House

Support

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Cooperation

Special thanks to following institutions for their support and cooperation in the preparation of the exhibition:
Brunei Darussalam
Kingdom of Cambodia
Republic of Indonesia
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Malaysia
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Republic of the Philippines
Republic of Singapore
Kingdom of Thailand
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS), ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund, ASEAN-ROK Centre, The International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNSESCO (ICHCAP)