1. A single album titled “Side by Side,” co-produced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean Red Cross (KRC) and featured by singers from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and ten ASEAN member states, was officially released on November 18, 2019 (released through official websites and the social network accounts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the KRC).

○ The album was produced with the aim to enhance public understanding of an ASEAN-ROK Culture Innovation Summit (November 25, Busan) set to be held on the occasion of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit and a social campaign, “Growing with Art,” which is being jointly promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the KRC, as part of affiliated projects of the Culture Innovation Summit.

○ In addition, Korean composer Kim Hyung-suk took on the entire process of production and composition and Nick Kim, Mrcho.a.poet (Achimjakgajojakga) and Killa Gramz worked on the lyrics. On the ROK part, Sandeul (a member of K-Pop boy group B1A4), Laboum, a K-Pop girl group, rapper Killa Gramz, and representative singers from the ten ASEAN member states joined the process of music production.

2. The significance of the single collaboration album participated by the ROK and the ASEAN member states lies on underscoring the purpose of the 2019 Commemorative Summit and wishing for cooperation between the ROK and ASEAN through voluntary participation by the singers from the ten ASEAN member states that share the understanding on the need for reciprocal cooperation between the ROK and ASEAN member states through sharing culture.

○ The song was first released at the “ROK+ASEAN, Into the Blue” event, aired live on November 10, through the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) 1TV as a welcoming event marking 15 days ahead of the upcoming Commemorative Summit, and this song received good reactions from the general public.

○ Choir performances singing the “Side by Side” will take place at the ASEAN-ROK Culture Innovation Summit (November 25, Busan) and at an ASEAN Fantasia Concert (November 24, Changwon) in commemoration of the forthcoming Commemorative Summit. This song will be used as an event song of the Commemorative Summit as well as special events.

3. The “Side by Side” song will be available from November 20, 2019, at 12:00, through major Korean music streaming service websites such as Melon, Genie, FLO, Bugs and Soribada, and is expected to be registered on overseas music streaming service websites such as Apple and those in ASEAN member states.