On August 8, celebrated as ASEAN Day*, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jina attended the opening ceremony of the "Seoul ASEAN Hall," hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre.
* On August 8, 1967, the ASEAN Declaration was adopted in Bangkok. August 8 is celebrated annually as “ASEAN Day.”
※ ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC): An intergovernmental organization established in Seoul in March 2009 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations, with the aim of promoting cooperation between the two regions.
※ Seoul ASEAN Hall: Originally operated as a cultural exhibition and information area within the AKC office (8th floor) since 2009, the space has been expanded and relocated to the 1st floor of the same building.
- Upcoming Exhibition: “Fruity Fruit: Colorful Days in Southeast Asia” (August 11, 2025 – February 13, 2026).
In her first meeting with the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) since taking office, Vice Minister Kim expressed her gratitude for ASEAN member states' support for the resilience of Korea’s democracy and emphasized the new administration's policy of prioritizing its partnership with ASEAN.
Highlighting the vibrant exchanges between ASEAN and the ROK, Vice Minister Kim pledged to further strengthen two-way cultural exchanges, which are essential for enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of both regions.
Furthermore, Vice Minister Kim stated that the Korean government will actively support the activities of the ASEAN-Korea Centre, the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), and the ASEAN Culture House to promote the global expansion of “K-Culture,” a key initiative of the new administration.
※ ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF): Established in 1990 to implement cooperation projects in fields such as digital transformation, climate change, education/training, and culture/tourism. As of 2025, the ROK government contributes USD 28 million annually to the ASEAN Secretariat.
- Key Cultural Projects: △ASEAN-Korea Music Festival (ROUND) (2025-2026) △Film Leaders’ Incubator (FLY) (2022-2025).
※ ASEAN Culture House (ACH): Established in Busan in 2017 following an agreement reached at the 2014 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit.
The ASEAN Ambassadors in Seoul noted the ROK government's commitment to ASEAN, as demonstrated by the Foreign Minister’s attendance at ASEAN-related meetings shortly after the inauguration of the new administration.
They proposed working together through the ASEAN-Korea Centre to deepen and develop the ASEAN-ROK “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).” They also expressed their hope that the Seoul ASEAN Hall will host various events to enhance the Korean public's understanding of the ASEAN region.