ASEAN-Korea Centre to Open Third ASEAN Hall in Jeonju

ASEAN-Korea Centre to Open Third ASEAN Hall in Jeonju

- MOU Signing with Jeonju City and Jeonju Cultural Foundation; 330㎡ Hall to Open at Korea Traditional Culture Center on September 17 -

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC, Secretary General Kim Jae-shin) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Jeonju City and the Jeonju Cultural Foundation on July 22 at Jeonju City Hall to establish and operate the Jeonju ASEAN Hall. The Hall, marking the AKC's third ASEAN Hall following Seoul and Jeju, will be officially launched on September 17 on the first floor of the Korea Traditional Culture Center, featuring a 330㎡ cultural space.

Since 2009, the AKC has operated permanent ASEAN Halls in Seoul and Jeju as key platforms for ASEAN-Korea cultural exchange. The Seoul ASEAN Hall, which was relocated to the first floor of the Korea Press Center last year, drew approximately 6,000 visitors in its first six months, while the Jeju ASEAN Hall at the Jeju International Peace Center attracts around 20,000 visitors annually and runs ASEAN cultural education programs in partnership with local elementary, middle, and high schools.

The Jeonju ASEAN Hall will become Korea's first ASEAN cultural exchange hub in the Honam region, extending cultural engagement beyond the capital area and deepening regional people-to-people exchange. Situated near Jeonju Hanok Village, a center of Korea's traditional culture, the Hall is expected to serve as a symbolic space where Korean tradition and ASEAN's diverse cultures come together, offering greater access to ASEAN culture for visitors at home and abroad.

The Jeonju ASEAN Hall will feature exhibition and library spaces under the theme "ASEAN: Where Hands Bridge Time." The exhibition will introduce the cultures, histories, and lifestyles of the 11 ASEAN Member States (AMS), while the library will offer visitors access to ASEAN-related publications. Centered on the key themes of "craftsmanship" and "traditional handicraft techniques," the exhibition offers an integrated exploration of the arts, crafts, and everyday cultural traditions of the 11 AMS, including masks, textiles, musical instruments, and puppetry. In cooperation with the ASEAN embassies in Korea, the exhibition will present the first large-scale showcase in Korea, bringing together representative cultural heritage from all 11 AMS. Jeonju is the center of Korea's traditional cultural industries, including Hanji (paper), Hanbok (clothing), and Hansik (cuisine), and hosts major cultural events such as the Jeonju International Sori Festival and the Jeonju International Film Festival. As of 2024, approximately 43% of foreign residents in Jeonbuk State were from AMS, including Viet Nam, Thailand, and Cambodia, within which Jeonju City comprises the largest ASEAN resident population in the province.

The MOU builds on the tripartite agreement on friendship and cooperation signed last year between the AKC, Jeonbuk State, and Jeonju City. Under this continued partnership, the three parties will expand exchanges between Jeonju City and ASEAN regions and develop programs to promote mutual cultural understanding among residents.

Secretary General Kim Jae-shin stated, "It is truly meaningful to open the third ASEAN Hall in Jeonju, the city of historical culture. We look forward to the Jeonju ASEAN Hall becoming a regional hub for cultural exchange connecting ASEAN and Korea." Adding on, Jeonju Mayor Cho Ji-hun echoed, "We hope the Jeonju ASEAN Hall will become an international cultural exchange platform where Jeonju's traditional cultural assets and ASEAN's diverse cultures come together."

Photo 1.

▲ Secretary General Kim Jae-shin poses with Jeonju Mayor Cho Ji-hun following the MOU signing ceremony. July 22, Mayor's Office, Jeonju City Hall.