KOREA FOUNDATION

NEW YEAR

New Year’s Message from the Directorof the KF ASEAN Culture House

“In 2023, the KF ASEAN Culture House will start anew as hub and platform for Korea-ASEAN exchange.
We will continue striving to raise interest and familiarity with ASEAN in Korean society.”

Dear readers,I am Lee In-hyuk, the director-general of the KF ASEAN Culture House, and now that 2023—the Year of the Rabbit—has arrived, I would like to share a special New Year message with all of you.

The KF ASEAN Culture House is celebrating the fifth anniversary since its establishment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 2017. To date, over 140,000 visitors from Korea and abroad have participated in various ASEAN-related programs. We are exception ally fortunate and thankful to have been at the center of exchanges between Korea and ASEAN member states throughout these past five years.

Although ASEAN countries are among Korea’s nearest neighbors in Asia, views of the region are often based on fragmentary understanding and knowledge. It is necessary for the public to recognize that ASEAN—a coalition of ten Southeast Asian countries that are some of Korea’s most important strategic partners—is rising in international stature and influence day by day. We must steer away from the superficial perception that they are simply destinations for travel and leisure. Through solidarity and cooperation between Korea and ASEAN countries, mutual benefits can be achieved across various fields.

To this end, the KF ASEAN Culture House is committed to comprehensively introducing ASEAN’s arts and cultural performances, exhibitions, films, languages, cuisines, and markets to Korea, and to becoming a hub for the expansion of general exchanges between Korean and ASEAN youths.

Located in Busan, the KF ASEAN Culture House is a unique institution that also serves as a museum. It aims to contribute to the development of Korea-ASEAN relations by serving as a space for the Korean public to learn more about ASEAN nations, and for local residents and visitors from ASEAN countries to take pride in their culture.

The Digital ASEAN Culture Experience Zone, which has been in development throughout 2022, will also be completed and unveiled in January 2023. In the coming year and beyond, all the staff and I at the KF ASEAN Culture House will continue working hard to develop a variety of interesting content for our visitors to gain a better understanding of ASEAN.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for your steadfast support of the KF ASEAN Culture House. We would be deeply grateful for your continued support in the years to come.

In this Year of the Rabbit 2023, we wish you good health, happiness, and peace at home.