ASEAN-Korea Centre Opens ‘Jeonju ASEAN Hall,’ Marking Another Milestone in Expanding ASEAN-Korea Cultural Exchange

ASEAN-Korea Centre Opens 'Jeonju ASEAN Hall,' Marking Another Milestone in Expanding ASEAN-Korea Cultural Exchange

- Traditional Cultures of 11 ASEAN Member States Brought Together in Inaugural Exhibition ASEAN: Where Hands Bridge Time -

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC, Secretary General Kim Jae-shin) will hold the opening ceremony of the Jeonju ASEAN Hall on Thursday, September 17, at the Korea Traditional Culture Center in Jeonju, marking the opening of the AKC's third ASEAN Hall following those in Seoul and Jeju. Around 100 distinguished guests are expected to attend the ceremony, including representatives of the AKC, the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS), Jeonju City, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Jeonbuk State, the Jeonju City Council, related institutions and organizations, media outlets, and universities.

Following Seoul and Jeju, the Jeonju ASEAN Hall is the first venue for ASEAN-Korea cultural exchange established in the Honam region. Jeonju's location between Seoul and Jeju also makes it well positioned to help extend the reach of ASEAN culture and arts beyond the Seoul metropolitan area. The establishment of a "cultural diplomacy platform" where K-culture and ASEAN culture (A-culture) meet in Jeonju, one of Korea's leading cities of traditional culture, adds further significance to the opening.

The Jeonju ASEAN Hall's inaugural exhibition, ASEAN: Where Hands Bridge Time, introduces the traditional cultures of the 11 ASEAN Member States (AMS) through the theme of hands. The exhibition title reflects how ASEAN's traditional cultures have been passed down from the past to the present and carried forward into the future through the skills and craftsmanship of artisans. Approximately 70 traditional cultural artifacts, including masks, textiles, musical instruments, and shadow puppets handcrafted and passed down by artisans across ASEAN, will be on display. Notably, with the cooperation of ASEAN embassies in the ROK as well as the respective AMS agencies, the inaugural exhibition is the first large-scale exhibition in Korea to bring together cultural heritage representing all 11 AMS in one place.

At the opening ceremony, Secretary General Kim Jae-shin of the AKC, Mayor Cho Ji-hun of Jeonju City, and Ambassador Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Korea, representing the Philippines as the 2026 ASEAN Chair, will deliver welcoming and congratulatory remarks. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will be represented by Director-General for ASEAN and Southeast Asian Affairs Kwon Jae-hwan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the ROK, who will deliver congratulatory remarks on his behalf.

The celebratory performance will open with Heungboga, a pansori performance by the Jeonbuk State Gugak Center. Filipino singer Dorado, runner-up on Sing Again 4, will then perform "Golden" from the film KPop Demon Hunters and Cho Yong-pil's "The Dreams," symbolizing cultural exchange and harmony between ASEAN and Korea.

The AKC will operate the Jeonju ASEAN Hall not simply as an exhibition space, but as a sustainable platform for cultural exchange. Following the opening, the AKC will collaborate with the Jeonju Cultural Foundation to offer a variety of programs for local residents and tourists. The ASEAN Brunch Box, organized in collaboration with Lee Sung Dang, a renowned local bakery in Gunsan, will pair the bakery's signature items with specialty coffee from Timor-Leste. The ASEAN Cooking Class will offer participants an opportunity to make and taste a variety of ASEAN dishes, including Vietnamese bánh xèo and Indonesian nasi goreng, under the guidance of an ASEAN culinary expert. Both programs will take place once a month on selected Saturdays. Detailed schedules and the registration link for the cooking classes will be available on the official ASEAN Hall Instagram account (@aseanhall_akc).

Located near Jeonju Hanok Village, one of Korea's leading cultural tourism destinations, the Jeonju ASEAN Hall is expected to provide local residents as well as domestic and international visitors with greater opportunities to experience ASEAN culture up close. Furthermore, as Jeonbuk State pursues its bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games, the Jeonju ASEAN Hall is expected to contribute to enhancing Jeonju's standing as an international city and expanding global cultural exchange.

Secretary General Kim Jae-shin of the AKC stated, "The AKC will continue to present engaging exhibitions and diverse programs so that the Jeonju ASEAN Hall can establish itself as an important venue for cultural exchange between Korea and ASEAN and make ASEAN culture more accessible to more citizens. We look forward to your continued interest and support."

The Jeonju ASEAN Hall will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and will be closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Photo 1.

▲ View of the Jeonju ASEAN Hall. Jeonju ASEAN Hall.