KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) opened its third ASEAN Hall in Jeonju, South Korea, on Thursday, marking another milestone in expanding ASEAN-South Korea cultural ties.
Located at the Korea Traditional Culture Centre, the Jeonju ASEAN Hall is the first ASEAN-Korea cultural exchange venue in the Honam region and a permanent exhibition space showcasing the diverse cultures, arts and traditions of all 11 ASEAN member states.
It follows the opening of similar halls in Seoul in 2009 and Jeju in 2022.
Its inaugural exhibition, “ASEAN: Where Hands Bridge Time”, will feature about 70 traditional artefacts, including masks, textiles, musical instruments and shadow puppets.
The AKC describes it as South Korea’s first large-scale exhibition bringing together cultural heritage from all 11 ASEAN member states.
AKC Secretary General Kim Jae-shin said the centre would continue to organise engaging exhibitions and diverse programmes to establish the Jeonju ASEAN Hall as a key venue for cultural exchange between ASEAN and South Korea.
“We aim to make ASEAN culture more accessible to more people and look forward to your continued interest and support,” he said at the opening ceremony.
Also present were Jeonju Mayor Cho Ji-hun and Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, representing the Philippines in its capacity as the 2026 ASEAN Chair.
The ceremony drew about 100 guests, including representatives of the AKC, the ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS), Jeonju City, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, Jeonbuk State, the Jeonju City Council, related institutions, media organisations and universities.
In a statement, the AKC said the hall would serve as a sustainable platform for cultural diplomacy, bringing Korean and ASEAN cultures together and extending the reach of ASEAN culture and the arts beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
The AKC will collaborate with the Jeonju Cultural Foundation to offer various programmes for residents and tourists.
These include the ASEAN Brunch Box, organised in collaboration with renowned Gunsan bakery Lee Sung Dang, which will pair the bakery’s signature products with speciality coffee from Timor-Leste.
The ASEAN Cooking Class will offer participants an opportunity to prepare and sample ASEAN dishes, including Vietnamese bánh xèo and Indonesian nasi goreng, under the guidance of an ASEAN culinary expert.
“Both programmes will be held once a month on selected Saturdays, with schedules and cooking class registration details available on the official ASEAN Hall Instagram account (@aseanhall_akc),” it stated.
Located near Jeonju Hanok Village, a major cultural tourism destination, the hall is expected to offer residents, as well as domestic and international visitors, greater opportunities to experience ASEAN culture.
The AKC also expects the hall to help enhance Jeonju’s international profile and expand global cultural exchange as Jeonbuk State pursues its bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.
The Jeonju ASEAN Hall will be open from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday, and closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Established on March 13, 2009, the AKC promotes ASEAN-South Korea cooperation through trade, investment, tourism, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
-- BERNAMA