Jeonju to Open Honam's First 'ASEAN Hall' in September

Korea-ASEAN Center and Jeonju Cultural Foundation Sign MOU
Experience the Culture and Arts of 11 Nations in One Venue

A new cultural space where visitors can experience the history and daily life culture of all 11 ASEAN member states in one place will open in Jeonju this September. On July 22, Jeonju City signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea-ASEAN Center and the Jeonju Cultural Foundation at the meeting room in the citizen communication space of City Hall to establish and operate the 'Jeonju ASEAN Hall'.

This agreement outlines cooperation among the participating institutions for the creation and operation of the ASEAN Hall, which will be located inside the Jeonju Promotion Center on the first floor of the Korea Traditional Culture Center, as well as efforts to enhance cultural exchanges with the ASEAN region.

Jeonju City, the Korea-ASEAN Center, and the Jeonju Cultural Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the 22nd at the meeting room of the Citizen Communication Space on the 3rd floor of the city hall for the installation and operation of the "Jeonju ASEAN Hall." Photo by Jeonju City Hall

The Jeonju ASEAN Hall is scheduled to open on September 17. This will be the third such ASEAN cultural exchange space in South Korea, following Seoul and Jeju, and it will be the first of its kind in the Honam region.

Themed 'ASEAN, Hands Connecting Time', the ASEAN Hall will showcase ▲the history, culture, and lifestyles of the 11 ASEAN countries ▲related books and reference materials ▲exhibits utilizing traditional clothing, masks, sounds, and light, among other content.

The space is designed not only to introduce the cultures of each country, but also to allow visitors to experience ASEAN cultural heritage and arts through a variety of sensory experiences.

Particularly, the Korea Traditional Culture Center, which will house the ASEAN Hall, already features exhibition and activity spaces where visitors can experience traditional Korean culture such as hanbok, hansik (Korean cuisine), and hanji (Korean paper). As a result, the Jeonju ASEAN Hall is expected to serve as a venue for cultural exchange where both traditional Korean and ASEAN cultures can be experienced together.

This agreement also serves as a follow-up to the comprehensive exchange agreement signed last year by North Jeolla Province Special Self-Governing Province, Jeonju City, and the Korea-ASEAN Center. While the previous agreement laid the framework for exchanges between North Jeolla and the ASEAN region, this MOU focuses on the specific establishment and operation of the Jeonju ASEAN Hall.

Jeonju City plans to develop the ASEAN Hall into a hub for international cultural exchange that offers not only exhibitions but also educational, performance, and hands-on programs. The vision is to create a place where citizens and tourists can easily access ASEAN culture and where cultural exchanges between Korea and ASEAN continue to grow, with Jeonju as a connecting point.

Jihoon Cho, Mayor of Jeonju, stated, "The Jeonju ASEAN Hall will be a space where Jeonju's traditional culture meets the diverse cultures of ASEAN to create new value. We will provide full support so it can establish itself as a cultural tourism resource for Jeonju as an international cultural city, expanding both cultural diversity and international exchange."

With the opening of the ASEAN Hall, Jeonju City aims to expand cultural exchanges with ASEAN member states and offer new cultural tourism content, allowing citizens and visitors to experience ASEAN culture during their visit to Jeonju.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.