"The Moon We See": Korea, China, and Japan's Children Connect Through Picture Books

August 17-23,
"Korea-China-Japan Children's Picture Book Exchange Conference"

An opportunity for children from Korea, China, and Japan to learn about each other's cultures through illustrated storybooks is being provided.

The Ministry of Education announced that, starting from August 17 to 23, 2026, the "2026 Korea-China-Japan Children's Picture Book Exchange Conference" will be held throughout Seoul in cooperation with the APEC International Education Cooperation Institute.

The Korea-China-Japan Children's Picture Book Exchange Conference was first launched in 2002 and marks its 20th anniversary this year. As a flagship exchange program for future generations, the three countries take turns hosting the event each year. This year, the event will be attended by a total of about 200 participants, including 100 elementary school students from 4th to 6th grades (34 from Korea, 33 from China, and 33 from Japan), as well as chaperoning teachers and participants from previous conferences.

The theme of this year's conference is "the Moon." The Moon, which can be seen under the same sky anywhere in the world, has long been a cherished subject in the traditional stories and cultures unique to each of Korea, China, and Japan. By looking at the same moon but creating different stories, the event aims for children to respect and understand each other's differences and to foster friendship, embracing the cultural diversity of the three countries.

Participating children will introduce traditional stories from the three countries on the theme of the moon, engage in reading activities together, and strengthen their friendship. After joining various moon-related experiential and creative activities, they will have time to produce and present their own original picture books. Additionally, through Korean cultural experiences such as K-pop and wearing Hanbok, participants will deepen cultural exchange and broaden their understanding between countries.

Minister of Education Choi Gyujin stated, "I hope that this conference, which has continued for 20 sessions, will serve as a valuable opportunity to further strengthen mutual understanding and future cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan."

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