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Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo (center) on Oct. 24 poses for a photo with his counterparts from member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the 2019 Special AMCA Plus ROK Meeting at the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju.


The 2019 Special AMCA Plus ROK Meeting,  held from Oct. 23-24 at the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju, ended with the culture ministers of Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pledging to foster dialogue on creating "people-centered peace" and a "future community of mutual prosperity."


The meeting was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations between Korea and ASEAN and reinforce cooperation among the 11 countries in culture and arts before the Korea-ASEAN special summit in Busan slated for late next month.


Kim Yeon-myung, senior presidential secretary for social affairs, conveyed a message from President Moon Jae-in on Oct. 24 saying, "I hope the co-production by artists from Korea and ASEAN and cooperation among cultural and art institutions are strengthened."


"I hope that Korea and ASEAN's cultural resources are combined with technology to preserve humanity's invaluable heritage and that exchanges in cultural content grow more active." 

The president also said in his message that in 2017, Korea set up the Asia Culture Center in Busan as part of his administration's New Southern Policy and to introduce the cultures of ASEAN member countries to Koreans, becoming the first among the 11 nations to establish such a facility.


"As part of a cultural companion project, virtuosos from Korea and ASEAN in arts and culture and ASEAN scholarship students at Korea National University of Arts are cooperating. Their works will enrich one another's cultures," he added.


The culture ministers of Korea and ASEAN member nations ratified a joint statement and discussed boosting mutual understanding of cultures, co-productions, cooperation among cultural and art institutions, collaboration in the cultural sector, and utilization and preservation of cultural heritage.


Among the highlights of joint projects are the setup of an institute to facilitate cooperation among Korea and ASEAN member states in film production, a cooperative body for registering cultural heritage and pressing for the return of pillaged artifacts, and development of cultural heritage content from Southeast Asian nations utilizing Korea's information and communications technology.


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Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Yong-sam (center) on Oct. 23 poses for a group photo before the welcoming dinner of the 2019 Special AMCA Plus ROK Meeting at the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju. 


Korea.net