The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST), in collaboration with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), successfully hosted the 2025 ASEAN-Korea Music Concert in Vietnam on November 1 (Saturday) and will host the 2025 ASEAN-Korea Innovate Culture Forum in Singapore on November 8 (Saturday) as part of its Future Innovation Cultural Exchange Initiative, which aims to advance foundations for cultural exchange while broadening mutual understanding and cooperation between Korea and ASEAN countries.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, co-organized by KOFICE and Korea-ASEAN Center, and managed by Silk Road C&T, the 2025 ASEAN-Korea Music Concert took place on November 1 at the District 7 Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, drawing a local audience of some 3,000 people. Korean artists Kep1er, AHOF, and Na Taejoo joined Vietnamese singers Min and Duc Phuc on stage, deepening cultural exchange through shared performances. Moreover, Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation and Manh Cường, an anchor from Vietnam’s national broadcaster VTV, jointly hosted the event, symbolizing the bridge between the two cultures. The event was an opportunity for the people of Korea and ASEAN countries to deepen their sense of connection and mutual understanding through music

The 2025 ASEAN-Korea Innovate Culture Forum will convene November 8 at the National Gallery Singapore. Now in its sixth year since its launch in 2020, the forum provides a venue for cultural artists and industry experts from Korea and all ten ASEAN countries to come together to discuss new innovation and collaboration ideas through culture

Professor Lee Kyogu of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, also a co-founder of Supertone, will open the forum with a keynote address on the theme “Inclusive AI: Toward Cultural Sustainability.” This will be followed by the first session, Practicing Cultural Diversity in the Age of AI, where participants will share best practices that promote cultural diversity amid rapid technological transformation.

The second session on Mobility of Creative Industries in the Age of AI will explore how AI technologies are reshaping the creative industries and how different sectors are adapting to these new technologies. The third session on Cultural Literacy in the Age of AI will discuss ideas to strengthen the capabilities of cultural creators through AI literary education and developing collaborative foundations. In cooperation with the ASEAN Foundation, the fourth session on AI and the Future of Cultural Heritage will look at  examples of AI technologies contributing to the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, in addition to discussing future opportunities for Korea-ASEAN collaboration in the field.

In each of the sessions, experts and cultural arts representatives from major institutions, including Korea National University of Heritage, the ASEAN Foundation, ASEAN Secretariat, and the National Gallery Singapore, will seek ideas for practical collaboration to preserve cultural diversity and inclusivity despite ongoing technological changes. Moreover, following the forum, KOFICE and the ASEAN Foundation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cultural cooperation and ensure sustained exchanges between Korea and the ASEAN economies.