The opening ceremony for the "2025-2026 Korea-Japan-China Year of Cultural Exchange" will be held on the 14th in Tokyo, Japan.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that Vice Minister Yong Ho-seong will attend the opening ceremony to celebrate the beginning of a new era of East Asian cultural exchange.
The "Year of Cultural Exchange among the Three Countries," which will continue until next year, was agreed upon at the 9th Korea-Japan-China Summit held in May last year. Subsequently, a memorandum of understanding was signed at the 15th Korea-China-Japan Culture Ministers' Meeting in September last year, laying the foundation for cultural exchange cooperation among the three countries.
Official Logo of the Year of Korea-Japan-China Cultural Exchange [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
At the opening ceremony, representatives from each country will deliver opening and congratulatory speeches, announce the official logo of the "Year of Cultural Exchange among the Three Countries," screen a short film, and present traditional cultural performances from the three countries. Korea will introduce traditional culture with the National Gugak Center’s dance troupe and folk orchestra performing Talchum (mask dance) and Janggu dance; Japan will showcase Ainu dance and tea ceremony demonstrations; China will present Peking opera, singing, and traditional instrument performances.
The official logo, themed "Cultural Empathy and Opening the Future: Korea-Japan-China Year of Cultural Exchange," was created with the participation of future generations from the three countries. It features three types of flowers?mugunghwa (hibiscus), cherry blossoms, and peonies?blooming together to symbolize the harmony of the three cultures. The short film screened at the opening ceremony is the winning entry of a contest held by the Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) on the theme of "The Future of the Three Countries," produced by young people.
Starting with the opening ceremony, Korea, Japan, and China will carry out various cultural exchange projects throughout 2025 in fields such as music, exhibitions, sports, and tourism. Korea plans to promote traditional music and theater performances from the three countries, friendly Go matches among the three nations, special projects in the East Asian Cultural Cities of 2025 and 2026 (Anseong and Andong), calligraphy exhibitions, joint classical concerts, and youth artist exchange exhibitions. Japan and China will also host diverse events focusing on youth exchanges, including concerts by young musicians.
Vice Minister Yong Ho-seong stated, "Korea, Japan, and China are taking the first steps toward meeting, empathizing, and opening a new future through their distinct cultures," adding, "The Republic of Korea will continue to expand cultural exchanges among the three countries and do its best to help East Asia establish itself as a center of world culture."
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