At the National Gallery Singapore on November 8
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on November 4 that, together with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, it will host the "2025 Korea-ASEAN Culture Innovation Forum" at the National Gallery Singapore on November 8.
The Culture Innovation Forum is part of the "Future Innovation Cultural Exchange Support Project," which aims to strengthen the foundation for cultural exchange between Korea and ASEAN, and to expand mutual understanding and cooperation. Having started in 2020, this year marks its sixth edition. Cultural artists and industry professionals from the 11 Korea-ASEAN countries will gather to discuss various innovations and cooperation strategies through culture.
The event will begin with a keynote speech by Lee Kyogu, Professor at Seoul National University Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology and co-founder of Supertone, on the theme of "Inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI): For Cultural Sustainability." The first session will focus on "Practices of Cultural Diversity in the Age of AI," sharing case studies that reflect cultural diversity in the rapidly changing technological environment. Participants include Jeon Ian, CEO of Compound Collective from Korea; Samyampuros, Secretary-General of the Cambodia AI Forum; Patrick Cabral, founder of Paperwolf Graphic Design Studio from the Philippines; and Ars Dalmawan, founder of Aras Design & Motion from Indonesia.
The second session, themed "Mobility in the Creative Industries in the Age of AI," will discuss the changes AI technology has brought across the creative industries and the various ways the industry is adopting these technologies. Participants include Kim Minjeong, CEO of the independent AI film studio AITONIA from Korea; Jonathan Gander, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore; Ryan Ho, Head of Innovation & Experience Design at the Innovation & Technology Division of the National Gallery Singapore; and Trung Bao Nguyen, co-founder of Fustic.Studio from Vietnam.
The third session will address "Cultural Literacy in the Age of AI," discussing ways to strengthen the capabilities of cultural creators through AI literacy education and to establish a foundation for cooperation. Participants include Professor Lee Jongok from the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage; Muhammad Abdodamit, Director at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei; Tara Gujadhur, co-director of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) in Laos; and Wai Yaung, an earthquake engineer from Myanmar.
The fourth session, in collaboration with the ASEAN Foundation, will be held under the theme "The Future of AI and Cultural Heritage." It will share cases where AI technology has contributed to the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and discuss possibilities for future Korea-ASEAN cooperation. Participants include Kathleen Djeig, curator at the National Gallery Singapore; Piti Sangnam, Chairperson of the ASEAN Foundation; Professor Tan Awang Besar, Dean of the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) in Malaysia; Jonathan Tan Kiung, Deputy Director of the Culture and Information Division at the ASEAN Secretariat; and Harazmi Hamid, Senior Officer of the Digital Economy Division at the ASEAN Secretariat.
After the forum, the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange and the ASEAN Foundation will sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cultural cooperation between Korea and ASEAN and to promote continuous exchange between the two sides.
Previously, on November 1, the "2025 Korea-ASEAN Music Concert" was held at the District 7 Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with around 3,000 local audience members in attendance. The concert was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, jointly organized by the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange and the ASEAN-Korea Centre, and hosted by Silkroad CNT. Popular singers from both countries took the stage, including Kep1er, AHOF, and Na Taejoo from Korea, and Min and Duc Phuc from Vietnam, further emphasizing the spirit of exchange. In addition, Sooyoung of Girls' Generation and Manh Cuong, an anchor from Vietnam's national broadcaster VTV, co-hosted the event, serving as a bridge between the cultures of the two countries.
Yoon Yangsu, Director-General for International Cultural Promotion Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "The advancement of AI technology presents new opportunities to expand creativity in culture, the arts, and industry," adding, "Through this forum, we hope that Korea and ASEAN will work together to build an inclusive cultural ecosystem in the age of AI."
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