Promoting Cultural Exchange with East Asian Cultural Cities of China and Japan, “The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 18th that Andong City in Gyeongbuk has been selected as the ‘East Asian Cultural City for 2026.'”,
“The Ministry explained that this decision was made at the East Asian Cultural City Selection Committee held on the 11th.”
“South Korea, China, and Japan have been selecting cities with unique regional cultures as East Asian Cultural Cities since 2014, following an agreement at the 4th Korea-China-Japan Culture Ministers’ Meeting in 2012. These cities facilitate various cultural exchange and cooperation projects annually. For 2025, Anseong in Korea, Kamakura in Japan, and Macau and Huzhou in China have been selected as East Asian Cultural Cities.”
Hahoe Village in Andong, Gyeongbuk,
“Under the slogan ‘A Place of Peace, A Resting Heart,’ Andong City plans to organize and exchange cultural events with the East Asian Cultural Cities of China and Japan throughout 2026, based on local culture such as humanistic spiritual culture. The plan includes opening and closing cultural events, the East Asian Human Values Forum, East Asian Mask Exhibitions and Experiences, Korea-China-Japan Youth Humanities and Arts Camps on Climate Crisis Response, East Asian Traditional and Modern Music Exchange Festivals, and the East Asian Paper and Characters Biennale. Various cultural exchange and cooperation programs will be promoted, building a sustainable cultural exchange network in connection with local cultural projects.”
“Korea is the first to have selected its East Asian Cultural City for 2026. China and Japan are also expected to select their respective cities before the 16th Korea-China-Japan Culture Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled to be held in China this year, and officially announce it at the trilateral meeting.”
Kim Hyun-jun, Director of International Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, stated, “Gyeongbuk’s Andong City possesses various world heritages such as Hahoe Village and Dosan Seowon, and is rich in unique and original cultural stories and arts content like the Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori. Through various cultural exchange and cooperation projects among the East Asian Cultural Cities of the three nations, we will actively support enhancing mutual respect and understanding of cultures and expanding international exchange by making each region a hub for cultural exchange.”