By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (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 and hosted the 2025 ASEAN-Korea Innovate Culture Forum in Singapore on November 8 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 convened 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, opened the forum with a keynote address on the theme “Inclusive AI: Toward Cultural Sustainability.” This was 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 explored 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 discussed ideas to strengthen the capabilities of cultural creators through AI literary education and developing collaborative foundations.