Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (fifth from left) poses with foreign ministers and vice ministers from ASEAN countries, including Philippine Foreign Minister Peter Cayetano (third from left), during the opening ceremony for the ASEAN Culture House in Haeundae-gu District, Busan, on Sept. 1. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
By Lee Kyoung Mi and Kim Young Shin
The ASEAN Culture House, a venue that will play a major role as a cultural bridge between Korea and the 10 ASEAN countries, opened in Haeundae-gu District, Busan, on Sept. 1.
With its vision to become “the international platform for Korea and ASEAN to familiarize and become friends,” the center hosted an opening ceremony with some 500 guests from Korea and ASEAN, including Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Secretary General of ASEAN Le Luong Minh, Philippine Foreign Minister Alan Peter Cayetano, and many other VIPs.
“The establishment of the ASEAN Culture House in Korea is the first of its kind among ASEAN’s dialogue partners, and it will mark a significant milestone toward a closer relationship with ASEAN, which the Korean government seeks as a priority,” said Minister Kang. “The Culture House is expected to serve as a ‘hall of culture,’ to introduce to Korea the cultures and histories of the 10 ASEAN member-states, and to boost two-way and people-to-people exchanges between Korea and ASEAN.”
Traditional wedding garments from Southeast Asia are on display at the ASEAN Culture House, which opened in Busan on Sept. 1. (ASEAN Culture House)
The ASEAN Culture House is built to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN. The building covers 6,524.78 square meters, with two basement levels and four stories above ground. It has exhibition halls, a VR room, a seminar room and a concert hall.
In its Special Exhibition Gallery on the ground floor, “Celebrating the Beauty of Marriage — Viewing ASEAN Through the Culture of Marriage,” an exhibition to introduce marriage traditions from the 10 ASEAN countries, will run until Nov. 19. Objects related to traditional marriage ceremonies are showcased, including wedding garments of an Indonesian queen and a traditional wedding bed from Malaysia.
In the VR room, visitors can take a look at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat using a VR headset. The Borobudur temple compound in Indonesia and the temples of Bagan in Myanmar will be added soon, too.
The ASEAN Culture House is designed with a roof, eaves and balconies that resemble traditional Southeast Asian buildings. (ASEAN Culture House)
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