2026.10.10. The Fair Economy — The Korea-Japan Festival Plaza, the largest private exchange event between Korea and Japan, kicked off on the 10th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
At the opening ceremony of the 22nd Korea-Japan Festival Plaza, the message was that government-to-government dialogue alone cannot complete Korea-Japan relations, and civilian trust serves as a safety net. Choi Hwi-yeong, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Morishita Chisato, Japanese Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, among other officials from both countries, emphasized the need to enhance people-to-people exchange.
Korea-Japan Festival Plaza is a civilian cultural exchange event between Korea and Japan that began in 2005 as a commemoration of the 'Year of Korea-Japan Friendship', marking the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This year's theme is 'Towards a Better Future, a New Step'. 19 Japanese local governments and 15 companies have set up more than 100 booths.
The Dongdaemun District Boys' and Girls' Choir and the Seoul Japanese School Choir took the stage for the first time under the name Korea-Japan Boys' and Girls' Choir.
On the Korean side, Choi Hwi-yeong, Minister; Kim Jina, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Joo Ho-young, Chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association; and Min Hong-cheol, Secretary-General of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, were present. Song Seok-jun, a People Power Party member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, and Lee Jae-jung, a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, also attended. Lee Jae-gang, a Democratic Party member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, and Bae Hyeon-jin, a People Power Party member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, also joined.
On the Japanese side, political officer Morishita, Ambassador Mizushima Koichi of Japan to Korea, and Kawamura Takeo, President of the Korea-Japan Friendship Association Central Committee, attended.
Shin Gak-su, an executive committee member (former ambassador to Japan), took the stage to read a greeting on behalf of Son Gyeong-sik, the Korean-side executive committee chairman. Chairman Son defined South Korea and Japan as geographically the closest neighbors and special partners who vividly share each other's daily lives. He emphasized that cooperation between the two countries is an essential task, not a choice, especially as the world changes rapidly and uncertainty grows. He added, 'A solid relationship between the two countries cannot be completed by intergovernmental dialogue alone.'
Chairman Son Gyeong-sik said that the civilian trust built as the peoples of the two countries deeply understand each other's cultures is the safest and strongest safety net. He emphasized, “The reason we gather across the border at this time each year is not merely to enjoy the festival,” and “it is to embed ourselves in each other's daily lives and create a solid foundation that supports Korea‑Japan relations.”
Koji Akiyoshi, the Japanese executive chairman (chairman of the Japan-Korea Economic Association), delivered remarks in Japanese. Chairman Koji said that although the future may sound like a big story, it begins with talking to someone here today and getting a little exposure to the other country's culture. "Exchange is surprisingly simple," he said. "If you eat something delicious and get excited about music you like, before you know it, you have more friends."
In his congratulatory speech, Minister Choi Hwi-yeong said, "At the Korea-Japan summit in January this year, we confirmed that promoting mutual understanding among future generations is an important pillar of Korea-Japan relations." He assessed that "cultural exchange between the two countries goes beyond understanding different cultures and shows the possibility of reconciliation and coexistence in an international community marked by conflict and confrontation." He added, "I hope the people of both countries will enjoy, empathize, and take a new step toward a better future together."
In his Japanese-language speech, Political Director Morishita said that the two countries are actively exchanging in the fields of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food. He mentioned, "Korea is scheduled to participate in the international horticultural exhibition to be held in GREEN×EXPO 2027 next year," and expressed his hope that the friendship sprouted at this festival would continue to GREEN×EXPO 2027.
Ambassador Mizushima said, "Close communication is taking place at various levels and in various fields between governments, including shuttle diplomacy between leaders," and "It is also encouraging that exchanges between the people are becoming more active." He added, "This festival began with voluntary efforts at the people's level," and "I am confident that progress in people-to-people exchanges will greatly contribute to further solidifying the bilateral relationship."
0 Comments
No comments yet.