World

RoK expands cultural promotion in Southeast Asia

“The 2026 Korea Season” begins this month with a tour by the Yoon Byul Ballet Company, presenting "Gat," a production that reinterprets traditional Korean headwear through Western classical dance. The performance is scheduled for May 23 in Bangkok before moving to Hanoi on May 27.

Seoul (VNA) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea (RoK) said on May 20 that it will organise the “2026 Korea Season,” in Vietnam and Thailand to promote Korean culture in Southeast Asia.

The “Korea Season” is an annual cultural project launched by the RoK in countries with strong potential to embrace the Korean Wave (Hallyu). The programme features performances, special exhibitions, and various cultural events organised throughout the year in collaboration with relevant agencies.

This year’s event will leverage major institutional milestones, including the relocation and reopening of the Korean Cultural Centre in Thailand and the 20th anniversary of the cultural centre in Vietnam.

The programme begins this month with a tour by the Yoon Byul Ballet Company, presenting "Gat," a production that reinterprets traditional Korean headwear through Western classical dance. The performance is scheduled for May 23 in Bangkok before moving to Hanoi on May 27.

By autumn, the initiative will shift toward modern programming with the "K-Live Festival" in October, which organisers said will feature collaborative performances by musicians from all three nations. In November, the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra will partner with SM Classics to perform classical renditions of popular K-pop tracks in Hanoi. The year will conclude with multimedia exhibitions focused on Korean folklore, including a showcase of the National Folk Museum of Korea's "The Tiger God Shines" at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Beyond state-sponsored fine arts, the culture ministry is collaborating with various public and private organisations to host smaller interactive events. These will include K-beauty and design showcases, traditional musical theater, culinary workshops centered on kimchi and fermented pastes, and a "K-Game" week in Hanoi aimed at the region’s growing gaming market.

“The 2026 Korea Season” will serve as an opportunity to communicate more deeply through culture with Thailand and Vietnam, our major partners in Southeast Asia,” Kim Hyun-jun, the ministry’s international culture policy director, said in a statement./.

VNA
#Korean Wave Korea (RoK)
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, ASEAN emerge as major export markets for RoK

ASEAN, particularly Vietnam and Thailand, has also stood out. The RoK’s exports to ASEAN rose 12.5% over the period, reaching 122.4 billion USD in 2025, while exports to Vietnam climbed 10.8% to 62.8 billion USD.

See more

Deputy Director of the ASEAN Centre at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) Dr. Valeria Vershinina (Photo: VNA)

Russian scholar praises Vietnam’s bridge role in Southeast Asia

Russia highly values Vietnam’s contributions to the ASEAN Community and its active role in pushing Russia–ASEAN ties forward, she said, adding that Moscow will consistently back Vietnam’s constructive initiatives to reinforce ASEAN’s unity, cohesion and flexible response to contemporary geopolitical challenges.

Thailand launches low-carbon rice production initiative

Thailand launches low-carbon rice production initiative

The Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model, covering a pilot area of 50,000 rai (about 8,000ha) across eight provinces in central Thailand, aims to tap into the lucrative international green agriculture market and secure a foothold in the global carbon credit ecosystem.

Thailand amends securities law to support digital economy

Thailand amends securities law to support digital economy

Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand, revealed that the government prioritises updating economic laws to keep pace with technological developments, especially by amending the Securities and Exchange Act to systematically support the issuance and use of electronic securities under a clear, transparent, and verifiable regulatory framework.

Singapore’s public sector offers highest pay premium for AI talent

Singapore’s public sector offers highest pay premium for AI talent

The Singapore edition of PwC’s 2026 Global AI Jobs Barometer report showed that the substantial pay premiums came as AI-related job openings last year captured a larger slice of Singapore’s total labour market. The share of AI-related job postings jumped to 5.3% in 2025, up from 3.3% the previous year.

Thailand establishes the national semiconductor committee.

Thailand establishes national semiconductor committee

Thailand prepared a target strategy to become ASEAN’s semiconductor and advanced electronics industry hub and to make ‘Made-in-Thailand chips’ a reality by 2050, focusing on attracting 2.5 trillion THB (76 billion USD) in investment and developing more than 230,000 highly skilled personnel.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Thailand tightens AI deepfake control

Under the Computer-Related Crime Act, creating and publishing altered images that cause embarrassment can lead to up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 THB (5,400 USD).

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Nam Duong (second from right) and other participants in the conference held in Cairo on June 14–15 (Photo: VNA)

Egypt steps up implementation of UN Convention Against Cybercrime

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Nam Duong stated that as one of the first countries to ratify the convention, Vietnam stands ready to work with Egypt, African partners, the UNODC, and other UN member states to effectively implement the accord, contributing to a safer, more secure, and more resilient cyberspace.

​Thailand probes allegation of large-scale sale of personal data

​Thailand probes allegation of large-scale sale of personal data

Boonthida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society, has instructed the Personal Data Protection Committee Office to work with the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) to verify the authenticity of the claims and determine whether a data breach has occurred.

Indonesia face mounting economic pressures

Indonesia face mounting economic pressures

Indonesia is facing mounting economic challenges as rising energy prices, a weakening IDR and concerns over government policies weigh on investor confidence, prompting analysts to call for stronger fiscal discipline and more market-friendly reforms to stem capital outflows.

Thailand steps up crackdown on online investment scams

Thailand steps up crackdown on online investment scams

Authorities have also expanded their crackdown on so-called "mule accounts" bank accounts rented, borrowed, or purchased to facilitate illegal transactions as well as cryptocurrency accounts linked to criminal activities, bringing the total number of suspended accounts to more than 58,000.

Malaysia suffers millions of dollars in losses from human-wildlife conflicts

Malaysia suffers millions of dollars in losses from human-wildlife conflicts

Speaking recently at the Johor Elephant Sanctuary, Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Arthur Joseph Kurup emphasised that these incidents need to be addressed urgently because they not only damage crops and property but can also lead to injuries and loss of life.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Thailand considers return to CPTPP, pushes ahead with EU free trade deal

Thailand is considering a return to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as it pushes to lock in a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), amid rising protectionism and mounting challenges facing the global trading system.

Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, chairs the seminar (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam pushes women’s greater representation in int’l legal bodies

Ambassador Do Hung Viet called for sustained dialogue, sharper awareness and coordinated, practical measures, from the grassroots to global forums, to ensure women are recognised, can contribute meaningfully and have greater access to leadership roles within international legal processes and bodies.

WB plans over 3 bln USD in financing for Philippines

Indonesia, RoK eye stronger creative economy collaboration

Assessing the prospects for cooperation, Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya said that under the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, there are significant opportunities to promote cooperation in production, talent exchange, digital game development and other technology-related fields that would benefit the creative industries of both Indonesia and the RoK.