Anseong City (Mayor Kim Bo-ra) has achieved a remarkable feat by being finally selected for the "2025 Korea-Japan-China East Asia Culture City Network Support Project," securing 100 million won in national funding. This is considered a significant turning point for Anseong City as it steps forward to become a central city for East Asian cultural cooperation. This project aims to build a sustainable cultural exchange foundation among cultural cities in Korea, Japan, and China, and to revitalize the East Asian cultural network. Anseong City received high praise for its proposal centered on citizen-participatory cultural and artistic exchange programs and will receive various benefits in addition to national funding, including official sponsorship designation and logo usage rights, and central government publicity support.
Significance of the East Asia Culture City Project and Anseong City's Vision
The "East Asia Culture City" project is an international cultural exchange initiative that began following an agreement at the 2012 Korea-Japan-China Cultural Ministers' Meeting. Each year, one city from Korea, Japan, and China is designated as an "East Asia Culture City," and various cultural exchange events are held throughout the year to promote mutual understanding among the people of the three countries and to confirm cultural commonalities. Beyond simply being a one-time event, it aims to build a continuous cultural network, and the "East Asia Culture City Network Support Project" for which Anseong City has now been selected provides the foundation for the continuity and expansion of such cultural exchange.
Through this project, Anseong City plans to strengthen its regional cultural capabilities under the theme of "Connecting Through Culture, Connecting Asia - Rediscovering East Asian Culture and Arts," and establish a cultural exchange platform among Korea, Japan, and China's cultural cities, thereby solidifying its identity as an international cultural exchange city that engages with its citizens. This demonstrates Anseong City's commitment to not only preserving its past cultural heritage but also creating present and future cultural values and moving forward as an open city that communicates with the world.
Anseong City's Rich Cultural Heritage and Potential
Anseong City has long been famous as the hometown of the "Namsadang-nori" (Namsadang troupe) and possesses various cultural heritage, including intangible cultural assets. Namsadang-nori is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, and attractions such as the Anseong Majung Museum, Anseong Hyanggyo (Confucian School), and Chiljangsa Temple are key points where one can glimpse Anseong City's history and culture. These rich cultural resources provide a strong foundation for Anseong City to pursue international cultural exchange.
In particular, Namsadang-nori goes beyond a simple traditional performance, embodying the lives and sorrows of ordinary people and symbolizing community spirit and artistic freedom. Anseong City is expected to integrate the spirit of Namsadang-nori into modern international cultural exchange programs to develop new cultural content that citizens from various East Asian countries can participate in and enjoy together.
Importance and Expected Effects of Citizen-Participatory Programs
The aspect that received the highest評価 in Anseong City's project proposal was its citizen-participatory cultural and artistic exchange programs. International cultural exchange yields more meaningful and sustainable effects when it is carried out through direct citizen planning, participation, and exchange rather than one-sided events led by governments or institutions.
Through this project, Anseong City plans to promote diverse programs, including: ▲ Korea-Japan-China Youth Culture Camp, ▲ East Asia Traditional Arts Co-creation Project, ▲ Dispatch and Invitation of Citizen Cultural Exchange Groups, and ▲ Establishment of an Online Cultural Content Exchange Platform. These programs will not only provide Anseong citizens with opportunities to directly experience and understand East Asian cultures but also significantly contribute to promoting Anseong City's cultural values to the world.
Opening a New Horizon for East Asian Cultural Cooperation
Anseong Mayor Kim Bo-ra stated, "This project selection is a crucial turning point for Anseong City to become a central city for East Asian cultural cooperation," adding, "We will actively promote international cultural programs driven by citizens to spread Anseong's cultural values to the world." Anseong City's selection for the "2025 Korea-Japan-China East Asia Culture City Network Support Project" is expected to not only elevate Anseong City's cultural status but also further revitalize cultural exchange and promote mutual understanding among the three countries of Korea, Japan, and China.
Furthermore, based on the international cultural exchange platform to be established through this project, Anseong City is expected to expand cooperation with cultural cities beyond East Asia to various countries worldwide, solidifying its position as a true international cultural exchange city. This will also have a positive impact on regional economic revitalization, presenting a city development model where culture and economy form a virtuous cycle. Anseong City's recent achievement opens a new horizon for East Asian cultural cooperation, proving that culture can be a core driving force for urban development.
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