ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Kim Jae-shin, back row center, poses with ASEAN member envoys during a reception in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre
The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) convened its 18th Annual Meeting of the Council in Seoul on Wednesday, as senior officials reviewed achievements for 2025 and approved the center’s work plan and budget for 2026.
The AKC Council, composed of high-level government representatives from the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Member States and Korea, reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation amid evolving global uncertainties. Participants underscored the importance of AKC’s role in meeting growing demand for an enhanced partnership.
Deliberations were guided by the ASEAN-Korea Plan of Action for 2026-2030, which supports implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Seoul’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership vision, titled “Contributor, Springboard, Partner.” Extensive discussions were held regarding proposed 2026 programs aimed at translating strategic commitments into practical initiatives.
In 2026, AKC plans to implement around 30 programs focusing on economic cooperation, culture and tourism, media, and people-to-people exchanges. The initiatives will build upon the center’s 2025 activities, which included dozens of collaborative programs to promote trade, investment and cultural ties.
A flagship project for this year is the establishment of a new ASEAN Hall in Jeonju in cooperation with Jeonbuk State and Jeonju City. The new venue will follow the opening of Seoul ASEAN Hall on the first floor of the Korea Press Center, which coincided with ASEAN Day in 2025, and complement the existing ASEAN Hall on Jeju Island. Together, the facilities are designed to expand region-based ASEAN-Korea exchanges beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
AKC will also place emphasis on the ASEAN Officials Trade Academy to support expanded trade and economic cooperation, and on the ASEAN-Korea Journalists Exchange Program to deepen mutual understanding through immersive exchanges between media professionals.
AKC Secretary-General Kim Jae-shin said that 2026 would serve as a pivotal year for the center as it begins full-fledged implementation of the new Plan of Action.
“The AKC will continue to pursue concrete cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges, in close partnership with diverse stakeholders,” Kim said at a reception following the meeting.
Around 150 stakeholders attended the event, including Council directors, officials from Korea’s Foreign Ministry, representatives from ASEAN embassies in Seoul, and figures from academia and the media.
Source: Korea Times News
