By Yoon Sojung

The government has been operating a task force in order to prepare for expanded arts and sports exchanges between North and South Korea.

At a press briefing at the Government Complex-Sejong on April 23, spokesperson Hwang Seong Un from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that, “More inter-Korean exchanges in the arts and sports are expected if the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit is successful.”

“Just within the ministry, the culture ministry has formed a task force to talk about potential inter-Korean exchanges in the arts,” he said.

Spokesperson Hwang added that, “Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jonghwan mentioned a potential agenda for inter-Korean exchanges, which might cover such things as joint entrance marches at the Jakarta Asian Games for South and North Korean athletes, and restarting the publication of a unified and unabridged Korean language dictionary, the Gyeoremal-keunsajeon (겨레말큰사전)."

Earlier on April 3, Minister Do proposed that the South and the North work together on developing exchanges for artists, musicians and athletes, to help lay the foundation for peace, co-existence, reconciliation and cooperation on the peninsula. While visiting Pyeongyang for the performance of a South Korean art troupe in the North, the minister emphasized the need for long-term inter-Korean cultural exchanges, such as resuming the publication of a unified Korean language dictionary.

arete@korea.kr