Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon on June 15 speaks at the online Korea-Japan Culture Ministers' Meeting at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Yun Dahee 

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon and Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Keiko Nagaoka on June 15 discussed expansion of bilateral cultural exchange between future generations at the Korea-Japan Culture Ministers' Meeting. 

Held online, the meeting sought to crystallize the cultural results of shuttle diplomacy between both nations' leaders, something that was resumed for the first time in 12 years. The dialogue also aimed to accelerate consultations for more sophisticated promotion of mutual trust and willingness to advance bilateral relations through cultural exchange and cooperation projects, things both sides confirmed at three summits over the past two months.

Minister Park said, "President Yoon Suk Yeol and (Japanese) Prime Minister (Fumio) Kishida jointly recognized the importance of exchange between future generations to expand prospects for mutual understanding and build friendship and trust between the people of both countries." 

"Tourists in their 20s comprise a large proportion of those who visit both countries, and future generations from the two sides are at the center of bilateral cultural exchange," he added. "I hope that bilateral exchange between future generations grow more active in a diversity of fields such as culture and content."

"Korea and Japan have maintained a strong connection through close cultural exchange and built a deep friendship," Minister Nagaoka said in response. "Based on the results of cultural exchange so far, I hope to further develop exchange for the future generations of Korea and Japan and continue cooperation to showcase the appeal and common cultural values of both nation's cultures and arts to the world." 

At the meeting, Minister Park also asked for Japan's cheers and support for Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. 

"The government and people of the Republic of Korea are focusing their energy to attract the 2030 World Expo to Busan," he said. 

Both officials in their talks reaffirmed that diverse cultural exchange and cooperation will serve as catalysts for deepening understanding and friendship between Koreans and Japanese. They agreed on more in-depth talks on cooperation in bilateral cultural exchange in person in September at the 14th culture minister's meeting of Korea, China and Japan in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province. 

The online meeting was an extension of the Korea-Japan Future Culture Tourism Partnership Project launched in March by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to expand the achievements of bilateral summit diplomacy. 

daheeyun@korea.kr