S.Korea-ASEAN Innovative Culture Forum to open in Singapore on Nov. 8

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) announced on November 4 that the 2025 Korea-ASEAN Innovative Culture Forum will be held at the National Gallery Singapore on November 8. The event aims to strengthen the foundation for cultural exchange and deepen mutual understanding and cooperation between Korea and the ten ASEAN member states.

Now in its sixth year, the forum will bring together cultural artists, scholars, and creative industry leaders from across the region to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the cultural landscape and how inclusive innovation can ensure diversity and sustainability in the process.

The forum will open with a keynote address by Professor Lee Kyo-gu of Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology and co-founder of Supertone, titled “From Code To Culture: Inclusive AI for Cultural Sustainability.” Lee is expected to highlight the potential of AI to both expand and challenge the boundaries of cultural creativity.

Subsequent sessions will feature discussions on topics such as the practice of cultural diversity in the AI era, the evolving mobility of creative industries, the importance of cultural literacy in a digital society, and the future of AI and cultural heritage. Experts and representatives from institutions including the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, the ASEAN Foundation, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the National Gallery Singapore will participate.

Organizers noted that the forum will serve not only as a venue for dialogue but also as a platform to develop cooperative strategies for building a more inclusive cultural ecosystem across the Korea-ASEAN region.

“AI technology presents new opportunities to expand creativity in the cultural and artistic sectors,” said Yoon Yang-soo, Director-General for International Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. “We hope this forum will become a catalyst for Korea and ASEAN to jointly establish a more inclusive and sustainable cultural environment.”