Cooperative Agreement Between the Japan Arts Council and the Busan National Gugak Center
Cooperative Agreement Between the Japan Arts Council and the Busan National Gugak Center
On June 15, 2025, the Japan Arts Council signed a "Basic Agreement for Mutual Cooperation" with the Busan National Gugak Center of the Republic of Korea.
The Busan National Gugak Center is one of the national arts institutions in Korea, engaging in a wide range of activities to preserve and develop Korea's traditional performing arts while leveraging Busan's unique characteristics as an international maritime cultural hub.
At the signing ceremony held at the Busan National Gugak Center on this day, Director Lee Jeong-yeop of the Busan National Gugak Center and President HASEGAWA Mariko of the Council met face-to-face. They confirmed that the two institutions would deepen their cultural understanding and cooperate on future cultural exchange projects, signing the agreement.
It is highly meaningful to engage in cultural and artistic exchange with the Japan Arts Council. This agreement will serve as a crucial foundation for practical cooperation and development in the field of traditional arts, built on mutual trust and friendship between the two organizations. I hope to continue expanding cultural understanding between Japan and Korea and fostering common values through various performances, educational initiatives, and research exchanges. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Japan Arts Council members who were present today, and I sincerely hope for continued exchange and development between the two organizations.
〇From the address of President HASEGAWA Mariko of the Japan Arts Council
Busan, situated near Japan, has been Korea's gateway to the world since ancient times and is a renowned international city known for its rich maritime culture. The Busan National Gugak Center, based in Busan, not only showcases traditional performing arts but also engages in a variety of creative performances and projects aimed at promoting these arts globally. We are honored to finalize this agreement with such a prestigious institution. We hope that this collaboration will lead to initiatives that enable the people of both Korea and Japan to deepen their understanding of and become more familiar with each other's traditional cultures. Our goal is to foster more active cultural exchanges between the two countries, ensuring that our respective cultures continue to thrive.
Specific exchange projects based on this agreement will be realized through future discussions between the two institutions.
On this day, the "2025 World Music Lecture Concert Series" took place at the National Busan Gugak Center. This event showcased performing arts from three countries—Korea, Japan, and China—over a four-day period. The audience was treated to a performance by Okinawan Kumiodori, which featured an explanatory segment about the art form, followed by a presentation of Ryukyuan dance and the Kumiodori piece "Manzai Tekiuchi." The hall was filled, demonstrating the local audience's strong interest in Japanese performing arts.
