Gyeonggi Province to Boost Cultural and Arts Exchange with Chinese, Japanese Local Governments
Gyeonggi Province to Boost Cultural and Arts Exchange with Chinese, Japanese Local Governments
Gyeonggi Province is actively promoting the strengthening of cultural and arts exchange between local governments in Korea, China, and Japan. On October 30, 2025, Gyeonggi Province expressed this commitment by participating in the 15th Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Friendship Exchange Conference held in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The ‘Trilateral Friendship Exchange Conference’ is a local government consultative body that has been held biennially since 1996, rotating between Gyeonggi Province, Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan), and Liaoning Province (China), to promote mutual friendship and strengthen cooperation. At this conference, Gyeonggi Province proposed the revitalization of exchanges in various fields, including culture and the arts, and discussed concrete measures for mutually beneficial development between the regions. In particular, Gyeonggi Province emphasized the expansion of programs that enhance cultural understanding and support the creative activities of artists among the three regions. It also stated that it would strive to build future-oriented cooperative relationships by encouraging exchanges between younger generations.
The 15th Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Friendship Exchange Conference was attended by Gyeonggi Province's Vice Governor for Economic Affairs, Ko Young-in, as the head of the delegation, who actively presented Gyeonggi Province's position. Vice Governor Ko emphasized at the meeting that “the three regions are important economic hubs in Northeast Asia, and should pursue common prosperity through mutual cooperation,” adding that strengthening ties between regions through cultural and artistic exchange would positively impact economic cooperation. Furthermore, Vice Governor Ko introduced Gyeonggi Province's diverse cultural resources and artistic infrastructure, explaining that synergy could be created through cooperation with other regions. Gyeonggi Province plans to further expand cultural and artistic exchanges among the three regions and identify specific cooperative projects, leveraging this conference. To this end, Gyeonggi Province is supporting the establishment of networks between cultural and artistic organizations and institutions in the three regions and is considering ways to jointly host cultural and artistic events.
Meanwhile, on the same day, October 30, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited South Korea for the first time in 11 years. During his three-day visit, President Xi Jinping is scheduled to hold a series of summits with U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. President Xi Jinping's visit is expected to be an important opportunity to stabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. In particular, President Xi Jinping will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju to discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation in the region. Leaders from major countries are expected to attend this APEC summit to engage in in-depth discussions on global economic issues. The South Korean government is making every effort to successfully host this APEC summit and expects to further enhance South Korea's international standing through it.
Amidst these events, the People Power Party has filed a complaint with the police against Choi Min-hee, the chairwoman of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, on charges of bribery. The People Power Party alleges that Chairwoman Choi Min-hee received a total of 8 million won in bribes, with each of eight individuals – four unidentified individuals related to major corporations, three individuals related to terrestrial broadcasters, and one company CEO – contributing 1 million won each, allegedly under the guise of congratulatory money for her child's wedding. The People Power Party criticized Chairwoman Choi Min-hee's actions as a clear illegal act and a serious violation of the integrity obligations of a member of the National Assembly. Choi Min-hee has not yet made an official statement on the matter. The police plan to launch an investigation based on the People Power Party's complaint and are expected to summon relevant individuals to verify the facts. This incident has caused a major stir in the political sphere and is expected to further intensify the conflict between the ruling and opposition parties. The People Power Party emphasized the need to strengthen the ethical awareness of members of the National Assembly and eradicate corruption through this incident.
Through its participation in the 15th Korea-China-Japan Trilateral Friendship Exchange Conference, Gyeonggi Province is exploring opportunities for cooperation not only in cultural and artistic exchange but also in various fields such as economy, environment, and education. Gyeonggi Province plans to continuously identify and promote practical cooperation projects for the common development of the three regions, contributing to improving the quality of life for local residents. Furthermore, as the 16th Trilateral Friendship Exchange Conference is scheduled to be held in Liaoning Province, China, in 2027, Gyeonggi Province will actively participate in preparations for the next conference to further strengthen the cooperative relationship among the three regions. Gyeonggi Province's efforts are expected to play an important role in contributing to peace and prosperity in the Northeast Asian region. Gyeonggi Province will continue to do its best to create achievements in various fields through cooperation between local governments and enhance the standing of South Korea.
