Seoul, 19 June 2019 – The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) and Seoul Metropolitan Government organized the 2019 ASEAN Week to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-Korea Dialogue Relations and the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Korea Centre. The 2019 ASEAN Week, which was staged at the Seoul Plaza on 14-16 June 2019, was made up of three (3) special events with the aim of raising public awareness on ASEAN culture and tourism, namely: ASEAN-Korea Music Festival, ASEAN-Korea Fashion Festival and ASEAN Travel Talk and Picnic with ASEAN.

Ambassador Noe A. Wong and Mrs. Maria Elena Wong, together with the ASEAN Ambassadors and their spouses, attended the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 ASEAN Week where H.E. Lee Hyuk, Secretary General of the AKC, Hon. Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, and Ambassador Singtong Lapisatepun of Thailand delivered welcome and congratulatory remarks.

The ASEAN-Korea Music Festival on 14 June 2019 featured ASEAN cultural performances and K-Pop idols. The Philippines was represented by the Kalumon Performing Ensemble from Davao City whose performance of indigenous and contemporary music and dances generated excitement and contributed to the festive spirit.

The ASEAN-Korea Fashion Festival on 15 June 2019 showcased both the traditional and contemporary fashion of ASEAN which were presented on the runway by Dr. Nana Keum, Honorary Ambassador of the ASEAN-Korea Centre, and the spouses of the ASEAN Ambassadors together with models from ASEAN countries. Apart from the ASEAN fashion designers, Korea??s acclaimed Hanbok designer Ms. Park Sul-nyeo also presented her Hanbok creations at the event. For the Philippines, Filip+Inna designer Lenora Luisa Cabili presented a collection of modern interpretation of the terno which showcased ancient techniques of weaving, embroidery and beadwork from different indigenous groups in the Philippines. Madame Maria Elena Wong, spouse of Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Noe A. Wong, and Diwa ng Davao 2018 Ms. Cindy Pauline Benedicto presented the terno on the runway together with Korean models.

The ASEAN Travel Talk and Picnic with ASEAN event on the last day featured a travel talk show with Korean singer Gwanghee Hwang. In addition, ASEAN lifestyle and design exhibitions were also showcased and booths related to culture and tourism were organized by the ASEAN Embassies. The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT)-Seoul led by Tourism Attaché Ms. Maria Corazon Jorda-Apo joined the ASEAN Culture and Tourism Booths at the event zone and raffled off two (2) Incheon-Clark-Incheon tickets courtesy of Philippine Airlines.

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting economic and socio-cultural cooperation between ASEAN and Korea.END