Journalists from across Southeast Asia and the Republic of Korea gathered to share insights on enhancing regional collaboration during the ASEAN–Korea Media Forum 2025, a key event of ASEAN–Korea Week 2025.
The forum brought together journalists, policymakers and media professionals to strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding in diplomacy, culture and communication, underscoring the vital role of media in deepening the ASEAN–Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Journalists were welcomed by ASEAN–Korea Center Secretary General Kim Jae-shin and Korea Press Foundation Executive Director Nam Jeong-ho.
During discussions, journalists from Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and three from Korea spoke on “The Future of the ASEAN–Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
They all agreed that cooperation with their respective countries is more than just a policy, but also friendship, trust and shared aspirations.
Meanwhile, journalists from Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Viet Nam and two from Korea shared their perspectives on “The Future of ASEAN–Korea Cultural Ties: K-Culture as a Bridge.”
They shared how K-culture, K-drama and K-pop are warmly embraced by their respective people.
Unified in their mission to inform, educate and entertain, journalists agreed that they play a vital role in further strengthening and deepening the ASEAN-Korean cooperation.
Before the forum, journalists visited and interviewed Jeju’s Haenyeo, women divers who collect seafood such as sea cucumbers, abalone, and seaweed as their profession without the help of oxygen tanks.
Journalists agreed that the immersive experience provided rare insights into Korea’s sustainable fishing traditions and the empowerment of women.
Three Haenyeo (female divers) – Kim Su-seon, 74, Lee Bok-soo, 71 and Lee Han-0k, 68, warmly showed journalists how they dive to the depths of 5 to 20 meters, holding their breaths for 1-2 minutes, using only nets to collect abalone and other seafood.
In 2016, UNESCO recognized the Jeju Haenyeo as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, symbolizing the spirit of hardship, strength, resilience, and harmony with nature.
Set against the scenic backdrop of Jeju Island, the 2025 K-drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines” has gained immense global popularity, topping Netflix’s non-English series chart.
The romantic drama tells the epic, decades-long story of a passionate poet and a devoted man who navigate love, loss, family pressures, and societal change — exploring timeless themes of resilience, enduring love and the strength of community.
With the help of an interpreter, Lee Bok-soo admitted to the journalist that they’re working under wild, uncharted waters, and intense and dangerous situations happen, such as tools getting tangled, and they are unable to come up to the surface to breathe.
The Jeju’s Haenyeo were happy to share their wisdom and knowledge with the journalists.
But Lee noted that such concerns were overcome by their dedication, passion and their effort to keep the tradition alive.
The ASEAN–Korea Center (AKC) invited the Presidential Communications Office, which sent representatives from the Presidential News Desk and the People’s Television Network to take part in ASEAN–Korea Week, scheduled from November 11 to 16 across Seoul, Jeju and Ilsan.
The AKC is an intergovernmental organization promoting exchanges between the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN Member States. (PNA)