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THE YEAR OF JAPAN-ROK NATIONAL EXCHANGE IN 2002

October 2001
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  1. At a meeting with then Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil of the Republic of Korea in September 1999, then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of Japan proposed that the year 2002, which is when the FIFA World Cup would be co-hosted by the two countries, be designated as Nikkan Kokumin Koryunen (The Year of Japan-ROK National Exchange) so as to promote wide-ranging national exchanges. This proposal was formally agreed to by both prime ministers at the Japan-ROK Ministers Meeting in Cheju Island in October 1999. The main thrust of this idea is to seize upon the important momentum created by the joint hosting of this internationally renowned sport event by the two countries and their collaboration to ensure its success. Through the promotion of interchanges between the two peoples in various fields, not only at governmental levels but also at private and regional levels, deeper mutual understanding will be fostered, and stronger bilateral partnership will be consolidated toward the 21st century.

  2. The following preparations for the Year of Japan-ROK National Exchange are currently underway.

    (1) Working-Group Meetings between the two countries (referred to as " WG meetings") have been held to discuss the promotion of cultural exchange programs toward the year 2002. Both sides exchanged information regarding programs to be held before and during 2002 at governmental and private level (in such fields as culture, academia, sports, youth exchanges, expos on industrial culture, tourism events and regional exchanges). Both sides also exchanged views regarding a future course of action to further promote exchange programs. As a result of the five WG meetings held thus far, both sides confirmed that the various cultural events be carried out.

    (2) The Nikkan Bunka Koryu Junbishitsu (The Task Force for Japan-ROK Cultural Exchange) was set up within the Cultural Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan on January 24, 2000, in cooperation with related government ministries and agencies (the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Land, Infrastracture and Transport), to consult and coordinate with the ROK side at WG meetings. On the same day, the Nikkan Bunka Koryu Renrakushitsu (The Liaison Office for Japan-ROK Cultural Exchange) was also created within the Japan Foundation to collect and provide information regarding exchanges between the two countries through an Internet Web site (URL: http://www.jpf.go.jp/jkxx/ other site(Only Japanese and Korean)), to give advice and information regarding how to plan out bilateral exchange programs, as well as to lend support for the implementation of such programs.

    (3) The Nikkan Bunka Koryu Kaigi (the Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange Council, Reference to http://www.asc-net.or.jp/jkcf/kaigi/main.htm other site (Only Japanese)), composed of eminent persons from both countries, was established in June 1999. A number of program proposals have been made at the meetings, such as a Japan-ROK cultural assets exchange exhibition, joint concert of court music, and joint production of drama, which are intended to substantiate cultural exchange between the two countries. These proposals will be further examined in the appropriate frameworks described above.

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