Kim Jae-jung Attends Ceremony Marking 60th Anniversary of Korea-Japan Diplomatic Relations to Promote Further Exchange of Hallyu Culture

The global spread of Korean culture is accelerating through Hallyu icons and various international events. Singer and actor Kim Jae-jung was officially invited to attend the ceremony celebrating the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, which took place in Tokyo, Japan, on the 19th. Over 800 distinguished guests from both countries, including Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, gathered for this event organized by the South Korean Embassy in Japan. Kim Jae-jung joined HitoMi and May, members of the girl group SAY MY NAME, at the event and delivered a speech commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He said, “Throughout my career in culture and arts, I have received tremendous love and support from people in both countries, and I have come to believe that music and culture serve as strong bridges that connect people’s hearts across languages and borders.” He added, “I hope that in the future, both nations will deepen their understanding and respect for each other’s cultures, especially enabling younger generations to communicate and pursue their dreams together to create a better tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, the 6th Tianjin Korean Food Festival was held over two days, from June 14 to 15, in Tianjin, China. Co-organized by the South Korean Embassy in China, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Korea Food Culture & Tourism Institute, and jointly hosted by the Tianjin Koreans Association and the Tianjin Korean Food Committee, the festival offered Chinese people the opportunity to “taste, enjoy, and wear” Korean culture through K-Food, K-POP, and K-Fashion. The event featured sections for Korean food, experience zones, fashion displays, information booths, and a stage. Classes were held where participants could learn to make dishes such as kimchi, doenjang jjigae, tteokbokki, and ganjang gejang. Operators of Korean restaurants in Tianjin set up 13 stalls to sell Korean food, while 23 Chinese teams competed in a K-POP dance competition. An agricultural officer from the South Korean Embassy in China said, “Events driven by private sectors like these are expected to significantly contribute to improving relations between China and South Korea, going beyond simply promoting Korean food and restaurants.”

The “2025 Korean Festival” was also held in Istanbul, Turkey, during the World Octa Europe-Eurasia Business Conference. The venue was crowded with local Hallyu fans aged 10 to 20, and events included an opening ceremony, K-POP competitions, and various other programs. Park Jong-beom, president of the World Octa Istanbul chapter, said in his welcome speech, “I hope that this event will serve as a catalyst for active exchanges in various fields such as culture and arts between South Korea and Turkey.” Members of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, ICT and Future Planning, including Kim Won-i (Democratic Party), Park Sung-min, Kang Seung-gyu, and Jeong Dong-man (People Power Party), attended to celebrate the festival. Mayor Balam Pasha said, “I hope that our youth and children can approach the world with a more open mind by directly experiencing various aspects of Korean culture. The Korean Festival will be a valuable opportunity for people-to-people diplomacy.” Around the event site, over 20 food courts were set up, with long queues forming at the kimbap, bulgogi, and tteokbokki stalls due to high local interest. Lee Hwa-mi, vice president of the World Octa Osaka chapter, performed the “Mudang Dance,” which was hailed as the highlight of the celebration. During the K-POP competition, local Hallyu fans had the chance to dance and sing alongside K-POP artists from South Korea, directly experiencing Hallyu culture.