By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee
The opening ceremony for the 2025-26 East Asian Cultural City was held on April 25, 2025 at Anseong Art Hall in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do Province, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.
The event showcased the traditional performing arts troupe Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi's pungmulnori (folk music and dance), Chinese dragon dance and Japanese noh play.
Congratulatory performances were also done by an Anseong children's choir, musical group Harmonize and singer Gummy.
Beginning with the ceremony, Anseong hosted events featuring the three countries such as a traditional performing arts festival, food contest, and a joint choir.
Every year since 2014, the three sides have selected cities in each nation to stimulate cultural exchange and cooperation projects under an agreement concluded in 2012 at their fourth trilateral summit of culture ministers.
The East Asian culture cities designated this year are Anseong, Huzhou and Macao (China), and Kamakura (Japan).
