The 2024 East Asia Future Forum was successfully held in Seoul

Lee Ik-won, CEO of Edaily, Ro Jae-hun, President of East Asia Culture Center, Kwon Young-se, Member of the National Assembly, Fang Kun, Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Korea, Wu Hailong, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, Kim Young-hee, former Vice President of MBC Content, and other key attendees gathered on the 27th at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul to take a commemorative photo during the '2024 East Asia Future Forum.' / Photo provided by Edaily

"Rather than division and confrontation, the idea of harmony and cooperation has historically contributed to regional and global prosperity. Now is the time to once again redraw the future of East Asia with the spirit of 'dongjugongje' (同舟共濟 - meaning 'to share a boat and cross the water together,' referring to mutual support through hardships)."

Opening Remarks by Ro Jae-hun, President of the East Asia Culture Center. / Photo by Edaily, Kwon Reporter

Ro Jae-hun, President of East Asia Culture Center, opened the 2024 East Asia Future Forum on the 27th with these words. The forum, co-hosted by the East Asia Culture Center and Edaily TV, began in 2022 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. Now in its third year, the event has become a prominent platform for cultural exchange and economic cooperation in East Asia. This year’s forum, held at the Plaza Hotel in central Seoul, focused on the theme "New Wave of East Asia: New Wave, Flow."

Welcoming Remarks by Lee Ik-won, CEO of Edaily. / Photo by Edaily, Lee Young-hoon reporter

A large number of prominent figures involved in East Asia exchanges attended the forum. Drawing from their experiences, they emphasized the importance of economic and cultural cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan. More than 300 participants from the economic, cultural, and industrial sectors gathered to hear insights from the speakers. Lee Ik-won, CEO of Edaily, in his welcoming address, stated, "Cultural solidarity is a crucial asset for the peace and prosperity of the entire East Asia region," adding, "Through this event, which is becoming a platform for enhancing friendship in the East Asia region, we will collectively explore the future."

Congratulatory Remarks by Kwon Young-se, Member of the National Assembly. / Photo by Edaily, Lee Young-hoon

Kwon Young-se, a member of the ruling People Power Party who previously served as the Minister of Unification and Ambassador to China, and Fang Kun, Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Korea, both agreed in their congratulatory messages that "the East Asian culture that we have developed together has now become central to the world, and we need to think about better ways to cooperate." Lee Soo-man, former head producer of SM Entertainment, also shared a video message, noting, "The era where East Asia becomes the main player is coming, and that era will be driven by culture," stressing the importance of cultural exchange.

Congratulatory Remarks by Fang Kun, Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Korea. / Photo by Edaily, Lee Young-hoon

In the keynote speeches on the topic of 'East Asia Exchange and Cooperation,' Kim Young-hee, former MBC Vice President in charge of content, and Wu Hailong, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, took the stage. Kim Young-hee, renowned for creating popular programs such as Hidden Camera, Exclamation Point, and I Am a Singer, is also known for her successful ventures into the Chinese market, where she achieved top viewership ratings. She shared her 30 years of experience in the production scenes of Japan and China, emphasizing the importance of Korea-China-Japan exchanges.

Keynote Speech by Kim Young-hee, Former MBC Vice President. / Photo by Edaily, Lee Young-hoon

He said, "About 30 years ago, when I went to Japan for training, I learned from their advanced broadcasting systems, and 15 years later, I was teaching the Korean system in China. Now, 15 years later, China has built a system where it can compete equally with Korea. From my direct experience in the production field, I truly felt the importance of cultural exchange." She continued, "Today's content is produced in short and simple formats and distributed freely, and for smooth communication, content needs to be freely circulated. For the young people of Korea, China, and Japan to develop mutual respect, we must take a new approach, different from traditional methods."

Keynote Speech by Wu Hailong, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association. / Photo by Edaily, Bang In-gwon

Wu Hailong also emphasized youth exchange, saying, "The future of Korea-China relations ultimately lies with the youth. The focus of cultural exchange should be on young people, especially Generation Z (those born from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s). It is important for them to feel a sense of belonging to the East Asian cultural identity and its values, and to increase mutual understanding and goodwill toward each other's culture."

After the keynote speeches by Kim Young-hee and Wu Hailong, the afternoon sessions continued with two discussions under the overarching theme of "East Asia's Cultural Industry and Economic Cooperation." In the first panel, cultural critic Jeong Deok-hyun chaired a discussion on "Challenges and Opportunities in the East Asian Cultural Industry." The panelists included Chinese director Tang Ji-li, Park So-young, CEO of Sam Entertainment, Park Chang-woo, CEO of Soon ENT, and Jeong Young-bum, CEO of Bim Studio. They discussed how to address cultural exchange in a rapidly changing content market, affected by the rise of generative AI and the popularity of short-form content.

In the second session, Dr. Lee Cheol (former Chief Investment Officer of TCL) chaired the discussion. The panel included experts such as Lü Jendong, executive at Leso Company, Kim Bo-hyeong, partner at King & Wood Mallesons, Seo Haeng-a, research fellow at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning, Jeong Ji-hyun, team leader of the China Team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, and Ji Man-su, senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Finance. They analyzed the current state of China's economic policies and shared their insights.

During the event, the 'East Asia Exchange and Cooperation Contribution Awards' were presented. Awardees included Kang Cheol-won, the Everland zookeeper who cares for 'Fubao,' along with Tang Zhi-li, Wu Hailong, Song Gi-chul, President of the Korea International Cultural Exchange Agency, Lee Cheol, Dr. Lee Hae-won, Vice President of Jeonju University, Ji Young-mo, Chairman of the Korea-China Private Economic Cooperation Forum, and Kim Bo-hyeong, attorney.