Mr Jung Yung Soo (Seventh left, upper row), Deputy Ministers, ambassadors, and officials pose for a group photo at the closing ceremony of Korea Week 2025 at the Vientiane Center on Sunday.

Korean culture moves the heart of Laos

Korea Week 2025 celebrates 30 years of Laos–Korea diplomatic relations

The Republic of Korea and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic marked the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with a vibrant two-day celebration of friendship and cultural exchange during Korea Week 2025, held in Vientiane on June 14–15.
The event was jointly hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Laos, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, with support from the Lao Taekwondo Federation and the Korea Tourism Organisation.
Korea Week 2025 featured a range of engaging activities designed to deepen cultural understanding between the two countries. These included the 9th Ambassador’s Cup Taekwondo Competition, the Ambassador Cup Korean Speech Contest, the Korea Tourism Fair, and a spectacular closing ceremony.

Audience members cheer for the Kukkiwon Taekwondo demonstration team.	A winner of the Korean Speech Contest delivers a presentation on the future of South Korea–Laos relations over the next 30 years.
K-Pop cover dance contest winners, D-BOYZ, strike a pose after their performance.	Two young athletes compete in gyorugi (sparring) during the 9th Korea Ambassador Cup Taekwondo Championship.

A total of 366 athletes from 26 taekwondo clubs across the country took part in the taekwondo competition, demonstrating their strength and skill in poomsae (forms) and gyerugi (sparring), further strengthening the popularity of the sport among Lao youth.
Meanwhile, the Korean Speech Contest offered a platform for Lao students to showcase their Korean language proficiency. In this special edition, expanded to mark the 30th anniversary, the contest featured university students and other young people under the age of 25.
A total of 82 applicants participated in the preliminary round held in May. From this group, 27 finalists advanced to the final round on June 14, where they competed through simultaneous recitations and presentations on the theme of Korea–Laos relations over the next 30 years.
The Korea Tourism Fair, themed “Enjoy Korea in Laos”, introduced visitors to Korean travel destinations, cultural heritage, and contemporary trends.
Visitors enjoyed wearing the traditional Hanbok dress, exploring Korean crafts, and experiencing beauty trends such as Korean make-up and personal colour analysis.
A major highlight was the closing ceremony held at the Vientiane Center, which drew over 1,000 guests. The Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team from Korea thrilled the audience with high-level performances in poomsae, gyerugi, and gyeokpa (breaking) styles of the Korean national martial art.
Among the distinguished guests were Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Mr Kingmano Phommahaxay; Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr Manothong Vongsay; ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from government and private sectors.
The Korean Ambassador to Laos, Mr Jung Yung Soo, expressed appreciation to the Lao government for its cooperation and support, saying “It is a great honour to host Korea Week in celebration of three decades of friendship and cooperation between our nations. This event reflects our shared commitment to cultural exchange and mutual prosperity.”
The festivities concluded with the symbolic breaking of the Pak (celebration ball), a traditional Korean practice representing good fortune and success.
Since diplomatic relations were reestablished in 1995, Laos and the Republic of Korea have forged strong ties in key areas including trade, education, development cooperation, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
Korea Week 2025 stands as a testament to the vibrant and enduring partnership between the two nations, with both sides looking forward to even closer cooperation in the years to come.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update June 18, 2025)