Recently, controversy erupted as China included Dolsot Bibimbap in its regional intangible cultural heritage list, claiming it originates from the cooking techniques of Korean-Chinese people. A Chinese company has been using this classification to promote Dolsot Bibimbap, raising concerns over cultural appropriation.

In response, the Korean organization VANK initiated a campaign urging the Korean government, particularly the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs, to actively address this issue. They emphasize the importance of national heritage and encourage public involvement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it will firmly respond to any attempts by China to distort history, recognizing the importance of these issues to national identity. The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to assess and enhance the competitiveness of intangible heritage that requires urgent attention, potentially seeking preemptive UNESCO recognition.

VANK aims to raise global awareness about China’s misrepresentation of Korean culture through a digital campaign. Their efforts include launching petitions on the platforms Woollim and Bridge Asia, along with spreading information via social media.

The campaign highlights the absurdity of cultural distortion, questioning how China would react if Korea were to list Sichuan’s signature dish, mala tang, as its own heritage. VANK warns that misrepresenting Korean culture threatens East Asian peace and calls for worldwide support to prevent such cultural appropriation.

VANK hopes to ignite interest in traditional Korean culture domestically while alerting the global community to the risks of China’s cultural misappropriation, which could jeopardize Korea’s heritage on international platforms like UNESCO.

The Korea Heritage Service, led by Choi Eung-chon, is partnering with Cyber Diplomacy Organization VANK, headed by Park Ki-tae, to launch a global campaign promoting Korea’s five traditional holidays, which are now recognized as intangible cultural heritage (as of December 18, 2023). 

The campaign aims to celebrate these holidays—Seollal, Daeboreum, Hansik, Dano, Chuseok, and Dongji—by creating and distributing bilingual (Korean and English) posters through social media platforms. The posters highlight the cultural significance and traditional practices associated with each holiday, such as the food of Seollal, the rituals of Hansik, the games of Dano, the activities of Chuseok, and the features of Dongji.

The posters, available for download on VANK’s website and Instagram, provide visual and textual information about the unique characteristics of each holiday. Anyone interested in sharing the value of Korea’s intangible heritage can freely use and post these materials on their social media.

The Korea Heritage Service plans to continue collaborating with VANK to expand global awareness of Korea’s intangible heritage through various promotional activities.

On August 14, 2024, Cyber Diplomacy Organization VANK signed a cooperation agreement with Yeongcheon Girls’ Middle School (Principal Park Jeong-sook) to launch the Global Climate Change Ambassadors Program, aiming to empower Korean youth to take the lead in addressing the climate crisis.

The event, a collaboration between VANK and the school, was designed to cultivate youth leaders capable of solving global issues like climate change. VANK’s Director Park Ki-tae delivered a career lecture for all students from grades 1 to 3, followed by a training session and inauguration ceremony for 117 first-year students as Global Climate Change Ambassadors.

In his speech, Park emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, citing the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Risks Report, which ranked the failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change as the top threats facing humanity. “The youth of Yeongcheon Girls’ Middle School can become leaders who will guide Korea and the world in overcoming these challenges,” he said.

In addition, Kim Bo-kyung, CEO of the social venture Impactus, and Woo Yeon-taek, VANK team leader, gave lectures on the climate crisis and ways to act, engaging the students with an interactive quiz. VANK researchers including Lee Jeong-ae, Lee Sun-hee, Kwon Soon-gyu, Yang So-hee, Kwon So-young, and Choi Yoo-jin also provided practical guidance on climate action.

Principal Park Jeong-sook emphasized the importance of youth-led action to address global issues like climate change, stating, “ESG education that promotes sustainable leadership is essential. Through this program, students will understand the severity of the climate crisis and take responsibility to work together for global solutions.”

VANK’s Park Ki-tae highlighted a recent event where Korean youth filed a constitutional petition against the government for failing to address the climate crisis, which gained international attention. “Through this partnership with Yeongcheon Girls’ Middle School, we hope to see Korean youth become active global climate change ambassadors.”

The two institutions will collaborate on climate change education, campaigns, and ESG initiatives to equip students with the knowledge and skills to become proactive global leaders in tackling the climate crisis. VANK is also pushing forward various projects aimed at fostering global climate ambassadors worldwide.

VANK has partnered with Gyeonggi Province to nurture youth and young adult global climate ambassadors and strengthen global collaboration to address the climate crisis.

On August 6, 2024, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon and VANK signed an agreement at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office. Governor Kim praised VANK for accomplishing what governments often cannot, adding, “Gyeonggi has declared the Gyeonggi RE100 initiative, appointed climate ambassadors, and actively engages in international efforts to combat the climate crisis. Together with VANK, we aim to lead the way.”

Under the agreement, VANK will recruit global climate ambassadors to create climate policy content and promote Gyeonggi’s climate initiatives internationally via social media. Meanwhile, Gyeonggi will support climate education and content development for policy advocacy.

VANK, known for training digital diplomats and global Korean cultural ambassadors, launched a project this year to cultivate 100,000 global climate ambassadors using social media to raise awareness of climate action.

Both parties agreed to collaborate on:

– developing content about the climate crisis and its solutions
– expanding climate education and action among the youth
– internationally promoting climate policies via social media

VANK Director Park Ki-tae expressed gratitude, saying, “This partnership with Gyeonggi aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire 200 million Hallyu fans worldwide. Through this initiative, we’ll showcase climate leadership as part of our cultural diplomacy.”

In a preceding discussion, VANK researchers highlighted their ambition to train Korean youth as global climate leaders, much like they’ve prepared digital diplomats to share Korea’s culture. They emphasized that young people, with proper support, are eager to act.

Governor Kim underscored Gyeonggi’s ongoing eco-friendly measures, such as banning single-use items at government facilities and mandating reusable containers for food deliveries. He encouraged nationwide participation in tackling the climate crisis and pledged full support for VANK’s efforts.

On July 22, 2024, the National Hangeul Museum (Director Kim Il-hwan) and the Cyber Diplomacy Organization VANK (Director Park Ki-tae) signed an agreement at the museum to globalize Hangeul and its culture.

– Promoting Hangeul to VANK members and Hallyu fans worldwide
– Providing accurate information about Hangeul in international publications and websites
– Creating online and offline Hangeul promotional materials
– Organizing Hangeul cultural experiences and education programs for foreigners

This collaboration builds on their connection during the 2022 National Brand-Up exhibition. Moving forward, the two organizations plan to explore and implement joint projects to promote Hangeul and its culture globally.

The first initiative under the partnership will take place during the museum’s 10th anniversary and the 2024 Hangeul Culture Week (Oct. 4–10). Visitors can participate in a “Pure Korean Name Creation” event using a custom app developed by VANK. Additional joint projects are also in the works.

Museum Director Kim Il-hwan expressed hope that the agreement will foster vibrant cooperation, sharing Hangeul culture with the world. VANK Director Park Ki-tae noted that over 200 million global fans of Hallyu present a unique opportunity to position Hangeul and its culture at the center of this global wave.

VANK views the growing interest in Korean pop culture as a bridge to promoting Hangeul worldwide. By creating resources and initiatives, they aim to expand the global focus from Korean pop culture to the language itself, ensuring Hangeul becomes a celebrated cultural asset worldwide.

VANK has partnered with the Korean Peninsula Population Institute for Future to launch the “Save Korea’s Future Project,” aimed at raising youth awareness about the challenges of low birthrates and aging.

VANK, known for safeguarding Korea’s history and culture from global inaccuracies, now addresses internal threats to Korea’s future. The institute specializes in analyzing population crises and fostering collaboration among private, academic, and corporate sectors to find sustainable solutions.

Their agreement, signed on July 8, 2024, sets out to build a digital communication platform that mobilizes nationwide awareness. Campaigns will include digital initiatives, policy discovery efforts targeting youth, and social media outreach to enhance understanding of these critical issues.

VANK leader Park Ki-tae emphasized the importance of involving young Koreans, not just policymakers, in addressing the demographic crisis. “Korea’s youth must lead as digital diplomats and advocates to secure the nation’s future,” he stated.

The partnership has already produced impactful campaigns. VANK launched a website and posters highlighting the urgency of the crisis. One poster juxtaposes Korea’s rich history with the stark reality of population decline, urging action: “Pride in 5,000 years of history cannot outweigh the worry for a disappearing Korea. The time to act is now!”

Through collaborative efforts, VANK and the institute aim to inspire Korea’s youth to step forward as champions for the nation’s survival and prosperity.

On May 29, 2024, the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) held a Global Unification Public Diplomacy Strategy Seminar at the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) conference room. The event aimed to explore strategies for raising awareness and interest in Korean unification through global diplomatic efforts.

The seminar was attended by VANK Director Park Ki-tae, nine youth researchers, PUAC Deputy Secretary-General Dong Seung-chul, and 14 PUAC staff members specializing in international affairs, totaling 25 participants.

VANK presented its global unification diplomacy initiatives from its establishment in 1999 to the present. The organization has worked to correct international misconceptions about Korea’s history before division, addressing distortions found in textbooks, encyclopedias, and academic sources worldwide. These efforts have led to the correction of 731 cases of misinformation on influential platforms such as National Geographic, Harvard University, BBC, and WHO.

VANK also strives to enhance Korea’s national brand by improving its representation in global history education. While Chinese history is covered extensively in textbooks with around 50 pages and Japan’s with 20, Korea is often limited to a single page, which predominantly portrays it through foreign invasions, colonial rule, and division. To counter this, VANK has trained thousands of young Koreans as digital diplomats, rectifying textbook inaccuracies and promoting Korea’s cultural heritage through global campaigns. The organization has distributed 1.9 million copies of over 200 educational materials, including booklets, maps, and postcards.

Furthermore, VANK has actively promoted the vision of a unified Korea to the global community, educating young Koreans about its significance and encouraging international support. The organization has trained 1,075 youth as global unification ambassadors, with 235 outstanding participants leading awareness campaigns abroad. VANK has also produced and distributed 100,000 copies of unification-themed educational materials, including the “Unification Globe Map,” which highlights how Korea’s unification is interconnected with 8 billion people across 200 countries.

Additionally, VANK has developed 12 promotional videos, including “Building a Wall of Hope for Korean Unification,” which inspires youth to reflect on Korea’s past, present, and future, and “The Meaning of This Nation,” which emphasizes that true national liberation can only be achieved through unification.

Looking forward, VANK announced new global unification diplomacy campaigns, including a national branding contest for a unified Korea, AI-driven future scenario projects, and tailored persuasion strategies for the U.S., China, Japan, and Russia regarding Korean unification. Other initiatives include fostering unification public diplomats among North Korean defectors and global Korean youth.

During the seminar, VANK proposed policy recommendations to NUAC. Director Park Ki-tae emphasized, “VANK’s mission has always been to enhance Korea’s global image. In 1999, few knew about Korea’s rich history and culture, and misinformation was widespread. We have since worked to ensure the world sees Korea accurately and finds it compelling. Now, we must prepare for the branding of a unified Korea.”

Senior Researcher Lee Sun-hee suggested leveraging the metaverse to train global diplomats, enabling participation from Korean expatriates and international supporters. Kwon Soon-gyu stressed the importance of global platforms in shaping public opinion, stating, “Unification will impact not only Korea but also neighboring countries, Europe, and the U.S. Building international discourse before and after unification is crucial.”

Yang So-hee highlighted Instagram’s role in reaching global youth, recommending continuous efforts to engage young audiences in unification advocacy. Kwon So-young proposed strategic partnerships with international NGOs and educational institutions to amplify Korea’s unification message. Choi Yeon-seo called for more collaboration between VANK and PUAC to develop youth-friendly diplomatic programs. Choi Yoo-jin emphasized the need for multilingual content to reach a broader international audience. Cho Su-yeon underscored the power of storytelling in capturing global interest in Korean unification. Finally, Ju Hye-in suggested creating interactive digital platforms to engage young people worldwide in the unification discourse.

Through this seminar, VANK and PUAC strengthened their commitment to promoting a globally recognized, future-oriented vision of Korean unification. The event underscored the necessity of strategic diplomacy in fostering international support and shaping Korea’s national brand beyond division.