The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Heritage Service’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center on January 20, 2025, at Dondeokjeon Hall in Deoksugung Palace, Seoul. The collaboration aims to globally promote the cultural and historical significance of Korea’s royal palaces and tombs.

This partnership will focus on training and engaging cultural ambassadors, developing promotional content, and building a robust public-private cooperation framework to enhance awareness of Korea’s royal heritage. VANK, a cyber diplomacy organization established in 1999, has played a pivotal role in rectifying distorted representations of Korean history in foreign textbooks and online platforms. The organization has trained numerous Korean youth, diaspora, and international supporters to become global ambassadors of Korean culture.

The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center sees this collaboration as an opportunity to effectively disseminate accurate information about Korea’s cultural heritage amid rising global interest in traditional Korean culture, spurred by the popularity of K-pop and K-drama. “The international fascination with Hallyu provides a crucial moment to leverage VANK’s extensive experience in global outreach and advocacy,” said a representative of the Center.

Both institutions are committed to broadening the reach of knowledge about Korea’s royal palaces and tombs through various initiatives. These include the production and distribution of engaging content and the utilization of global diplomatic networks to promote Korea’s historical and cultural values on an international scale.

As Korea’s royal heritage gains global attention, this partnership underscores a collective effort to preserve and share the nation’s rich cultural legacy with the world.