12 May 2026, Seoul – Mr. Jeremy Robert Barns, Director-General of the National Museum of the Philippines, recently participated in the Korea–ASEAN Cultural Cooperation Roundtable sponsored by the Korea Foundation and held at the Jeongdong 1928 Art Center.

The roundtable aimed to establish and strengthen cooperative networks among key cultural institutions in South Korea and ASEAN Member States, promote the sharing of policies and field-based practices related to digital transformation (DX), and identify practical areas for future cultural collaboration.

The event brought together directors and senior representatives from leading museum, art, and cultural heritage institutions across Southeast Asia and the Republic of Korea. Participating dignitaries included Director-General Jeremy Barns of the National Museum of the Philippines, Ms. Indira Estiyanti Nurjadin, Head of the Indonesian Heritage Agency, and Ms. Nitaya Kanokmongkol, Executive Director of the Office of National Museums.

The roundtable also gathered experts in digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI), including academics and professionals from the Republic of Korea: Mr. Jaehong Ahn, Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Culture Technology of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; Ms. Sey Min, media artist and Adjunct Professor at the Korea National University of Arts; Mr. Jay Kang, CEO of Geminisoft and Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Information and Archival Science of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; and Mr. Jongwook Lee, Associate Professor from the Department of Digital Heritage of the Korea National University of Heritage.

In his welcome remarks, Mr. Yong Uk Kim, Executive Vice President of the Korea Foundation, expressed his appreciation for the participation of the heads of national museums and heritage agencies from the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, underscoring the importance of strengthening cultural cooperation between Korea and ASEAN partners.

Meanwhile, in her congratulatory remarks, Ambassador Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez conveyed her appreciation to the Korea Foundation for organizing the event and highlighted the growing importance of digitization and artificial intelligence as essential tools in the preservation and promotion of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

The first session focused on “Digital Transformation (DX) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Cultural Exchange: Current Landscape and Future Directions,” highlighting how museums and cultural institutions can harness digital technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance accessibility, preservation, and audience engagement.

The second session centered on “Strengthening Korea–ASEAN Cultural Exchange Partnerships,” where participants exchanged views on expanding institutional cooperation, developing collaborative programs, and fostering deeper people-to-people and cultural ties between South Korea and ASEAN Member States.

Director-General Barns’ participation in the roundtable underscores the Philippines’ continued commitment to promoting regional cultural cooperation and advancing innovation in the preservation and presentation of cultural heritage. END