Cultural cooperation South Korea-Netherlands 2021-2024

Looking back: establishing a footing and ‘first contacts’
In the past decade, a great many Dutch cultural activities took place in South Korea, including for example the Dutch Design Showcase at the Seoul Design Festival, the Dutch Fellowship Programme at the Korean National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), and the long-term partnership between the Rijksakademie and Arts Council Korea (ARKO). People all across South Korea are familiar with Van Gogh, but as the result of various presentations, Miffy and the floating giant Rubber Duck have also established themselves firmly as Dutch icons.

In September 2016, during Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s state visit to South Korea, the Dutch and South Korean governments signed an official treaty to promote further collaboration, including in the cultural sector and the creative industry. The Netherlands’ international cultural policy 2017-2020 called for a strategic cultural relationship with South Korea by encouraging Dutch cultural programmes specifically made for a Korean audience.

The policy framework 2017-2020 was the period to establish a footing for the Dutch cultural sector in South Korea and to initiate and stimulate more ‘first contacts’ between the two countries. The successful outcome demonstrated the positive impact of policymaking and implementation. The Netherlands is now well recognised by Korean cultural stakeholders as an amicable collaborator for international exchange. The visibility of and knowledge about Dutch culture in South Korea has increased steadily through regular participation in major art events, large-scale exhibitions, and various visitors’ programmes organised by the Dutch embassy in Seoul, Dutch cultural funds and DutchCulture. Demand for cooperation from South Korea has been growing in diverse fields such as design, jazz music and modern dance.  

As one of the primary representations, the multidisciplinary programme NEDxPO2018 to accompany the PyeongChang Winter Olympics generated substantial attention in South Korea and built up a strong image of Dutch culture in terms of visual arts, performing arts, design and architecture. It also resulted in new partnerships. For instance, one of the projects contributed to Arts Council Korea’s new partnership with Jan van Eyck Academy, after the former’s exemplary cooperation with the Rijksakademie for more than a decade.  

The year 2020 was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Most international cultural events were cancelled or postponed. The repercussions have been harshest for projects in the performing arts, artist-in-residency and visitors programmes which inevitably involve mobility, physical presence and personal interaction. In addition to relying on digital or virtual alternatives, the Dutch embassy in Seoul and Dutch cultural institutions focused on building strategic partnerships with local partners such as the Arts Council Korea and Seoul Metropolitan Government, to cement long-term and sustainable working relationships.  

Looking forward: regional, thematic and constructive collaboration
In the period 2021-2024, the Dutch international cultural policy will continue to encourage and facilitate (new) cooperation between Dutch and Korean cultural practitioners and institutions in the focal disciplines of mutual interest: visual arts, performing arts, and creative industries. The Dutch cultural sector aims to build and maintain a strong position in South Korea through visibility, exchanges and long-term partnerships. Dutch cultural expressions will also be utilised to support bilateral relationships.

In doing so, the Dutch embassy in Seoul and policy stakeholders will:

• expand the geographical focus of Dutch cultural activities beyond the capital of Seoul to other major South Korean cities such as Busan and Gwangju. The goal is to familiarise more South Korean target groups with Dutch culture and creativity, and increase their interest in collaboration.  
• focus more on constructive and thematic cooperation rather than on ad hoc opportunities, for example through the international arts joint fund programme (2021-2022) between DutchCulture and Arts Council Korea on ‘innovation and inclusivity’. Cultural foundations, artist-in-residency programmes, research institutes, and local governments can be potential stakeholders.
• support bilateral diplomatic relationships, especially on the occasion of the 60th year anniversary of official relations between the Netherlands and South Korea in 2021.
• join forces with other Dutch cultural initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region, especially the neighbouring countries of Japan and China, to achieve a greater impact internationally.

Cultural agenda

2021  

Cultural presentations to celebrate the 60th year anniversary of diplomatic relationships between the Netherlands and South Korea. (More events can be found at NLKORat60.org)

• Best Dutch Book Design exhibition at Korean Foundation Gallery, Jun-Jul 2021
• Joris Ivens Retrospective at Seoul Art Cinema, Jun 2021
• Presentation Amsterdam City and other Dutch artists/architects at Seoul Biennale on Architecture and Urbanism (SBAU), Sep-Oct 2021
• Design Exchange programme by Dutch Design Foundation and Seoul Design Festival.   Oct & Dec 2021
• Erwin Olaf solo exhibition at Suwon Museum of Art, Dec 2021 – Mar 2022

2021-2022

Dutch-Korean International Arts Joint Fund programme
(partnership DutchCulture and Arts Council Korea, supported by Dutch embassy in Seoul)  

Information & advice  
Would you like to receive more information regarding opportunities for cultural exchange with South Korea? Feel free to contact our South Korea advisor Ian Yang with your questions. He can inform you about the latest developments in the country, relevant contacts and cultural venues.

Further reading

• Go (back) to the main country page for South Korea 
• COVID-19 Information for cooperation with South Korea 
• Webpages of the Embassy of The Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Korea 

*COVID-19 crisis has caused delays and changes in the planning of the above and other Dutch cultural activities in South Korea. For up-to-date information, please stay tuned in to us.