Opening of the Korea-Japan Friendship Year 2005

Opening of the Korea-Japan Friendship Year 2005

1. During President Roh Moo-hyun's state visit to Japan in June 2003, the Republic of Korea and Japan designated 2005 as the "Korea-Japan Friendship Year", which marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the ROK and Japan. Taking this opportunity, the two countries agreed to pursue various exchange and cooperation projects to further enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the ROK and Japan.

2. Based on this mutual understanding, the governments of the ROK and Japan held mutual consultations and agreed to pursue about 40 exchange and cooperation projects in 2005 in various areas including culture and arts, science and sports. The opening ceremonies to officially declare the commencement of the Korea-Japan Friendship Year 2005 will be held by the ROK government in Tokyo on January 25, and by the Japanese government in Seoul on January 27.

3. In addition, in efforts to induce the private sector to plan and participate in cooperative projects and to actively reflect suggestions from the private sector, the governments of the two countries agreed to establish the Advisory Committee (Korea) and the Executive Committee (Japan) for the Korea-Japan Friendship Year, consisted of leading figures from various areas including economy, media, culture and the academic circle. Based on suggestions made by these committees, around 180 exchange and cooperation projects proposed by the private sector were recognized as the official projects of the Korea-Japan Friendship Year.

4. In efforts to introduce the Korea-Japan Friendship Year events to the peoples of the two countries, the ROK and Japan agreed to make and use shared emblem, posters and pamphlets, and opened web sites (Korea:
http://www.friendship2005.net / Japan: http://www.jkcf.or.jp/friendship2005) for the Korea-Japan Friendship Year.

5. The governments of the ROK and Japan hope that the Korea-Japan Friendship Year 2005 would contribute to the consistent development of mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries, which have been enhanced through joint hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Games and the People-to-People Exchanges Year.

Spokesperson of MOFAT

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