(KPL) The National Asian Culture Centre (ACC) of the Republic of Korea hosted a ceremony on December 17 at the National Museum in Vientiane to commemorate the publication of Lao palm leaf manuscript catalogs and the release of digital readings of these manuscripts.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ms. Dalany Phommavongsa, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Jung Young-soo, President of ACC Lee Kang-hyun, and other relevant officials.

This achievement is part of the ACC's Official Development Assistance (ODA) project, titled "Establishing a Digital Cultural Resource Management System and Enhancing Cultural Content Development Capabilities." Over the past three years, the ACC has been working in collaboration with major Lao cultural institutions to digitize cultural, natural, and documentary heritage.

Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ms. Dalany Phommavongsa

Cultural Heritage for Future Generations

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Dalany Phommavongsa emphasized the significance of the digital archive, stating, "The digital archive based on Korean technology and experience has become a cornerstone in bringing Laos' precious cultural heritage closer to future generations and foreigners."

Lee Kang-hyun, President of ACC, added, "It is meaningful that ACC's digital cultural resource management technology and experience are contributing to Laos' sustainable cultural development." He expressed hope that this cooperation would further enhance the strong relations between the two countries.

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Jung Young-soo

Ambassador Jung Young-soo highlighted the initiative's alignment with the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, saying, "We are pleased that Korea's advanced digital technology is contributing to the preservation and utilization of Lao cultural heritage." He further expressed optimism for expanded digital and high-tech cooperation between the two nations.

Key Achievements and Future Prospects

The Laos-Korea cultural cooperation is expected to provide multiple benefits, including cultural heritage preservation, utilization, and the development of tourism resources. Notably, this collaboration is transforming Laos' precious cultural heritage into a world-class tourism asset through Korea's cutting-edge digital technology.

Key highlights of the event include:

• Translation of two rare palm leaf manuscripts into modern Lao language.
• Digital accessibility of related videos through the Lao Cultural Portal (https://hub.laos-culture.org/).

This partnership comes as Laos assumes the role of 2024 ASEAN Chair, underscoring its regional leadership in cultural preservation and development. The successful digital transformation of the palm leaf manuscripts not only strengthens bilateral ties between Laos and the Republic of Korea but also contributes to sustainable cultural development in the ASEAN region.

As part of this collaborative effort, both countries aim to further expand cultural exchanges, solidifying their partnership and fostering mutual growth in cultural heritage preservation and technological advancements.

KPL