"We simply focused on our work, our profession, and the world benchmarked it, embraced it and followed it. That is exactly where K-culture stands today. Today became another occasion to reaffirm our cultural diversity."
Yu Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea, made these remarks about cultural diversity in Korean society on the 23rd at a talk concert titled "Cultural Diversity: Flowing Culture Nurtures the River," held at the Geoulmot Square of the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The event was the main program of the "2026 Cultural Diversity Week Marking the UNESCO Convention," hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service.
Citing a British music critic, Yu said, "K-pop is like our excellent bibimbap. That is, K-pop takes all the fresh, fine ingredients, mixes them with a good sauce, and makes it palatable for anyone in the world." He added, "This can be called the triumph of cultural diversity and the very essence of K-culture." On the future of K-pop, he stressed, "It depends on us. If we keep developing, it will continue; if we fall into mannerism, it will be turned away. As long as we develop in some form, it will move forward. In the end, it depends on us."
"Talking about cultural diversity now makes me realize how much times have changed," Yu said. "I entered college in 1967, and back then there was no mention of cultural diversity. We talked very eagerly only about the originality of our culture, and in some respects we tried to find our identity by mobilizing even chauvinism and closed nationalism." He continued, "That can be called a defense against foreign culture, but in fact we cannot deny that the roots of our culture are based on diversity."
The first basis Yu cited for the diversity of Korean culture was the inflow and fusion of various ethnic groups. "There is research saying Koreans are among the peoples with the highest IQs in the world, and one theory holds that this is because various tribes mixed together to form one people," he said. "First, Gojoseon (Ancient Joseon), Buyeo and Goguryeo in the north met with the Samhan in the south. Beyond that, looking at our current family names, there are about 200 surnames originating from abroad — most of them Chinese, but also Mongolian, Jurchen, Uyghur, Vietnamese and Japanese."
On the diversity of plants in the country, he said, "It is true that, from a patriotic standpoint, few people actively profess to love cosmos flowers once told they are foreign species. But when the soil is stable, foreign species cannot enter. When the land is overturned by some event, native species fail to adapt, and foreign species can fill the gap." He continued, "Cosmos originated in Mexico. When new roads were built and native species could not grow, cosmos seeds carried in by ship spread out. If cosmos has made our land beautiful, we should be grateful. There is no reason to reject it as a foreign species."
He also cited examples of head families switching ancestral rites to the solar calendar or weekends as relatives find it harder to attend, and adopting modernized ritual food. "We have to decide whether it is right to hold the rites that way, or whether it is right to keep performing them grudgingly in the old form until they disappear," he said.
He also argued that 70% of modern Korean is of Chinese-character origin and that another portion comes from Western languages, all of which have enriched our tongue. He added that ideologies — from ancient shamanism to Buddhism, Confucianism, and modern democracy and capitalism — are likewise the results of the cultural diversity we have built up.
"Most people learned about Goryeo as a series of incidents, but it was actually a remarkably open society," Yu said. "During King Gwangjong's reign, Goryeo invited a 'prime minister' named Ssang Gi from China and actively embraced foreign cultures, fully exercising diversity. During Goryeo's 475 years, neighboring China saw more than six dynasties overturned, from Song to Ming — yet Goryeo was able to sustain its state."
Meanwhile, the 2026 Cultural Diversity Week, under the slogan "When the Culture Within Me Shines," runs through the 24th around the Geoulmot of the National Museum of Korea. In addition, through the 27th, various events highlighting regional characteristics will continue in four cultural diversity hub cities — Busan, North Chungcheong, South Jeolla and Ansan.
