UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | TASHKENT / SEOUL — Kim Tae-yeon, a reporter at the Diplomacy Journal covering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related areas, has received an official invitation to attend the International Media Forum to be held in Tashkent and Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from August 24 to 29 — marking a meaningful step in media and cultural diplomacy between South Korea and Uzbekistan at a moment of deepening bilateral relations.

The forum will convene at the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan under the theme "Islamic Civilization: A New Perspective — New Discoveries," bringing together journalists, international experts, and media officials from around the world to reexamine the historical value of Islamic civilisation and its contributions to the broader development of human culture, science, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, architecture, and the humanities.

A Forum at the Crossroads of Heritage and Digital Media

Central to the forum's agenda is the question of how traditional culture and historical memory can be recorded, preserved, and shared with global audiences through modern media and digital technology. Documentary production, cultural heritage preservation, the use of artificial intelligence, and digital media tools will all feature as major agenda items across plenary sessions and thematic discussions.

According to the official programme, participants will arrive in Tashkent on August 24 for a welcoming ceremony, press briefings, and cultural programmes. A joint initiative to establish a media platform enabling young journalists to research and promote Uzbekistan's cultural heritage internationally is also scheduled to be signed on that day.

The formal opening ceremony takes place on August 25 at the Center for Islamic Civilization, followed by plenary sessions, exhibition viewings, and working-level exchanges among international media representatives. Participants will also undertake a media tour of key historical and cultural sites in Tashkent, including the Imam al-Bukhari Complex, honouring the legacy of one of Islam's most revered scholars. A visit to Samarkand — the ancient heart of Silk Road civilisation and a UNESCO World Heritage city — is also scheduled, offering journalists direct exposure to the living heritage the forum seeks to document and promote.

Korea-Uzbekistan Media Diplomacy

Reporter Kim Tae-yeon's attendance represents South Korea's participation in a forum designed to broaden international understanding of Islamic civilisation beyond a purely religious framing, encompassing the full spectrum of its intellectual and cultural legacy.

Kim plans to cover the forum's key sessions, expert presentations, and Uzbekistan's historical sites and contemporary development on the ground, sharing her findings with both domestic and international readers. Through direct exchanges with journalists from participating countries, she also aims to advance people-to-people understanding between South Korea and Uzbekistan and to strengthen cooperation in culture, arts, tourism, and media.

"I will cover in depth the precious value that Islamic civilisation has left behind for the development of human scholarship, science, and culture," Kim said. "As a journalist, I will do my utmost to ensure that this forum serves as an opportunity for South Korea, Uzbekistan, and other countries to understand each other's history and culture and expand their friendships."

Korea-Uzbekistan Art Exhibition in Seoul This September

Extending the momentum of media engagement into the cultural sphere, the Diplomacy Journal and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Korea are jointly organising the Korea-Uzbekistan International Cultural and Arts Exchange Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Insa-dong, Seoul, in September — timed to coincide with the anticipated state visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Korea.

The exhibition will bring together representative artists from both countries, presenting works that blend tradition and modernity and introduce the artistic spirit and cultural heritage of Korea and Uzbekistan side by side. Diplomatic officials and cultural figures from both nations are expected to attend.

A distinctive feature of the exhibition is the presentation of the International Art Exchange Award to participating artists, in recognition of their contributions to promoting cultural friendship between the two countries. Award certificates will be jointly signed by the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Korea and Diplomacy Journal Chairman Lee Jon-young — a gesture underscoring the event's dual character as both a cultural celebration and a diplomatic statement.

A Continuous Platform for Exchange

Taken together, the August media forum in Uzbekistan and the September art exhibition in Seoul are envisioned as a continuous and complementary platform linking Korea and Uzbekistan through media, culture, and the arts — translating the achievements of summit-level diplomacy into tangible people-to-people exchange.

The Diplomacy Journal indicated it would use on-site coverage of the International Media Forum to introduce Uzbekistan's rich historical heritage and national development to Korean and international audiences, while the Seoul exhibition will provide a venue for the creative communities of both countries to deepen their mutual acquaintance.