In celebration of the 34th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, a platform for youth from both countries to strengthen their friendship through futsal has been established.
The opening ceremony of the '2026 China-Korea Youth Futsal Cultural Exchange Camp' took place at Kyonggi University Suwon Campus on August 22. The event will run for four days, concluding on August 24.
This inaugural event features youth players from both countries participating in a futsal tournament, visiting local youth facilities, and engaging in cultural experiences in Korea. The initiative aims to connect the recovery of China-Korea relations and the expansion of exchanges through interactions among future generations, thereby broadening the foundation of friendship and trust between the two nations.
The event is co-hosted by the Korea Youth Organizations Association, the Korea International Cultural Exchange Foundation, the China International Youth Exchange Center (Communist Youth League), and the city of Yantai, China. It is organized by Sportec Korea, with support from the Chinese Embassy in South Korea, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Suwon Special City, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, the Gyeonggi Future Generation Foundation, Kyonggi University, and the Aju Media Group. Various government, public institutions, and private organizations are participating in the event.
A total of 37 elementary and middle school players from China and 180 players from Korea are participating. Including parents, event officials, and guests, the total number of participants is approximately 700.
Key figures from both countries attended the opening ceremony, including Ko Myung-jin, President of the Korea Youth Organizations Association, Son Yul, Chairman of Kyonggi University, and Kwak Young-gil, Chairman of Aju Media Group, who encouraged the participating athletes in their speeches.
Ko stated, “This event serves as a platform for Chinese and Korean youth to get to know each other and exchange through soccer. I hope that the encounters on the field will lead to lasting friendships.” He added, “I expect that this event will be the starting point for exchanges between youth from both countries to expand beyond sports into various fields such as culture and education.”
Kwak emphasized the significance of holding a youth exchange event on the 34th anniversary of China-Korea diplomatic relations, stating, “The youth are the future generation that will lead the relationship between our two countries.”
He expressed hope that the youth from both nations would understand each other and build trust through the common language of soccer, and that this meeting would further activate civilian exchanges between China and Korea.
During the opening ceremony, the youth delegations from both countries were introduced, and exchange programs for the participating athletes were conducted. The youth naturally interacted during the matches, enhancing their understanding of one another.
An event official stated, “We plan to further expand the channels for exchanges between Chinese and Korean youth through this event, providing opportunities for the young generations of both countries to communicate and build friendships continuously.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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