Youths from Permata Remaja, the youth empowerment centre of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), has put Malaysia on the spotlight by performing at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Seoul Youth Festival. The event took place on Saturday, 17 October, at the Culture Plaza (Munhwa-ui Madang) in Yeouido Park, Seoul. The performance highlights the international cultural exchange that UKM has run for a second consecutive year with the Seoul Youth Music Center, a facility established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and operated by Seokyeong University.
From July to September, the Malaysian participants took online K-POP singing and dance classes. In October, they traveled to Korea for face-to-face training and cultural activities, which included K-baking. On stage, they performed a K-POP song together with Korean teenagers, creating a connection through music. After both online and in-person training, the young performers from both countries are more confident and energetic on stage.
Malaysian culture was also showcased. The program featured a performance that mixed Silat Melayu, the traditional Malay martial art, with modern dance, and a traditional fan dance. Students who came to learn about Korean culture shared their own traditions with Korean audiences, making it a true exchange. At a cultural booth next to the stage, they introduced UKM and Malaysian customs and handed out madeleines they had baked in their K-baking class to Korean teenagers and visitors.
Dr. Nasrudin, head of the Permata Remaja training delegation, who has been bringing groups to Korea for training for six years now, said the exchange held special meaning. Although he has come to Korea many times, he said, an opportunity to join Korean teenagers on the opening stage of a major youth festival in Seoul is rare, and he expressed his gratitude. He added that the whole process, from online classes to in-person training and the performance, gave the participants a valuable chance to experience the Korean language and culture first-hand.
Dr. Seo Kyu Won, director of the Korea Education Centre, which helped bring about the collaboration between the two sides, said: “This opportunity has made direct exchange between Korean and Malaysian youths possible, and I will do my best to build on it so that many more exchanges take place.”
Dr. Shim Hae-bin, director of the Seoul Youth Music Center, said: “It was an especially meaningful exchange, because the Malaysian youths learned and practised music together with Korean youths, came to understand each other’s cultures and completed one stage together.” She added: “Building on the expertise and infrastructure of a facility specialising in youth music, we will keep connecting high-quality music education with real performance stages, and continue to expand opportunities for international music exchange in which young people communicate and grow together across borders and languages.”
The Seoul Youth Music Center is Korea’s first place focused on youth music. It offers music education, performances, creative support, and community programs.
The festival, called “Youth Energy ON! Fill Seoul with Our Colours!”, was organized by the Seoul Youth Activity Promotion Center and the Seoul Association of Youth Facilities. It’s a festival where young people are the main performers, rather than just the audience. The day also included the Mind Run, the finals of the Seoul Youth Music Festival, 3×3 basketball, and other sports and cultural activities. The Mind Run aims to help young people who feel stressed from competition by allowing them to run 5 km or 10 km with friends and family.
Seeing Malaysian teenagers studying Korean language and culture sharing the stage with their Korean friends in Seoul shows that the exchange between young people from both countries is growing. We hope this exchange through music and culture will keep going.