In contemporary society, the rapid advancement of digital technologies is reshaping the landscape of culture and the arts at an unprecedented pace. In particular, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged not merely as a tool but as a central creative agent, offering new possibilities while also presenting diverse challenges within cultural phenomena. Generative AI is functioning beyond its role as a mere assistant to human creativity, engaging in independent creative judgment and collaborative processes to restructure the creative ecosystem alongside humans. These changes are comprehensively transforming modes of creation, creators’ rights, social values, and policy frameworks, sparking innovation not only in the cultural and artistic domains but also across society as a whole.

Within the regional context of ASEAN and Korea, multilingual and multicultural characteristics highlight both the opportunities and limitations of AI adoption. The digital preservation of regional languages and intangible cultural heritage demonstrates the potential of AI to embody cultural diversity beyond automation. At the same time, linguistic diversity, cultural specificity, and regional disparities pose risks of bias in AI training and application. Accordingly, in AI-driven creative ecosystems, not only technological innovation but also strategic interventions and collaborative governance are essential. Against this backdrop, the Forum seeks to move beyond viewing AI as a “mechanical creator” and instead explore the diversification of creative agency through human–AI interaction, along with the broader socio-cultural phenomena it entails.

At the policy level, the transformation of creative ecosystems in the AI era offers critical implications. The Korean government is pursuing multi-faceted strategies to harness AI technologies for creative ecosystem innovation and the development of the cultural and content industries. In 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced Culture Korea 2035, declaring a major paradigm shift in cultural policy for the AI era.

Malaysia, as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, has identified “inclusivity and sustainability” as the core slogan of its ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) strategy, clearly setting the direction for AI utilization and the strengthening of creative ecosystems in the region. The eight ASCC priorities and five strategic thrusts (March 2025) further support this vision, providing an institutional foundation for ASEAN–Korea cooperation.

Within this context, the Forum will facilitate in-depth discussions on the interplay among technology, policy, societal needs, and cultural ecosystems, aiming to seek balance between human-centered creativity and AI-enabled creation. The core theme of this year’s Forum is “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” It is essential to examine whether AI is embraced as a key driver of a new social paradigm or regarded as a passive tool akin to previous technologies. The Forum will address how AI participates in creative processes, the potential for expanding human-centered creativity, and strategies to mitigate bias and imbalance in multicultural and multilingual contexts.

Through these deliberations, the Forum ultimately aims to establish a sustained framework for dialogue and mutual understanding among diverse stakeholders within the ASEAN–Korea cultural and creative sectors. By fostering continued cooperation between ASEAN and Korea and promoting international knowledge sharing, the Forum seeks to position itself at the forefront of advancing the global cultural and creative industries. In emphasizing inclusivity and sustainability as indispensable foundations for future creative ecosystems in a rapidly evolving AI environment, this Forum will serve as a vital platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative vision-building.