The Foreign Language Newspapers Association of Korea inked an agreement Wednesday with the state-run Korean Culture and Information Service to collaborate in promoting Korea through cultural content.

Lee Young-man, president of Herald Corp., which publishes The Korea Herald, signed a memorandum of understanding with Park Young-goog, head of KOCIS, at Herald Corp.’s headquarters in Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The two organizations agreed to support each other in “various areas” that can help enhance the national image of Korea overseas. Lee currently heads the newspaper association as its first president.

Under the partnership, the two sides will develop content about Korea and promote it overseas.

Members of the Foreign Language Newspaper Association of Korea and the Korean Culture and Information Service will be able to exchange and use each other’s content. KOCIS produces content about Korea on www.korea.net.

To this end, the association’s English daily newspapers will increase news coverage of the KOCIS’ domestic and overseas cultural projects and businesses, as well as of the government’s activities. They will also seek to jointly build businesses in line with efforts to further boost and sustain the Korean cultural wave.

The country’s three English language daily newspapers ― The Korea Herald, the Korea Times and Korea JoongAng Daily ― and Aju Business Daily founded the newspaper association in July with the aim to help introduce and promote Korean culture through exchanges overseas.

Registered as a nonprofit organization, the association also seeks to collaborate in advancing foreign-language media and technology through joint research, as well as foster young professionals.

The members also look to carry out joint foreign language education businesses in the near future. Lee Chang-sup, the Korea Times’ president and publisher; Kwak Young-kil, Aju Business Daily’s president and publisher; and Ryu Kwon-ha, the Korea JoongAng Daily’s chief operating officer, are the association’s directors.

KOCIS, which is part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is Korea’s state-run overseas publicity agency. Established in 1971, KOCIS operates about 30 Korean culture and publicity centers in more than 30 countries.

The public relations agency has been promoting the image of Korea by hosting various cultural events, such as art festivals, exhibitions and musical performances, around the world.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)