Seoul hosts Bangkok youth delegation from Monday through Friday

Program includes Garden of Gratitude, City Hall tour and K-pop experience

30 Seoul youths to visit Bangkok in November

Sixty youths from Seoul and Bangkok visit the Garden of Gratitude at Gwanghwamun Square. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]
Sixty youths from Seoul and Bangkok visit the Garden of Gratitude at Gwanghwamun Square. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]

Young people from Thailand, a country that fought alongside South Korea in the Korean War, visited Seoul's Garden of Gratitude this week.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government hosted a Bangkok youth delegation from Monday through Friday for the "2026 Seoul-Bangkok Youth Cultural Exchange," a five-day program. Thailand is a longstanding ally that decided to provide food aid to South Korea immediately after the Korean War broke out and later dispatched troops as part of the UN forces. According to the UN Command Veterans Association and other sources, Thailand sent a total of 6,326 troops beginning Nov. 7, 1950. Of those, 129 were killed in action and 1,139 were wounded.

Sixty youths from Seoul and Bangkok together visited the Garden of Gratitude at Gwanghwamun Square, a memorial space honoring Thailand's sacrifice during the Korean War. Through K-pop experiences and youth-led city tours, participants shared each other's history and culture and built friendships as global citizens. The Garden of Gratitude is a Korean War memorial space that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon championed and opened May 12 last year. It features a 6.25-meter-tall symbolic sculpture expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of the South Korean armed forces and 22 allied nations. Some of the sculptures incorporate stone sent from each participating country. Thailand's sculpture is the 11th of the 23 total.

The Seoul-Bangkok Youth Cultural Exchange is the city's flagship reciprocal youth international exchange program, launched in 2008 following the sister-city agreement between Seoul and Bangkok in 2006. This year's Seoul-hosted exchange brought together 30 youths each from Seoul and Bangkok, along with 10 chaperones and officials from both cities, for a total of 70 participants.

On the first day of the exchange, Monday, participants visited the Garden of Gratitude at Gwanghwamun Square to reflect on Thailand's sacrifice and dedication in aiding South Korea during the Korean War.

From Tuesday through Thursday, participants explored Seoul's history, culture and urban spaces, connecting through exchange programs planned by Seoul youths themselves, including a youth-led city tour. On the final day, Friday, the delegation experienced traditional crafts at Namsangol Hanok Village before the Bangkok group departed, concluding the Seoul-hosted exchange.

"At first I was worried about whether we could communicate well because of the language barrier, but we quickly grew close as we traveled and did activities together around Seoul," a Seoul youth participant said. "I was able to rediscover familiar parts of Seoul through fresh eyes with my Bangkok friends, and I hope to make more memories when we meet again in Bangkok in November."

"The most memorable part was exploring different parts of Seoul in hanbok with the Korean youths," a Bangkok participant said. "Learning about the long ties between Thailand and Korea at the Garden of Gratitude was particularly meaningful, and we were able to become true friends by understanding each other's cultures."

Following the Seoul-hosted exchange, 30 Seoul youths will travel to Bangkok from Nov. 2 to 6 to continue the reciprocal program.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to expand opportunities for young people to experience diverse international exchanges and world cultures. Information on cultural, educational and exchange programs for youth is available on the Seoul Youth Culture and Exchange Center website and the Seoul Youth Mongddang platform.

"This exchange gave Seoul and Bangkok youths the chance to visit the Garden of Gratitude together, reflect on the long ties between the two countries and the sacrifices of Thai veterans, and grow by understanding one another," said Lee Hae-seon, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Lifelong Education Bureau.


ikson@heraldcorp.com