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The South Korean foreign ministry reaffirmed its basic stance of respecting the "One China" policy amid controversy over the use of the name Taiwan Pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale on September 3, 2026. Earlier that day, China's pavilion team announced its withdrawal from the biennale in protest of the organizer's decision to use the name Taiwan Pavilion, arguing that the move had brought political issues into the realm of art.
Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon stated at a regular press briefing, "The issue was decided independently by the private sector in the cultural and artistic sphere and is unrelated to our government's position on Taiwan." He added that South Korea hopes this matter will not affect South Korea-China relations or exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
Since establishing diplomatic relations with China in 1992, South Korea has maintained its policy of respecting the "One China" policy. According to the joint communique issued that year, Seoul recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and respects Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China. Earlier in the day, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul also issued a statement criticizing the use of the name, saying it undermines the political foundation of the bilateral relations. The 16th Gwangju Biennale, a major contemporary art event in Asia, is set to run from September 5 to November 15 in the southwestern city of Gwangju.