The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) has unveiled two new promotional videos to commemorate the 2026 Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The productions, titled Though Borders Differ, the Struggle for Freedom Was One and VANK x Africa: We Are Ubuntu, compare anti-colonial resistance figures from Korea and Africa while promoting the spirit of Ubuntu through the lens of the historical and emotional ties shared by the two regions.
The videos were produced to coincide with the landmark diplomatic gathering and aim to go beyond discussions of economic and political cooperation by creating a cultural foundation through which young people in Korea and Africa can connect through shared historical experiences and emotional bonds.
As its first piece of content, VANK released posters and video materials introducing Kenyan independence activists. The project highlights three symbolic pairings: armed resistance leaders Kim Jwa-jin and Dedan Kimathi; popular movements and female leadership figures Yoo Gwan-soon and Mekatilili Wa Menza; and cultural resistance icons Yun Dong-ju and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. Through these pairings, the campaign explores the common call for freedom that emerged across different continents.
The campaign emphasizes that Korea’s independence movement was part of the broader global struggle against colonialism and for national liberation. VANK noted that although Korea and many African countries share the historical experience of colonial rule, awareness and understanding of each other’s independence movements remain limited.
Building on the release of the initial content, VANK plans to introduce independence activists from Kenya and other African nations through an expanding video series that explores the shared history of independence and liberation between Korea and Africa.
The second video, VANK x Africa: We Are Ubuntu, is an emotionally driven production that visually expresses Ubuntu, the African philosophy often summarized as “I am because we are.” Through warm storytelling, the video highlights the similarities between Korea and Africa, both of which have overcome historical hardships while placing strong value on community and collective well-being.
Park Gi-tae, head of VANK, said the 2026 Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting served as an opportunity to reaffirm that Korea and Africa are more than business partners, describing them as companions that have worked together to uphold universal human values. He added that the videos demonstrate how the histories of independence struggles on both continents are deeply connected beyond national borders. He expressed hope that the meeting would encourage Korean youth to gain a deeper understanding of Africa and inspire African youth to feel a stronger connection to Korea’s history.
Kim Ryung-eun, a youth researcher who planned the Though Borders Differ, the Struggle for Freedom Was One campaign, said Korea and Africa share a historical bond forged through the experience of colonial rule and the efforts to overcome it. She expressed hope that the campaign would introduce lesser-known African independence activists to a global audience and help strengthen ties between Korea and Africa through their shared historical experiences.
Ma Ji-yun, another youth researcher who participated in the production of the video, said Korea and Africa share a profound historical understanding rooted in their experiences of overcoming colonial domination. She said the campaign seeks to deliver a sincere message of solidarity to Africans while helping Koreans recognize Africa as a self-determined continent with spiritual roots similar to their own, bringing the two regions closer together.
Lee Hyun-woo, the youth researcher who oversaw the production of VANK x Africa: We Are Ubuntu, said Korea and Africa share both the experience of overcoming colonial rule through their own efforts and a community-centered spirit of mutual prosperity. He described his participation in the project as deeply rewarding, saying it demonstrated how the spiritual foundations of both regions are closely connected beyond national borders.
The videos also make extensive use of artificial intelligence technology, which has emerged as a key tool in modern public diplomacy, to enhance their visual and emotional impact. Both productions are available on VANK’s YouTube and Instagram channels.
Alongside the release of the videos, VANK has launched an official website, where visitors can view the organization’s achievements and initiatives related to Africa. The new platform is intended to strengthen global outreach and maximize the promotional impact of the campaign.