Public Officials of Emerging Countries Learn Korean Language and Culture at YU
Consigned by KOICA study program, public officials from seven countries to study for eight weeks until September 6
Hangeul education, special lecture on Korean politics, economics, society and history, field trip to historical sites and company sites
Various cultural experience education such as samul-nori, calligraphy, wearing Korean costumes, cooking classes
[July 21, 2015]
<Public officials from 7 countries learn Korean at YU.>
Public officials from emerging countries visited YU (President Noh Seok-kyun) to learn the Korean language and culture.
Thirteen public officials from seven countries such as Nigeria, Laos, Mongolia, Vietnam Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Peru came to YU to learn the Korean language and Korean culture. This study program was made possible as the YU Korean Language Education Center (Director Jeon Jung-gi) was selected for the ‘Korean Language and Korean Culture Understanding’ project hosted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). This program, which started on the 13th, will continue for eight weeks until September 6.
This study program was composed of Korean language education and also special lectures on Korean politics, economy, social systems and history, and offers various types of Korean culture experience education and field trip programs.
Particularly, in the Korean language education included in this study program, studies learned the basic consonants and vowels, vocabulary and grammar, as well as writing text messages, introducing family members, presentations on hobbies and travels, as well as other various Hangeul writing and speaking projects in order to concentrate on practical Korean language education for using Korean as a foreigner.
In addition to the education and special lectures held in classrooms, various experience activities and field trips to actually see and experience Korean culture is scheduled, gathering high anticipations from participants. In addition to experience-based education of the colorful traditional culture of Korea such as samul-nori, calligraphy, Korean cuisine classes, natural dyes, pottery, traditional archery, and wearing traditional Korean garments, they will also visit the famous sites of Korea such as the YU Folk Village, Gyeongju Yangdong Village, Cheomseongdae, Cheonmachong, and the Cheongdo Saemaul Undong Origin Memorial Hall. They will also visit companies and tourist attractions that will show Korea’s development such as Gumi Samsung Electronics, POSCO, Busan Dongbaek Island APEC House, and the Haeundae Aquarium. In the last week, the students will use the overall understanding of Korea that they learned through the program to make presentations on detailed actual plans that could be applied in their home countries and hold discussions.
Nilam Putri, Dewant (37), a public employee of the Indonesian Bureau of Secretariat for Chairmanship said, “I participated in this study program because I wanted to have better exchange with Koreans living in Indonesia. It is my first visit to Korea, but I have been highly interested in the passion and lifestyle of Korea, which made great developments in a short period of time after independence from the colonial age that Indonesia also experience.” He added, “I hope to not only learn the Korean language and Korean culture through this program, but also, I will think about ways to apply Korean culture in Indonesia.”
YU Korean Language Education Center Director (Professor of International Commerce) Jeon Jeong-gi, who is in charge of this program, said, “This program is very significant in that it is basic training to foster working-level public employees who plan and execute national policies into ‘Korea experts’. He added, ”As an international cooperation leading university, YU will continue to participate in such emerging country public employee fostering programs through various methods.“
