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Educational Cooperation Program for Latin America in 2023
Learning, sharing, and expressing gratitude
Once again, last October 16 ~ 21, 2023, I had the opportunity to take part in the ‘Educational Cooperation Program for Latin America’ organized by the Center for International Affairs of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) for educators and textbook experts from Latin America.
I arrived in Korea full of expectations, convinced that it would be a very productive working period, and I was once again amazed by the flawless organization, by every detail taken care of thoroughly, to ensure the comfort and convenience of all the participants.
From the very first day, the history of Korea especially its culture was presented to us in a very clear, enjoyable way. The visit to the Jangseogak Archive on the AKS campus was a first introduction to the history of writing and the importance of Hangeul created by King Sejong in the 14th century. We greatly admired the work of restoring ancient documents, maps, and works of art being done at the archive.
"It is not easy to encapsulate 5,000 years of history in just two hours," said Professor Oh Young-chan, but his lecture was simply masterful. The theory required understanding the complex history and each of the subsequent visits we made.
We started in Suwon where we visited Hwaseong Fortress and the Temporary Palace, a gorgeous, well-lit building with themed scenes of daily life in Korea during the age of kings and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At the heart of Seoul, on Sejong-daero Avenue, we visited the museums commemorating King Sejong and the brave General Yi Sunshin. In the exhibition center, through various didactic technologies, we discovered facts about the life and work of both men, which allowed us to understand why these men are so important to the history of Korea.
Nearby, we arrived at Gyeongbokgung Palace and walked around for a while, experiencing ancient Korea in its pavilions and in the groups of people dressed in hanbok. We walked through the steep streets of the traditional Bukchon village, admiring the traditional architecture with its distinctive roofs, and appreciated the important work being done by the city of Seoul to spread and promote the hanok culture.
The National Museum of Korea boasts of an impressive collection of works from all historical periods from the Palaeolithic period to the end of the Joseon dynasty and the Korean Empire. The ten-story pagoda and the Contemplation Hall with the statues of the thoughtful Bodhisattva, the silence, and the dim light evoked an image of ancient Korea and its rich artistic heritage. The 20th century was clearly evident on our tour as well, especially with the excursion to the Demilitarized Zone and the 3rd tunnel where we gained deep understanding of all the sufferings caused by the war and the country's division, which continues to this day.
Food played an important role during the whole week we shared together with Koreans and Latin Americans. The myriad of flavors, colors, and names of dishes are hard to remember but have been engraved in our souls along with the desire to return soon. Professor Chung Hye-kyung's interesting class taught us the pleasure of Korean cuisine. We learned basic concepts that allowed us to understand hansik, its history, its philosophy, and its cultural importance better from the point of view of not only nutritional health but also human relations.
Sharing with colleagues from different Latin American countries was extremely exciting. During breakfast, during the seminar and classes, in the gardens of AKS, and in each of the excursions, we had the opportunity to talk and exchange information about our respective countries in order to understand each other better and to develop bonds of friendship and cooperation. I fondly remember the moments shared with Luz (Colombia), Olga (Paraguay), Cecilia (Ecuador), Ernesto (Mexico), Carlos and Jaime (Costa Rica), María Elena (Honduras), and María Teresa (Guatemala). I would also like to commend the tireless dedication of our guide Lee Eun-jung, with whom we share a common bond, having lived in the neighborhood of Flores in the city of Buenos Aires, and of course interpreters and translators Lee Yu-suk and Kim Bo-yeong who exerted great efforts to ensure that language was not a barrier in getting to know each other and interacting with each other.
Finally, I would like to express my deep gratitude to our hosts at the Academy of Korean Studies, to President Ahn Byung-woo, Director Ku Nan-hee, and Chief Cho Won-hee, especially to the researcher of the Understanding Korea Project, our dear Park Hye-jung, for her kindness, dedication, and sympathy in helping us know and appreciate Korean culture even more on a daily basis.
I arrived in Korea full of expectations, convinced that it would be a very productive working period, and I was once again amazed by the flawless organization, by every detail taken care of thoroughly, to ensure the comfort and convenience of all the participants.
From the very first day, the history of Korea especially its culture was presented to us in a very clear, enjoyable way. The visit to the Jangseogak Archive on the AKS campus was a first introduction to the history of writing and the importance of Hangeul created by King Sejong in the 14th century. We greatly admired the work of restoring ancient documents, maps, and works of art being done at the archive.
"It is not easy to encapsulate 5,000 years of history in just two hours," said Professor Oh Young-chan, but his lecture was simply masterful. The theory required understanding the complex history and each of the subsequent visits we made.
We started in Suwon where we visited Hwaseong Fortress and the Temporary Palace, a gorgeous, well-lit building with themed scenes of daily life in Korea during the age of kings and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At the heart of Seoul, on Sejong-daero Avenue, we visited the museums commemorating King Sejong and the brave General Yi Sunshin. In the exhibition center, through various didactic technologies, we discovered facts about the life and work of both men, which allowed us to understand why these men are so important to the history of Korea.
Nearby, we arrived at Gyeongbokgung Palace and walked around for a while, experiencing ancient Korea in its pavilions and in the groups of people dressed in hanbok. We walked through the steep streets of the traditional Bukchon village, admiring the traditional architecture with its distinctive roofs, and appreciated the important work being done by the city of Seoul to spread and promote the hanok culture.
The National Museum of Korea boasts of an impressive collection of works from all historical periods from the Palaeolithic period to the end of the Joseon dynasty and the Korean Empire. The ten-story pagoda and the Contemplation Hall with the statues of the thoughtful Bodhisattva, the silence, and the dim light evoked an image of ancient Korea and its rich artistic heritage. The 20th century was clearly evident on our tour as well, especially with the excursion to the Demilitarized Zone and the 3rd tunnel where we gained deep understanding of all the sufferings caused by the war and the country's division, which continues to this day.
Food played an important role during the whole week we shared together with Koreans and Latin Americans. The myriad of flavors, colors, and names of dishes are hard to remember but have been engraved in our souls along with the desire to return soon. Professor Chung Hye-kyung's interesting class taught us the pleasure of Korean cuisine. We learned basic concepts that allowed us to understand hansik, its history, its philosophy, and its cultural importance better from the point of view of not only nutritional health but also human relations.
Sharing with colleagues from different Latin American countries was extremely exciting. During breakfast, during the seminar and classes, in the gardens of AKS, and in each of the excursions, we had the opportunity to talk and exchange information about our respective countries in order to understand each other better and to develop bonds of friendship and cooperation. I fondly remember the moments shared with Luz (Colombia), Olga (Paraguay), Cecilia (Ecuador), Ernesto (Mexico), Carlos and Jaime (Costa Rica), María Elena (Honduras), and María Teresa (Guatemala). I would also like to commend the tireless dedication of our guide Lee Eun-jung, with whom we share a common bond, having lived in the neighborhood of Flores in the city of Buenos Aires, and of course interpreters and translators Lee Yu-suk and Kim Bo-yeong who exerted great efforts to ensure that language was not a barrier in getting to know each other and interacting with each other.
Finally, I would like to express my deep gratitude to our hosts at the Academy of Korean Studies, to President Ahn Byung-woo, Director Ku Nan-hee, and Chief Cho Won-hee, especially to the researcher of the Understanding Korea Project, our dear Park Hye-jung, for her kindness, dedication, and sympathy in helping us know and appreciate Korean culture even more on a daily basis.
