The Division of Understanding Korea Project held the “Textbook Seminar for Educators of Uruguay” from Sunday, May 11, to Saturday, May 17, 2025. Participants in the seminary included specialists associated with key textbook publishers in Uruguay.

Through the seminar, Korean presenters, including researchers in the Division of Understanding Korea Project, and Uruguayan textbook specialists were able to discuss the educational curricula and textbook systems in both Korea and Uruguay, the Uruguayan people’s interest in Korea, the content on Korea currently included in Uruguayan textbooks, and information on Korea that could be introduced in Uruguayan textbooks. Through lectures on “Korean History through Cultural Heritage,” “Korean Language and Culture,” and “Korean Geography,” participants were given the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of Korean history, culture, and geography.

Participants were also taken to Gyeongju to visit sites such as Cheonmachong Tomb, Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, and the Gyeongju National Museum, allowing them to personally experience the Buddhist culture and architectural forms of the Silla kingdom. Furthermore, visits to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, Insadong, and the COEX Starfield Library allowed participants to see how tradition and modernity coexist in Seoul by directly participating in Korean culture and heritage.

Through the seminar, the participating textbook experts from Uruguay developed a greater interest in Korean education, history, and culture and expressed that their intentions to engage in sustained efforts to promote mutual understanding between Korean and Uruguayan students through textbooks and Understanding Korea materials going forward.