AKS’s Center for International Affairs Division of the Understanding Korea Project hosted the “Online Textbook Seminar for Educators of Greece” over three days from October 20 (Tuesday) through October 22 (Thursday), 2020. The training was attended by four people including the director of the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs’ Institute for Educational Policy Social Science Division and AKS researchers in the foreign languages, information science, and natural science divisions.

Due to the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, this program was held online. Presenters from Korea, including researchers from the Department of the Understanding Korea Project, along with presenters from Greece examined each countries’ curriculum and educational systems and the way Korea is portrayed in Greek social studies textbooks. Through this seminar, the participants were able to discuss the future of each countries’ educational systems and educational cooperation from many different angles.

Additionally, the Institute for Educational Policy agreed to make plans to increase academic exchange with AKS in the future to promote the spread of academic exchange, seminars, and academic conferences. In addition, both institutes agreed that more effort is needed to work together to provide more accurate and meaningful content in each countries’ textbooks.

The Greek textbook experts were particularly interested in the lectures about Korea’s culture and economy. Recognizing many similarities with their own country, they shared ideas for maintaining and growing the cooperative relationship between the two countries. They also showed interest in new interpretations and interactions with Korean culture from different points of view. They were very positive and stated that the seminar was an excellent opportunity to experience the inclusivity of Korean culture. The participants discussed ways in which the relationship between Korea and Greece can be continued in the future through textbooks and other means.