By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Participants at Asia Youth Camp happily show off the ¡°kimchi¡± they made during a cooking class last week at Korea House in Chung-gu, Seoul. /Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
Now hallyu fans - exposed to Korean culture through movies, drama, songs and music - deepen their understanding of Korean fashion, food, sports, music and language.
They learn how to wear Hanbok, ¡°Korean traditional clothes,¡± that they saw on ¡°Taejanggum (jewel in the palace) ,¡± a famous Korean historical drama. They study Korean language so that they can understand the meaning of Korean music lyrics, instead of listening to only the melody. They also learn how to make Kimchi, Koreans' favorite food, which they tried only at Korean restaurants. These education programs are expected to drive the Korean wave to greater heights, spreading Korean culture around the world.
Due to concerns that hallyu could crash and disappear into foamy ripples, Korea is introducing practical and systematic educational programs to ensure the cultural boom will last.
Youth Camp for Learning About Korea
Under the name of ¡°Rediscovering and Loving Asia,¡± 300 youngsters gathered this month in Korea from 17 Asian countries including India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Mongol, Thailand and Uzbekistan. Varying from high school students to graduate students they participated in the program after applying to Korean embassies in their home countries.
The popularity of Korean pop culture motivated them to learn and study in Korea. The camp is a place to find out the best way to educate and inform fans.
¡°I am more than happy to join in this camp. I hope to learn about many cultures through the programs,¡± said Bujin Battur, a student of Ulaan Baatar University in Mongolia.
The camp runs from Aug. 7 to Aug. 27. It aims to encourage the Korean wave and strengthen ties among Asians.
The participants are experiencing and learning Korean cul ture through various programs as they travel to Seoul, Kyongju, and Pyongchang.
They learn basic conversation skills at Korean language class Some students speak Korean fluently enough to teach other students.
Foreigners learn how to play "changgu," a Korean traditional drum, during a Korea music class. |
In the cooking class, students made kimchi, a traditional Korean food. Before they took the class, kimchi was just a food often seen on Korean movies or dramas.
Zin Mee Zin Win, a participant from Myanmar, learned why kimchi is good for health and can prevent bird flu.
In music class, they learned ¡°samulnori,¡± traditional Korean dance involving drums and ¡°loud music.¡± Many participants were enchanted by the dynamic and energetic power of Korean music.
¡°It is really exciting to learn ¡®samulnori.' I also learned that the dance was meant to bring a fruitful harvest and expel harmful insects,¡± said Zaafar Sanid from Malaysia.
Two-Way Communication
Through education, foreigners deepen their understanding of Korea.
Manish Kumar is majoring in Korean at Jawahas Lal Nehru University in India. He is passionate about Korean studies, especially Korean literature.
¡°I think literature is a mirror of society. It mirrors society. I want to learn all kinds of literature,¡± Manish said.
In some countries, learning Korean could be the gateway to a promising future.
¡°In Vietnam, many students study Korean to work for Korean companies. Therefore the demand for Korean teachers is growing, and I want to be a Korean teacher in the future,¡± said Tuong, who is majoring in Korean language at Danang University in Vietnam.
These trends brighten the future for Korean culture. However, experts point out that a oneway flow of education cannot last long.
Kim Ji-eun, who is studying at Sookmyung Women's University, is now helping foreign students to settle in Korea through a special program. ¡°I realized that foreign friends want to tell about their cultures as much as I want to teach about Korea,¡± she said.
Choi Sang-sik, dean of the graduate school of arts at Chung- Ang University, underlined the importance of having interest in other countries. ¡°We need to remember; if we want to open another's mind, we need to learn how to open our mind first. This is the way Asia flourishes and can coexist peacefully,¡± he said.
