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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

Active Cultural Diplomacy Is Essential For National Advancement

Happy New Year to all of our Korea Foundation friends throughout the world!

The Korea Foundation has been diligently striving to enhance understanding about Korea and its cultural identity among the international community. For this, the Foundation has put forth much effort to promote Korean Studies and Korean-language education, and will further promote these endeavors in more substantive ways in 2006.

Before outlining our plans for the New Year, it would be meaningful to look back on the Foundation's activities in 2005. Above all, I am proud to report that 2005 represented a truly landmark year for the Foundation's development in several regards. Of note, 2005 was highlighted by a notable expansion of the program scope and presence of the Foundation around the world. For sometime, the Foundation's attention had been focused on the the United States and more advanced regions of Europe; however, our broadened scope of activities now encompasses such areas as China - the new economic power and home to a large population of ethnic Koreans - and the regions of Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America. In 2005, the Foundation exerted considerable efforts to make Korea better known through a diversity of cultural exchange activities, including the distribution of Korean films and TV dramas, as well as the continued provision of extensive assistance for the promotion of Korean Studies and Korean-language education.

In conjunction with a professional consulting firm, the Foundation adopted a long-term vision, restructured its organization, and diversified its various programs in order to more systematically support a cultural diplomacy that is commensurate with Korea's current economic strength and global standing.

Of particular note, the Foundation established overseas offices in five countries - the United States, China, Russia, Germany, and Vietnam - for the first time in its history. As such, the operation of these overseas offices will enable the Foundation to undertake its programs in a more localized and effective manner.

In addition, the Foundation opened the new Korea Foundation Cultural Center in downtown Seoul. To better fulfill the Foundation's mission to promote cultural exchange, the KF Cultural Center now enables us to more actively contribute to the introduction of foreign cultures to Korea. Rather than only supporting the introduction of Korean culture to countries overseas, the Foundation can now present cultures from abroad, including those not readily accessible to Korean audiences, as a means of fostering cultural globalization and friendly relations. Moreover, the KF Cultural Center has been heartily welcomed by countries that do not maintain their own cultural facilities in Seoul, which can now take advantage of this attractive venue for cultural exhibitions and performances.

Based on these noteworthy achievements, 2005 will be remembered as an epoch-making year in the Foundation's history. As such, to further build on this positive momentum it will be necessary for the Foundation to assure that adequate personnel and financial resources are in place to properly support its international programs and network of overseas offices.

The recent growth in Korea's international stature has led to explosive demand for Korean Studies and Korean-language instruction. In this regard, the influences of Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, have now extended far beyond Northeast Asia into such regions as Southeast and Central Asia. Korea thus needs to capitalize on this favorable situation to bolster its cultural identity and pursue related economic activities. Indeed, this is an ideal opportunity to better distinguish Korea's cultural identity from that of Japan and China.

The Foundation's Koreana, which highlights the full spectrum of Korean culture and art, is currently published in English, Chinese, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Russian. In 2006, editions in Japanese and German will also be available, thereby providing readership opportunities for a notable majority of the world's population.

It is said that the 21st century will be the Asia-Pacific era. In terms of current GDP scale, Asia is led by Japan, China, India, and Korea. In terms of social and cultural development, the future of Korea is exceptionally promising. To realize this vast potential, there is a critical need to widely project an image of Korea's recent advancements and cultural vibrancy. And in fact, this is the exact role that the Korea Foundation intends to play.

At the dawn of a new year, it is natural to be filled with great hopes and expectations that this fresh start will enable us to overcome any areas in which we may have fallen short in the previous year. As for 2006, I eagerly look forward to another year of satisfying successes, which will be possible with the concerted efforts of everyone involved with the Foundation, including the dedicated individuals and organizations of our international family

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