KF뉴스레터-A Culture that Puts Education Above Anything Else

A Culture that Puts Education Above Anything Else

Six months have passed since I arrived in Seoul to participate in the Korean Language and Culture Program for Diplomats, organized by the Korea Foundation and Seoul National University, along with 20 diplomats from 15 countries.
While thinking about this article, I thought about writing on the bilateral relationship between Egypt and Korea on the basis of my experiences as a desk officer of the Korean Peninsula and Japan, and how Egypt-Korea relations have developed rapidly and in a positive manner during the last decade in many areas, But, later, I decided to write an article about my personal impressions during my stay in Korea.
For about a year in Egypt, I read much about the issues involving East Asian countries, including Korea, while meeting with my counterparts from the Korean embassy in Egypt. On the streets of Cairo, different makes and models of Korean cars, like Hyundai, Daewoo and Kia, are a common sight these days. In addition, in the suburbs where I live, there are about 900 Korean residents who mostly work in Cairo, and five or six Korean restaurants not far away from my house. Moreover, I have a Samsung TV and LG video recorder at home. As such, I am surrounded by Korea's people and culture.
I have been anxiously awaiting an opportunity to study Korea's success story; how Korea has become the world's 11th-largest economy from one of the poorest countries in the world in only one generation, in spite of a long colonial period and the devastating Korean War. I always thought that it was a case worth studying as a positive example. Luckily, I found an opportunity to do just that through the Korea Foundation program. Here I am in Seoul enjoying the program, while learning the Korean language, which helps me to understand in-depth about the Korean development model through special lectures.
The answer to the question, about how Korea was able to enjoy such speedy economic growth, is becoming clearer in my mind, as I now know more about Korean culture, which puts education above anything else in life, and tradition that highly values hard work and achievement.
Here, I would like to share my personal experiences and impressions. First, I really enjoy riding the subway in Seoul, not only because it is quite convenient, but also because it gives me a chance to get closer to the Korean people and society. In this regard, I have noticed popular use of electronic gadgets, such as MP3 ps, portable TVs, multifunctional cell phones, and electronic books. Indeed, among young people, these are necessities today. These days, many countries are trying hard and dreaming of becoming a high-tech country like Korea, while urging their younger generations to adapt themselves to the IT-savvy 21st century.
Second, I have also noticed how eager Korean students are to learn. Almost everyone on the bus and subway reads books of various subjects.
In addition, the Korean people are very kind. They offered me help almost everywhere I have been to, even if she or he could not speak English. Sometimes, I did not need to ask for help; noticing that I seemed to be lost, they volunteered to help, and even if he or she did not know the directions, for example, they were kind enough to ask other people on my behalf.
The Korean people are lucky and should be proud that they have their own writing system, invented by King Sejong the Great, which is easy to learn as well as more scientific than any other language. Thanks to the simple writing system of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, foreign students like myself can manage to learn the Korean language with less difficulty than learning other languages. But for me, I still need more time to figure out the right pronunciation for the basic 10 vowels.
I have visited and spent time in about 25 countries around the world, but for me, Korea will always have a special place in my heart, as it was Korea where I spent my honeymoon, and it also was Korea where I first experienced the joy of fatherhood.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to the Korea Foundation for inviting me to take part in this program and their hospitality. Also, I would like to thank the teachers of the language education institute at SNU for their help.

한국국제교류재단

A Culture that Puts Education Above Anything Else

SEARCH

A Culture that Puts Education Above Anything Else

SEARCH

전체메뉴