KF뉴스레터-Helping to Make My Dream Come True

Helping to Make My Dream Come True

“I can still remember how happy and grateful I was on the day when I was notified of my selection as a Fellow for Field Research.
The Korea Foundation has made my long-cherished dream come true. Korea is a strange but familiar, mysterious, and attractive land to me, a Korean language major. Thanks to the Foundation, I could eat as much Korean kimchi as I wanted, breathe in the air of Korea, and personally experience Korean culture, history, and language.”

I am a doctoral candidate of Korean language and literature at Luoyang University in China. In comparison to such large cities as Beijing and Shanghai, Luoyang is a very small city and has few Korean-language resources. You can hardly come across ordinary Korean people, let alone Korean experts in the Korean language in Luoyang. I have studied Korean for seven years – four at the undergraduate level and three years of graduate courses – but have had few chances to speak to Koreans in person, not to mention a chance to visit KoreaIt is no exaggeration to say that the Korean language I had learned was useless, because I could hardly speak a word in Korean when I met a Korean. So, I always had a dream of coming to Korea to study and experience Korea, and its language and people, which I have only learned about through books and television. In March 2006, when my academic adviser informed me of the Korea Foundation, I applied for the Foundation’s Fellowship for Field Research program, and eventually was able to finally arrive in Korea in August 2007, after successfully passing the screening proceduresI can still remember how happy and grateful I was on the day when I was notified of my selection as a Fellow for Field Research. The Korea Foundation has made my long-cherished dream come true. Korea is a strange but familiar, mysterious, and attractive land to me, a Korean language major. Thanks to the Foundation, I could eat as much Korean kimchi as I wanted, breathe in the air of Korea, and personally experience Korean culture, history, and language.

Summer Evenings at Seoul Square
After arriving in Seoul, I took a walk in the evening and discovered Seoul Square, nearby Gwanghwamun. From that day on, I went there almost every evening, all through August, to enjoy the cool summer breeze and view a variety of Korean cultural activities staged on the square. While enjoying a diverse array of cultural genres, such as traditional Korean dance, pansori, samulnori, percussion music with a fusion style, orchestral music, ballet, and poetry reading, I learned, although vaguely, about how Korea had been able to achieve its “Miracle on the Han River,” in such a short period of time, and why Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, had spread throughout the world. I think the driving force lies in Korea’s beautiful traditional culture, with a long history, and the hard-working characteristics and perseverance of the Korean people, who d and are still creating such culture.

Splendor of Gyeongju in Autumn
My hometown, Luoyang, is a historic city widely known as an ancient capital of 13 Chinese dynasties. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang are one of the three most famous ancient sculptural sites in China, which attracts many Chinese and foreign tourists. There is a city in Korea similar to Luoyang: Gyeongju. I have taken a special interest in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of Silla, because of its many similarities to my hometown. It was my longtime dream to visit Gyeongju to see and experience the history and culture of 1,000 years in my own way, rather than through books or TV.
This dream was finally realized when I participated in a three-day field trip to Gyeongju, which was arranged by the Korea Foundation in late autumn of last year, when the country was covered with such colorful autumn leaves. I was fascinated to see the ancient tombs, such as the Tomb of King Taejong Muyeol (Muyeorwangneung) and Cheonmachong Tomb, alongside the roads that led us into the city of Gyeongju. The royal tombs and many other tumuli, covered with lush green grass stood silently, as always, despite the passage of many years. They just remained there without any complaint or change in spite of rain, wind, snow, or frost. This is what history is. I like this history, and I want to live like this and be integrated into history after my passing.
A cloudless sky above, colorful autumn leaves, and golden fields of ripening rice stalks came into my sight. Cheongungyo and Baegungyo of Bulguksa Temple basking in the bright sunlight of late autumn, the distant sound of the Bell of King Seongdeok at the National Museum of Gyeongju, and the elegant seated Buddha statue of the Seokguram Grotto… I felt as if I had returned home. Home gives you a sense of warmth, comfort, and friendliness, which is exactly what Gyeongju made me feel. I love Gyeongju as much as I love my hometown. Gyeongju is my second home in my heart.

Warmth of Korea University Library
During my stay in Korea, I attended the 44th national academic conference of the Association for Korean Linguistics, held at KAIST in Daejeon, special lectures on Korean history at the Jongno Public Library, the KF-Sogang Korean Studies Forum, and the Korean Language Class at the KF Cultural Center. Through these academic activities, I acquired so much vivid knowledge about Korea and its language, which I could not learn in China.
One place that left a deep impression on me was the Korea University Library. During winter, I regularly visited the Korea University Library to collect reference materials for my doctoral dissertation.
It was cold outside but warm inside the library, like spring. What gave me warmth was not just the indoor heating but the kindness of the Korean people. I was able to use the library facilities effectively with the help of the library staff who showed me in detail how to borrow books and extend the due date, and students who showed me how to buy a card for photocopying and even took me to the area where the photocopiers were found. Seeing the students studying so hard at the library, I felt my desire to study become stronger and I wanted to be immersed in this atmosphere.
Now my stay in Korea is coming to a close. But I will work hard to fully realize my dream and take home with me beautiful memories of my experiences in Korea.

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Helping to Make My Dream Come True

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