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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

Korea’s Global Wealth Creation, Innovation and Partnership

Korea is leaving no stone unturned as it seeks to transcend the realms of attaining the world’s highest living standards, while also pursuing equity for its people. The daunting tasks of wealth creation during the past 60 years, and Korea’s miraculous economic transformation have been trumpeted repeatedly. During this era, a manual-labor economy evolved into a knowledge-based, IT, and “e-everything” one, based on innovation, by the end of the previous century, as can be readily observed today.
The factors behind this tremendous development, including consistently high growth rates of about 9 percent and extensive knowledge about Japan’s earlier economic success, encouraged me, a researcher from Africa, to apply for a fellowship program to conduct research in Korea. I believe that my interest might have been a surprise for everyone.
Later, I learned that hundreds of applicants from all over the world had been considered. In Seoul, I met program fellows from the U.S. and Canada, as well as France, Bulgaria, Russia, and Spain. And there were others from China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Argentina, and an ethnic Korean from Kazakhstan, with whom I became good friends. At that time, a total of 59 researchers were staying in Korea, including me, the only one from Ghana.
There was no question about my academic performance, as verified by the New York-based World Education Service (WES), while my research achievements and proposal were highly ambitious. But I considered myself fortunate to be among such high-caliber researchers, of various fields of human sciences, as part of the Field Research Fellowship 2008 program. This might give you some insight into the rigorous nature of the selection process.
Based on the effective communication skills and overall support of the Korea Foundation’s Program Officer, it was clear to me that the Korea Foundation had adopted a global outlook and was striving to attain excellence in every regard. I believe the Korea Foundation is breaking down barriers and entering new territory faster than any other country in terms of its promotion of research collaboration. In time, it seems there is much for the Korea Foundation to gain from this approach.
To the researchers, this was undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity for a high quality of life and research experience. Personally, I am now an advocate of Korea’s interests, along with continuously getting updates through news reports and being deeply involved in anything Korean, especially in regard to the arts and economics, the areas of my specialization.
My enthusiasm to do research in Korea was recognized by my research collaborator, the Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of International Studies, at Yonsei University, who told me: “I could not imagine that you are from Africa since you decided to come to Korea in mid-winter (January), and even though you do not speak Korean.”
During our first meeting, I further recall, over lunch, his mentioning to me: “When I asked what food you would like to eat, Western or Korean? You replied Korean.” He then concluded, from my response, that I would be able to successfully complete whatever tasks I set out to do in Korea.
I would like to mention that this confidence in me assured my fruitful relations with this honorable Professor.
And indeed, my research work proved to be highly productive thanks to my advisor’s thoughtful assistance.
Interestingly, he was a replacement for a previous advisor who became unavailable. The Korea Foundation was especially supportive of my situation, since the lack of a suitable advisor could have meant my disqualification from the program.
So you might understand how much I appreciated the efforts of the Korea Foundation staff, selection committee, and others who contributed to my successful research and wonderful experiences in Korea. My stay was like a dream that I wondered about how it was all possible. Since my departure in June, I have been a self-appointed ambassador of Korea in my home country and Africa, based on my responsibility to the international community.

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