KF뉴스레터-Efforts to Deepen Understanding between Korea and Russia

Efforts to Deepen Understanding between Korea and Russia

The Korea Foundation has organized a Korean Studies Workshop program for Russian educators to promote exchange between the education sectors of Korea and Russia.
This year, to complement this effort, the Russian Academy of Education invited Russia-related teachers and educators from Korea to visit Russia to learn about the Russian education system.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990, Korea and Russia have rapidly developed close cooperation in such sectors as the economy, trade, politics, society, and culture. As such, 2010 is an especially meaningful year that marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between Korea and Russia. In their recent bilateral summit meeting in Moscow, the presidents of the two countries exchanged their thoughts on a wide range of issues, including ways to cooperate for the successful organization of the G-20 Summit in Seoul and the development of energy projects, natural resources, and the Far East. The existing relations between the two countries seem to have only scratched the surface, with vast potential for expanded cooperation.

Better Understanding
Since 2008, the Korea Foundation has hosted an annual Korean Studies Workshop for Russian Educators in accordance with an MOU concluded with the Russian Academy of Education for the purpose of expanding working-level educational exchange. Since the launch of this initiative, about 70 teachers from Russia have been provided an opportunity to visit Korea in order to acquire an in-depth understanding of Korea through firsthand experiences of Korea’s culture and history.
This year, to complement this effort, the Russian Academy of Education invited Russia-related teachers and education administrators from Korea to visit Russia to learn about the Russian education system. In late September, eight Korean educators visited Russia and spent time at schools affiliated with the Russian Academy of Education, including School No. 701, No. 34, and No. 1086, where ethnic Korean students are enrolled.
A seminar was conducted on a theme of “Korea in education in Russia, and Russia in education in Korea,” which included the attendance of the Korean delegation and the Russian teachers who had participated in the Korean Studies Workshop for Russian Educators over the past three years. During the seminar sessions, the Russian teachers made impressive presentations on their activities to increase awareness of Korea among their students in Russia.

Firsthand Experiences
The Korean teachers could see for themselves the efforts to actively introduce Korea when they visited the schools of the Russian teachers. A bulletin board near the school entrance was decorated with various Korean greetings, such as “Annyeonghaseyo,” while photos of Korea taken by the Russian teachers were displayed along the central hallway. Subtle traces of the Russian teachers’ affection for Korea could be found scattered about the school. The Korean visitors enjoyed the warmhearted hospitality of the Russian people, as seen in the smiling young students who occasionally said hello in Korean, “Anyeonghaseyo,” and the refreshments prepared by the Russian teachers.
The activities of the Russian teachers have led to unexpected results. For example, they have contributed articles on Korea to the domestic media, and opened a career development course on Korea, for Russian teachers of geography and history. Kim Elvia Vasiliyevna and Kuznezov, Russian teachers who visited Korea to attend the workshop program, have been successful in writing a chapter on Korea that is now included in a nationwide 7th-10th grade textbook, and have added “East Sea,” to a previous “Sea of Japan” designation, in a 7th-grade geography textbook.
In addition, the Russian teachers have organized a special 36-hour course on Korean geography, culture, and history, in Vyborg, Province of Leningrad, to stimulate student interest. And this course will soon be expanded to a 72-hour program. There are also plans to organize a competition on Korea-related themes, for which applications for participation can be submitted through the website of the Moscow Institute of Open Education.
After observing the various follow-up activities of the Russian educators, the Korean teachers and education administrators came up with their own diverse ideas to expand exchange efforts. Certain high school teachers from Korea said they would strive to develop sister-school relations with Russian schools, along with formulating plans to organize a fund-raising bazaar to help support the Moscow School No. 1086, which is attended by a number of ethnic Korean students. They also called for efforts to enable the students and teachers of Korea and Russia to share materials and information through the Internet on a continuous basis, and to place more emphasis on Russian history and culture in their classroom lessons.
The experiences you gain through personal observation are especially vivid and long lasting. Moreover, the memory of these experiences represents a powerful source of inspiration and self-motivation. The Russian teachers who have experienced Korea and the Korean teachers who visited Russia this year will undoubtedly cherish and treasure these heartfelt memories. A deepened understanding about each other’s country and people is now being developed among the students in Korea and Russia. In time, this kind of education exchange will build a foundation for the realization of even closer friendship and cooperation between Korea and Russia.

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Efforts to Deepen Understanding between Korea and Russia

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Efforts to Deepen Understanding between Korea and Russia

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