2011 New Year’s Message

The new year of 2011, shinmyonyeon (Year of the Rabbit, according to the Oriental zodiac) is now underway. The dawn of a new year always allows people to be filled with great hopes and expectations for the upcoming months. For the Korea Foundation family, 2011 is especially meaningful as the year marks the 20th anniversary of our establishment. In Korea, our long-ago ancestors referred to the age of 20 as yakgwan, based on found in the ancient Chinese book “Li Ji” (Classic of Rites). Yakgwan signifies that a person has come of age and can thus wear a gwan, the traditional Korean headpiece and symbol of adulthood. The coming of age indicates that an individual is poised to embark on a journey to realize his personal goals, while also assuming the responsibility to conform to social norms. A grown-up person should utilize his youthful vigor and intellectual capability to pursue his dreams, but must also be mindful of the importance of being a responsible member of society.

The universal ethical values of human society are directly applicable to the Korea Foundation as well. Over the past 19 years, the Foundation’s achievements have been many and worthy of note. We have done our utmost to reveal the true face of Korea to the international community through various programs to support the development of Korean Studies abroad, promote Korean language education, and sponsor diverse cultural and personnel exchanges, which have often involved pioneering endeavors.

In particular, the Foundation’s assistance has contributed to the development of Korean Studies programs at 146 universities in 56 countries, opening of new Korean gallery areas in 21 prominent museums in 9countries, and visits to Korea of some 1,300 foreign figures from 70 countries. The Foundation can take pride in these substantive outcomes, which have helped other organizations in Korea to build on this momentum. Moreover, as a leader of Korea’s public diplomacy efforts, the Foundation is determined to dive deep into the blue ocean of vast opportunity based on a total commitment to self-improvement and a willingness to embrace innovation.

Above all, the Korea Foundation is pursuing a clear mission: To have the world properly understand the true nature of Korea so that members of the global community will seek out friendly and cooperative relations with Korea on their own. Our support for Korean Studies worldwide and sponsorship of cultural exchange are the means for fulfilling this mission. We want Korea to be known not only for its current prosperity and advanced technology, but also as an extraordinary nation that has realized success in both economic modernization and democratic governance in record time. Korea has shown its ability to integrate its time-honored traditions with current trends by emerging as a world leader in such areas as green growth, global peace, and international cooperation. It is this new image of Korea that the Foundation intends to promote.

The Foundation has proven capability to attain its key goals. Based on our accumulated experience and know-how, we have noticeably expanded the presence of Korean Studies in the international arena. We have also gained a good understanding of how to optimize the outcome of our public diplomacy efforts, in line with the 21st century’s emphasis on “smart power.” We have acquired considerable expertise in regard to the methods and approaches that can enhance communication with people around the world through cultural exchange projects. Our key priority thus involves how to apply this knowledge so that future challenges can be overcome by tapping into our broad-based network of valuable resources.

In 2011, the first year of the Foundation's adulthood, we will utilize the traditional wisdom of ongoijishin (“gaining insight into the new by learning from the old”) for the launch of a variety of flagship programs. The Global e-School Program and KF Global Seminar, which will be at the forefront of our efforts this year, are not entirely new initiatives but programs that have been renovated based on our previous experiences and a desire to better address the global community’s current circumstances.

To maximize the impact of these ambitious endeavors, the Foundation must possess the following three core values: (1) Passion: To present Korea in a positive light and to earn the genuine trust of the world’s peoples, we need to prepare for and implement our projects with a zealous passion. (2) Communication: To build consensus and support for the Foundation’s efforts, we have to engage in two-way interaction rather than a one-way delivery of information. (3) Accountability: As a publicly supported organization, it is imperative for the Foundation to undertake its activities with a clear sense of public accountability.

Now, the Korea Foundation is poised to make a great leap forward. As a leading advocate of Korea’s public diplomacy, the Foundation looks forward to the continued assistance of our supporters and friends around the world so that we can build a sturdier bridge for global communication on behalf of the Korean people.