Visiting Korea with Memories of the Olympics

My participation in the Second Korea Foundation Global Seminar in August 2011 was an event that I was looking forward to. Not only did the seminar address global cooperation for disaster management, which is the core of my career interest and passion, the conference was held in Seoul and that was worth looking forward to.

This was my first visit to Korea, and for people like me who come from the other side of the planet, the mention of Seoul usually resonates with the memory of the 1988 Olympics. I was a young kid then, yet several touching images of the opening ceremony are stamped in my mind till this day; the Olympic stadium flooded with thousands of athletes, all wearing their traditional costumes, while holding hands and dancing joyfully to the emotional theme song “Hand in Hand,” which on that evening revealed Korea’s message of friendship and harmony to the whole world. Korea touched my heart then, and now, 23 years later, Korea again was performing its role as a promoter of international harmony and communication through its Second KF Global Seminar, and I knew I was up for something special in Korea.

disaster, and how to build a culture that is resilient, and better prepared to recover from those disasters. At the World Bank’s GFDRR, we are committed to helping countries that are vulnerable to natural disaster to reduce their vulnerability, through better planning, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to support communities throughout the four cycles of disaster management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery/reconstruction.

In the seminar, I was able to share with my colleagues the experiences I had gained through years of working against disaster, encountering its ugly face and realizing how it could become a major obstacle to development. I conveyed to them how I touched on the ground what natural disasters can do to people, from damage of property to loss of the warmth of home, and sometimes of a beloved one, and how I came to realize that, unlike humans, disasters do not know borders, nor do they discriminate based on color, religion, or wealth.

Aside from the sessions, our friends at the Korea Foundation worked hard to ensure that all participants were getting their fair share of Korean experience. Our entertainment program included Korean art performances, visits to different shrines, rice cake-making class, and stopovers at public squares and shopping centers.

Moving toward a ‘More Secure World’

The organizers even paid attention to small details that no one else would have, which personally touched my heart; my birthday happened to be on the seminar’s first day, and as soon as the organizers knew about it, they secretly arranged for a
birthday celebration while attending the beautiful performance. I was surprised when I was called to the stage to be welcomed with a cake, an announcement, and a big cheer from the crowd that was joyfully singing “Happy Birthday!”

Our reception in Korea was flawless, and the seminar agenda was complete and efficient. On behalf of the World Bank’s GFDRR, I would like to express appreciation to the Korea Foundation for this effort to tackle the core of what we are working

hard to advocate. Despite the fact that the journey to a successful management of disasters might be long, our perseverance is stronger than the obstacles, and with the commitment and passion of leaders and experts like the friends I met at the seminar, we are set to make a difference, and hopefully lay the foundation for a “more secure world.”

Thank you Korea Foundation for giving me the chance to be part of this global community of experts in disaster management; thank you Seoul for introducing your great history, beautiful scenery, and modern lifestyle to me; and last but not least “kam sa ham ni da” to the wonderful people of Korea who made me feel home, despite being a world away from home!

Rami Quttaineh
Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist,
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, World Bank