Learning spirit of Korean people

TIN LIÊN QUAN
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Reading culture in the tech world

Anyone who has ever been to the Samsung Innovation Museum (SIM) and the high-tech entertainment corporations (MBC World, SM Town), admired the highest level of audio-visual technology of Korea. However, Korean young people are not just plugging their smartphone screens or dancing to K-pop stars. Korea is also a country of reading enthusiasts. I witnessed that on planes, trains and especially when visiting the Sejong National Library. The roof of this beautiful building is designed to symbolize an open book. The library named after Sejong Emperor who brought Korean culture to a glorious period and  was also the inventor of the alphabet helped the Korean people have their own script today. This is also the first story which parents and teachers often tell their children and students when they arrive at the Sejong National Library.

In the framework of Partnership Program for Diplomats organized by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) in July 2018, our delegation visited the Sejong National Library. Ms. Kim Hyosun, a staff member of the library, said that the Sejong National Library spent nearly $ 2 million to buy new books each year. Mr. Said Dahabi, Director of the Department of Economic Cooperation and Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Morocco Kingdom, showed me the book in English about the Vietnamese economy. Every year, there are many great international workshops and cultural events at the Library. Its indoor stage can accommodate 400 people. There are unique functional areas and facilities I have never heard before, such as virtual reality reading rooms and antivirus drawers for hand washing before reading.

Ms. Byun Eunyung (left side) with officials of Korea Diplomatic Academy took photos with the author.

Not only are on a large and modern scale, Korean people are but also very thoughtful, meticulous when they do not let the weak people left on the sidelines of the development. The distance between the book shelves is large enough for people with disabilities to drive their own wheelchair to find documents. Smart library, dynamic library, library of hope all can be found here in Sejong National Library. That's why in a leading high-tech country as Korea, there are 2,000 people going to Sejong National Library to read book every day and an average of 4,000 people on weekends.

Aspiration to the SKY

At the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA), American senior lecturer Danton Ford gave a thorough view of Korea through the eyes of foreigners. Just like our 21 participants from 19 countries, Mr. Danton Ford once wondered why Korea was from the poorest country in the world in the 1960s, now rises to the top 11 with the highest GDP in the world. After spending half his life in Korea, Mr. Danton Ford has found the answer: “The right direction and the quality of human resources that creat miracle on the Han River”.

According to Mr. Danton Ford, Korea has high quality human resources because of its drastic focus on education. Korean people appreciate honnour and face so that they feel embarrassed when being in educational disadvantage. It is not only the determination of a person, a house, a family, but also of the nation. When it gained independence in 1945, most people were illiterate. But decades later, Korean people have the highest level of education in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Korean youth have a desire to reach SKY. This English word means sky, but also the three first letters S, K, Y in the name of the three most prestigious universities: Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University. Since education is crucial for individuals and future career of the nation, the Korean examination system is considered seriously. Getting to the famous universities is extremely strict because of real studying, real testing, real talent choosing.

At the end of the lecture, Mr. Danton Ford said that Korea was a "work hard-play hard" country. When in Korea you must be ready for both. That reminded me of a former colleague from the Economic Section, News Department, Vietnam Television. The motto of the Section is "Do it professionally, play like you do". To do and play like that, you have to non-stop train yourself.

Prof. Park Tae Gyun gave a lecture to Partnership Program for Diplomats at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA).

Study in the world of integration

Before helping students explain the secret of Korea's economic growth, Prof. Park Tae Gyun, who works at Seoul National University, said gently: “On my childhood, Korea was exhausted because of foreign domination and North-South civil war. I have a great mother. She always reminded me of hard study. Now, I also always remind my daughter to study hard to reach the world. The story of my family is very popular in Korea”.

Professor Park asserted that foreign aid is very important, but internal resources are the decisive factor in Korea's development. The internal strength of Korea is promoting traditional values and national identity in the world of integration. Korean people have a special learning ability that Professor Park calls "absorptive capability." It is the creativity in the process of acquiring foreign wisdom and the essence of humanity. I went to the Korea National Museum, saw a first textbook printed in 1948. The exhibit reiterates how Korean people absorb the essence of Japanese textbooks to create the suitable book for them.

Basing on that spirit, every year, a lot of Korean students study abroad. In the country, one of the priorities is learning English. Policy-makers persistently view language teaching as vital because Korean people live in an age when English language skills are a key factor in determining the competitiveness of a country. Ms. Ejun Jang is a high school student at Chadwick International School. She is a volunteer who guided our group of international diplomats to visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the War Memorial of Korea. Our delegation not only admired her ability to speak English fluently but also convinced by her large background knowledge of culture and history. She said that if Korean students wanted to go to universities, they would have to take English tests (including listening skill) and History which were compulsory for all schools.

Until now Korea's educational innovation has shifted dramatically from academic training to practical training. Following the model of Germany and Switzerland, the schools focus on training human resources to meet the requirements of domestic and international markets. Maintaining traditional values ​​and keeping identity in the context of international integration are also the priorities of Korea's educational policy. In the bookshelves, foreign friends are easy to see the book named “Chung.Hyu.Ye” which is a collection of historical stories about loyalty, respect, dedication of the Korean people translated into English. In the Joseon Folk Culture Village, the chilren teaching statue always stands out in the old houses. In an industrialized country as Korea, lotus lagoons still perfume to attract tourists.

According to Ms. Byun Eunyung, person in charge of Partnership Program for Diplomats, the official national slogan of Korea “Hongik Ingan” means "Live and work for the benefit of all mankind". That enormous mission starts with little things such as the meticulous care of Ms. Kim of the Library, Professor Park's daily advice on diligence in learning to his daughter, the sense of learning English and History of high school girl Jang in order to promote the Korean image to the world... They are Korean people once you met and you will never forget them.

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