The Korea Foundation portraits Spain by exhibition and lectures

 

 

 

 

“Photo by Photo. A Portait of Spain” was organized under the sponsorship of Acción cultural Española (AC/E) and supported by the Embassy of Spain in Seoul and the Korea Foundation. The exhibition visits Korea on the occasion of Spain's participation at the the International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012 and it plays a vital role in introducing Spanish culture to Koreans as well as visitors from all over the world. This exhibition held by the work of fifteen photographers who developed their work based on personal viewpoints and represents their own approaches in both content and in their aesthetic way of dealing with images of Spain. The exhibition expressively illustrated the history of Spain from 1950 until recently including the affliction through the trials after war, economic development in the history of the eddy, and preserving people and the urban landscape of the time.

 

 

Luis Arias Romero, an ambassador of Spain in Seoul, stated that “The selection of sixty photographs makes up a narrative that ranges from panoramic aerial views of our cities to the most intimate details of the everyday lives of individual Spanish people. Reflected here are public and private works, the vibrancy of tourism, the arrival of waves of immigrants, our country’s historical and cultural heritage, and the new fashions and attitudes of the younger generations in contemporary Spain. The art and skill of our most renowned photographers give us the opportunity to enjoy these images of modernity, tradition, and change.”

 

 

 

According to congratulatory message from Byung-kook Kim, president of The Korea Foundation, “In today’s world, Korea is expanding its efforts to raise the global profile of the nation and to communicate with the world through cultural diplomacy. Culture is really a shortcut to mutual understanding, and the cornerstone for strengthening exchanges and cooperation. As a result of these cultural exchanges, our nations are being linked through Spanish Literature, and attracted by the artistic skills and virtuosity of Spanish music, art film and dance.”

 

 

 

 

Besides the exhibition, The Korea Foundation prepared useful lectures regarding Spanish culture in order to help interpretation of its culture and the display itself. The lectures are divided into three sections, firstly, Santiago, pilgrims’ way, secondly, passionate flamenco, Lastly, Spanish regional traditional festival by Elia Rodrigez. Although there were two important lectures that deliver Spanish culture and its importance, the last lecture was the one which can show the Spanish culture and sprit the most. Here are some famous and important festivals which can represent Spainish culture.

 

 

 

 

1. Las Fallas (fireworks march 12th~ 19th)

 

Throughout Valencia region, Las Fallas is held for a week, from March 12th to 19th (the day of San Jose). It boasts a long history from the medieval era. The origin of the festival comes from carpenters who celebrated the end of the winter by burning trees and bushes. Later, it changed into burning dolls, representing the region and the unusable old furniture.

 

 

2. La Feria de Abril (Festival of April)

 

 

In short words, this festival is for participants to have a great time in small artificial island.

 

 

3. Los Sanfermines (July 6th ~ July 14th)

 

 

The most favorite factor in San Fermin is Encierro (cattle driving). During the festival, every morning at 8:00 am, people repeat Encierro. Unlike the traditional method of cattle driving, which solely leads bulls, in Encierro a lot of people herd cattle together by running. However, as this Encierro is dangerous, people get easily hurt and can even, lead to death. Encierro is also known as the "Running of the Bulls" in Western countries.

 

 

4. La Tomatina (Tomato festival – the end of August)

 

 

La Tomatina is held on every August, in Buñol Valencia. In 1945, there was a parade, and some kids jumped to the procession and people got mad. There was a grocery store, and people started to throw tomatoes to each other. Although that particular fight was over, people gathered up next year and started the festival from that day on. This festival got famous after appeared in TV in 1983. Each year the festival gets bigger and bigger.

 

 

After the helpful lecture was over, I interviewed the lecturer, Elia Rodregez, who currently majoring in Korean culture.

 

 

 

 

 

1. Why did you major Korean history and culture?

 

 

Actually, this is the hardest question for me to answer. I firstly majored in Spanish language and literature in Spain. However, as there were a lot of recruiting problems in Spain, I looked for other things to study. Then by some reasons, East Asian Studies caught my eyes and I began to learn Japanese. By some personal reasons, I faced various problems before going to Japan, which made me to come to Korea instead with scholarship. So, I began to learn Korean, by and by, I tried to learn Korean history, religion, culture.

 

 

2. How do you define Korean culture?

 

 

I cannot say this in words. Actually, this is a very hard for me to answer as I am a student currently, who is learning about what culture is. It might be impossible for me to explain what culture is in Spanish too. HaHa

 

 

3. Can you describe “Spain” in a word?

 

 

Pasión (passion). We have very different cultures from region to region. However, passion is the one which can bond Spain into one. Southern part is more closely related to passion fiesta. If you look at the dance Flamenco, There is no need to talk much about it. About North, as I am from North, it is hard to say it. But it’s rather closely related to passion of business and study.

 

 

4. If we look as Spanish fiestas, some of them seem to be very dangerous like los sanfermines, tomatina, etc. Why do people enjoy these festivals even though they are so dangerous?

 

 

I think this can relate to passion. Spanish People’s National characters are very brave. Even in the past, Spanish people like to prove their courage. In this context, bullfighting was born. So as all these factors are mixed, I think it made possible to have different and unique but dangerous festivals created.

 

 

5. What is the biggest difference between Korean culture and Spanish Culture?

 

 

Yet, I don’t know what really is, but when I studied, this one I could say it clearly: Korea equals monoculture. Groupo (groupism). Spain is so different from region to region and it is pretty much personalized and individualized. Like I said in the lecture, East, West, North South they are all cross-cultures. Especially, north and south, they are chalk and cheese. Complicated, Spain uses different languages like Spanish, Catalán, and Basque languages while Koreans use only Korean.

 

 

 


 

 

The Korean Foundation is still making progress on delivering helpful exhibition and lectures regarding different countries and regions. For more information about these events, please visit www.kf.or.kr

 

 

 

 

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     Adolescents’ voices and powers are constantly growing. MIZY center (Seoul Youth Center for Cultural Exchange)’s program, Creative Leaders in Seoul (CLIS) is the one of the programs that can help youths raise their voices in international exchange. From the past, the word ‘international exchange’ was thought as a special word for those who are fluent in English or frequent traveles abroad. However, CLIS, mainly hosted by MIZY center and conducted by MIZY Youth Council Members, diverts attention away from the past and advances a new way. During 4 days, from February 1st to February 4th, the 63 selected high school students who are interested in international exchange were gathered up, pitched as teams thematically and created international exchange program regarding these 9 topics: Water, Disease, Money, Pen, Eyes, Color, Home, Dance and Crack. By giving presentations of the organized program, 3 winning teams were awarded: Korean Commission for UNESCO Secretary General Award, the Grand Prize, and Congeniality Award. If the realization of the awarded programs is highly feasible, it may be considered for coming into effect.




<Day 1: a lecture and organizing each team’s progress>


     As Feb 1st was the first day of the camp, the participants mainly spent their time listening to the lecture and organizing their thoughts on what they had discussed about their topics before the camp. They had brainstormed their theme and tried to find the relationship between their topic and international exchange by having advanced meetings for weeks before the camp. In this situation, CLIS offered a lecture which could further elaborate on one of the main subjects matter: international exchange. The first lecture, given by Gi-tae Park (Leader of Voluntary Agency Network of Korea) enlightened the ideas of creative international exchange by illustrating how VANK itself managed to do international exchange by using various methods and materials




     After the helpful lecture time was over, through “Mid-workshop”, each team showed how working as a group brings creative solutions into play. They introduced interpretations of their own topics throughout discussions before the camp, and found the link that holds two main keywords: their motif and international exchange, together.

 

Following is the Day 1’s interview (2/1) :

 

  1. How was your first day?

[Yeon-ju Cho/ Water] Before the camp started, we had several on-line meetings, but I realized that talking face-to-face is pretty much different from the on-line works. In the process, I leave much to be desired. However, we will further garnish our international exchange program through tomorrow’s field trip.

 

2.     Can you describe your plans in words?

[Min-a Kim/ Crack] Saving isolated people slipped through crack.

 

3.     How’s your teamwork?

[Ok-jin Yang/ Color] Very harmonious. We respect each other which make our teamwork smooth.

<Day 2: Field trip>


In order to increase specialty, each team managed to do outdoor activities. Any kind of field trip was available in Seoul such as but not limited to: visiting organization, seeing exhibitions, surveying, and street interviewing. The following is a video clip that shows what the participants had done and had learned so far during a field trip.



<Day 3: get ready for a presentation/ recreational activity>


     After several meetings in the camp were over, recreational program “Question Mark” was prepared for the participants. The time was offered for students not only to make their own teamwork more effective for the next day’s presentation but also to get close to other teams by doing physical activities. Activities, including “knowing secret friend” and “talk in the dark” were brilliant ideas from MIZY Youth Council Members for student to enjoy the camp better.


As this was close to the wrap-up day about a program for MIZY Youth Council Members, I did a brief interview with Mr. Inhwan Ko, the president of Youth Council Member.

 

  1. What is the reason you keep doing the camp CLIS in different ways, as a participant, mentor, and manager? (Mr. Ko was the 1st CLIS camper and now he is the general manager of the 3rd CLIS)

 

When 2010, the 1st CLIS was held, I had an immature fantasy about the word ‘international’ as this word looked pretty incredible to me. So, I joined the camp and after 2 months, I wanted to become a MIZY Youth Council Member in order to understand about international exchange better and organize the camp CLIS. However, I faced a lot of operational problem such as mentoring system. As there were a lot of mentors and as their ages were similar to participants, feedback was not much organized, rather it was more close to bouncing personal thoughts. Also, the topic itself had a lot of problems. When I was a 1st CLIS participant, I was in education team. However, education itself can apply to almost everything: methodologically and conceptually. For example, environment design. The subject environment design cannot stick to one subject as environment is closely related to methodology while design is more conceptual. So, I really wanted to solve these basic, but hardest problems. However, at that time, I was a senior in high school and it was tough to me. Now, I thought that I can somehow contribute more to the camp as a university student, this is somewhat formal, and the real reason is: the CLIS is so attractive. There was a prominent figure called Kyung-hyun Kim who is currently working in ODA, who used to be the lecturer for the 1st and the 2nd CLIS. He suggested the idea that we can also do international exchange domestically. Sounds weird but I think is much progressed thought. One of the reasons why we do international exchange is to realize global issues and internalize those problems to solve it. Going to abroad and embracing foreign issues cannot be the most active part in international exchange. That’s what I realized and pretty much convinced by Mr. Kim’s theory. Afterwards, I saw a lot of students who were agreeing with me.

 

2.     What is the most special factor in the 3rd CLIS?

 

Change of the topics seems to be the most extreme makeover. As you can see, topics are changed a lot. The 1st and 2nd CLIS used to have the team name performing art, environment, design, education etc. but now, we have 9 one-word topics like water, crack, and money. You know what to do with previous topics. For example, environment. If the topic, environment is given, all you have to think about is to protect environment. So pretty much things are fixed. Youth Council Members were complaining about this problem. What we wanted to do is to make people to have their own creative ideas. With this regard, we came with the MDGs (The Millennium Development Goals), but still they were fixed goals. Worldwide, we know these goals are needful, much to be achieved, and necessary. Indications, programs, campaign, are all set globally, and those things are fairly done by United Nations, not by Youths. We rather thought that the most creative things are from daily life not from somewhere else. Actually, this idea was pretty much supported by the chief of MIZY center, Ms. Young-ju Kim, and she came with the idea of ‘water’ for example, Water, is very useful and essential resource. Water is also a core cause of the conflicts and still many people are combating globally in terms of uneven distribution. Understanding water is also one way to understand one of the global issues: conflicts. Everyone was so shocked when the chief was coming with these ideas. We pondered, how we come up with these ideas, and that we came up with one word in order to be concise and creative. Youth Council Members suggested various candidates such as: pen, light, gun, and culled into 9 words. To wrap up, the fact: difference in topics itself is not that much amazing. We all know it’s just changed. But the background is meaningful to understand 3rd camp better.

 

3.     Any difficulties or inconveniences?

 

I was only focusing on making the 3rd camp distinguished by the previous campers. So I ignored the lessons that I could gain from the preceding camps. View of the participants is different from director. It seems that everything is fine and smoothly, but the view of manager, we had some communication problems within the instructor and Council Members. We had a very wide range of age, 17-20, which seems to have distinct roles according to their age. However, individual roles were not clear and fixed. If the situation is given, sometimes role should be flexible in responding. But there were some miscommunication during camp. So what happened, we were so adjusted and familiar with our fixed roles, and we didn’t realize that young members can also do the better jobs. We did not ignore them, but misinterpreted and misunderstood their roles. I could see that these were the communication problem in this camp than the previous ones which is of course the consequences of overlooking lessons from the past. I was only focused on making an innovative, funny, creative, and exciting camp and less paying attention on communication. It had a positive point though. Campers enjoyed in terms of directors of this camp. In words of one syllable, it was not good governance, rather it was a good program.





<Day 4: a day of presentation and farewell>



This year, unlike the previous CLISs, the MIZY Youth Council Members adopted the new system called “Senior Evaluation Group” consisting of the 1st and the 2nd CLIS participants. The 2nd CLIS had a mentoring system for each team with the mentors who contributed the 1st CLIS. However, the Youth Council Members abolished the mentoring system and set the new method in order to increase independence of the teamwork and to evaluate programs with fairness.

For the evaluation, there were 3 prominent figures in international exchange form 50, MIZY Youth Council Members form 30, and the Senior Evaluation Group form 20 of appraising each team’s program plans and presentations.

Each team’s presentation was formed in different ways for 10 minutes, such as acting as if the created program actually happened or illustrating their programs through props. After their performances were over, each team had Q&A time for their programs from the judges on the spot.

The result of the camp turned out to have 3 winners: Pen, Disease, and Eyes. However, regardless of the results, all of contributors have done great jobs and it stimulated the participants’ way of looking and thinking about how rather than international exchange requiring assured English skills and being frequent travelers, it can be happen by creative ideas. The camp CLIS truly was a useful schedule for students to have wider views, and they may find it can serve as “a step ahead to become a global leader”.



*Please visit MIZY Center’s webpage: www.mizy.net to see more information about CLIS.

2013 the 4th CLIS is expected to be held on too. You can register for the 4th CLIS on January 2013 through on-line (only on-line application is available), so please keep your eye on the notice!



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It seems that the word “diplomat” is not just localized by the one person these days. VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea) is truly helpful for those who want to become a diplomat. VANK selected a total of 724 university students as ‘Global Ambassadors of Korean Culture and Tourism.’ Over 860 students applied for the program, 474 students were selected as on-line representatives and 250 students were selected as off-line ambassadors.


The main host of the program, VANK, was founded in 1999, with the leader Ki-tae Park. The website VANK was mainly made in order to increase intimacy within Korea and to try to give accurate information about Korean culture and history. A vigorous youth, Mr. Park felt his heart glowing with patriotism when he was a university student. When he was doing his computer class’s assignment, he found that there were a lot of cartographic companies marked as Korea’s own island, Dokdo to Dakeshima or Liankrut Rock. By constantly sending written protests, the maps’ amendments could be made thanks to Mr. Park. As this method (sending protests) actually worked, Mr. Park thought that by expanding his idea, there would be a lot of progress in rectifying errors. With this said, VANK sends promotional kits (including leaflets, maps, stickers, etc.) to anyone who shows affection toward Korea. Also, in the website, there are sets of detailed information on how to deal with faulty information concerning Korean history and culture.

However, Mr. Park thought that just giving the kits that VANK had made and offering information by website was not enough. Rather, he believed that people should be educated in order to use the tools wisely. Because of the necessities, VANK made the program named ‘Global Ambassador of Korean Culture and Tourism’ and the course is heading to cultivate the 4th ambassadors.

The ‘Global Ambassador of Korean Culture and Tourism’ program is especially for these following students. Firstly, it is for the people who are planning to go abroad for different purposes such as but not limited to: traveling, study, and volunteer work. Secondly, it is for the people who would like to introduce Korea for foreigners in Korea currently or pen-pals.

On 28th December 2011, from 10am to 6pm, there were instructive lectures given by prominent figures in tourism and cultural circles for the future ambassadors. Unfortunately, the lectures were only given to the 250 off-line ambassadors considering place and time. As the Korean government authority selected 2010 to 2012 ‘Visit Korea Year’, the lectures were largely focused on tourism. The lecturers’ main role was to not only offer ways to introduce Korea effectively but also to find ways to increase the number of foreign tourists.


 


 

During the ‘introduction of precedents’ period, one of the 3rd Global Ambassadors of Korean Culture and Tourism, Miss. Sul Lee further elaborated on how she managed the whole activity. Miss Lee participated in a workcamp in England, and she wanted to have a bond with international students from all over the world. So, she chose her keyword as ‘communication through empathy’. Miss. Lee firstly showed English information leaflets about Korean culture and history to international students, then, she asked them to translate into their own languages. In order to increase intimacy and customize language preferences, she wanted to show the translated version (the ones that the international students made) when she comes across with foreigners from different countries. For more information, following is an interview with Miss Lee.


 


1. What is the main reason you applied to the 3rd ‘Global Ambassador of Korean Culture and Tourism’ mainly hosted by Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) and Visit Korea Committee last year?

                                                                                        ▲ Photos provided by Miss. Lee


Last summer, I was preparing for an England workcamp where people from various countries work, camp together, and experience each others' culture. Although I really like to meet new people, as the camping period was not short and the program was mixed up with diverse nationality, I had to know and be prepared for a lot of things. I believe prior knowledge and hands-on experiences can make smoother and richer conversations. Specially, I should have had subjects informing people about Korean culture, but making promotional packages by searching Internet one by one was not easy. At this point, VANK Global Ambassador was a very attractive project because the program offered me useful promotional kits and educational opportunities on how to introduce the Korean culture easily.

 

2. Why did you select ‘communication through empathy’ as your keyword while you were an ambassador?

                                                                                        ▲ Photos provided by Miss. Lee


As Koreans are passionate and patriotic, they have high pride introducing Korea and taking the lead in correcting some historical errors such as Dokdo. I started ask myself, “For foreigners, how this can be interpreted? Can this be the same meaning? Unilaterally giving information about Korea cannot interest them. The real purpose of informing Korea is to remind that: we are not different as we are living in the era of globalization. I think a brilliant speaker is not the one who speaks well, but listens carefully and sincerely. Therefore, my first step as an ambassador was understanding friends' culture with awareness and feeling empathy. Although I was the only Asian, it didn’t really matter. The only difference was their natural cultural habits, but I tried not to relate with culture shock and rather, tried to understand it. I always remembered how important empathy is, afterwards, they asked some questions about me and Korea. From then on, I realized the real meaning of 'communication'.


3. Where did you get the idea of making and sharing an information leaflet of Korean history and culture which was translated into several different languages?


There was one friend from Czechoslovakia to whom I gave a VANK world map. She told me that she wanted to get friends' signs by their mother tongue for her special memory. There, I got the idea. I continually thought that it would be nice if I make not only a collectable item, but one that could also have promotional meaning. The sign that Czech friend made just contained a personal sayings like guestbook, but I thought that when the contents included an introduction of Korea-related information and my profile, it could be very practical by taking both sides! Thus, as I was very impressed with excellent 2nd ambassadors' creative ideas and looked carefully around me, I also created an impressive idea by applying things that I saw.

 

4. Any difficulties or obstacles? If any, how did you overcome those difficulties?


Actually I do not have an excellent English skill yet, but I am not trying be obsessed with perfection. English is just a tool as a language. What asked for them is to translate Korean information into their own languages: my profile, and very simple things, not the ones like reports. In history part, they didn't have enough knowledge. In this situation, I used VANK’s data to answer their questions or misunderstandings. During Q&A period, there were great opportunities to know about the field I did not even care about. Here, one thing to remind is that you cannot just ask for them thoughtlessly. I also try to be a ‘friend’ to them, not an informer.

5. For the very last question, anything to say for those who are wishing to become a ‘Global Ambassador of Korean culture and Tourism’?


                                                      ▲ Mr. Park and Miss. Lee/   Photos provided by Miss. Lee


I really do care about ‘real communication’ that I mentioned before. Listen to partner's thoughts first and represent my opinion. That is my diplomacy philosophy. Everything has a goal and so do you. That makes you your job to be done effectively. You can have a pride in your 4th Global Ambassador of Korean Culture and Tourism!




 

After the education programs were over, 5 missions were allotted to ambassadors which should be finished by 29th of February 2012 on their own blogs. Firstly, they should write an epilogue about the education program on. Secondly, they should use VANK’s kit and write about how it effected. Thirdly, ambassadors should state their own opinion toward Visit Korea Year. Fourthly, it should discuss how the ambassadors felt about introducing Korea. Lastly, they should pick one subject, and make a promotional material for foreigners. After the whole mission is over, students will be able to be selected as real ambassadors. I hope everyone does their mission well and as a participant I truly have great expectations about the performances of the ambassadors selected this year.

* For more information about Vank and Global ambassador of Korean Culture and Tourism, please visit http://wings.prkorea.com/

 

 

 

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