Until 1980s, Korea and China had very limited interrelation due to ideological struggle. In late 1980s, finally, Korea and China have opened up their doors and started the relationship that had been long suspended. Nowadays, China has become a highly important partner of Korea for both geopolitical and economic reasons. Furthermore, people’s effort to actively engage in each other’s culture improved the relationship between the two countries. A group of Koreans living in Shanghai, China, sought the way to contribute to both the betterment of relationship between the two countries and spread of Korean culture, which resulted in the establishment of Han-Geul Hakdang.

 

Photo taken by Jae Hyun Kim, Used with Approval

 
         
Han-Geul Hakdang is a non-profit organization that aims to offer Korean education opportunities for Chinese people in Shanghai. Han-Geul Hakdang was established in September 2004, with collaborative efforts of resident employees, housewives and teachers from Shanghai Korean School. As it developed, Hakdang not only educates Chinese Korean, but also introduces Korean culture by holding Korean festivals and cultural exchange activities; it annually holds Korean festival that consists programs for making Korean food and playing Korean traditional games.

 

           Fortunately, I had an opportunity to participate in a Korean lecture class in Hakdang as an assistant. Even though all the teachers were voluntary, their enthusiasm for teaching was outstanding. I was responsible for reading out loud each Korean word clearly and gradubg vocabulary test that the students just had taken. The result of vocabulary test was not that great, but Chinese students, who just have begun studying Korean, were trying their best to pronounce each Korean word clearly. Furthermore, the students were amused when they found the similar pronunciation among few Korean and Chinese words. The Lecture lasted for only an hour, but at the end of the class, students were delightfully repeating few Korean phrases like AnNyeongHaSeYo, hello, and GoMapSeumNiDa, thank you in Korean.

 

           Currently, the classes are being held in offices generously provided by Korean Chamber of Commerce. Lectures are being instructed by volunteer teachers and assistants, while classes are divided based on students’ level of Korean fluency and their needs. New students are being admitted on every January, and Hakdang also grants certificates for students who reached certain level of Korean fluency.

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