Dozens of foreign diplomats to take course on Korea

Yonhap News

image from

The Korea Foundation, the state-run public diplomacy agency [JB emphasis], said Wednesday it will invite dozens of young diplomats from foreign nations to its monthslong education program to help them better understand the country and its culture next week.

"Thirty-four diplomats from 33 nations will take part in the program that will start on Monday for a three-month run," the foundation said.

The program targets foreign diplomats with less than 10 years of experience in order to nurture diplomatic resources well-versed in the country, the foundation said.

Participants will learn the Korean language, taekwondo, calligraphy and traditional Korean music at Seoul National University's Korean Language Education Center, and visit historical remains and industrial facilities in such cities as Seoul, Gyeongju, Pohang and Ulsan, according to the foundation.

The Korea National Diplomatic Academy will also give them a special lecture on the Korean studies.

Foreign ambassadors here from 18 nations will encourage them during a welcoming ceremony at a Seoul hotel prior to the start of the program Thursday.

"We've arranged the program to cultivate Korea specialists who will be active in the international community down the road," Korea Foundation chief Lee Si-hyung said. "The participants will experience a dynamic Korea where the tradition and cutting edge IT technology coexist."