6 public officials of foreign local governments with sisterhood relations with Gyeongsangbuk-do to learn Korean at YU Korean Language Institute
A total of 390 hours of Korean language education and monthly cultural experiences
[June 24, 2012]

 YU will begin Korean language courses for public officials of overseas autonomous districts that have sisterhood relations with Gyeongsanbuk-do. Gyeongsangbuk-do will invite public officials of sister cities and offer a total of 390 hours in Korea education for six months from June to November.

 There are 6 international public officials learning Korean at the YU Korean Language Institute. They are Huang Xianrong (32, female) of the Ningxia Huizu of China, Phan Le Tung (26, male) of the Thai Nguyen Broadcasting Company of Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, Lor Oudom (29, male) of the Statistics Division of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, Ahmad Dwi Kurniawan (29, male) of the Indonesian Maritime Affairs Office, Gina Anindyajati (25, female) of Central Java, Indonesia, and Muaz Bahadir Mutaf (26, male) of the Turkish National Police in Bursa, Turkey.

 
 International public officials receiving training at the YU Korean Language Institute experiencing tea ceremonies at the 37th 'Gyeongsan Jain Danoje Festival'.

 In addition to the daily 3 hour education in Korean, they are also focusing on learning more about Korea by participating in monthly cultural experience programs. At 2pm on the 22nd, they attended the 37th 'Gyeongsan Jain Danoje Festival' held at the Jain Gyejeong Forest in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk and experienced traditional Korean cultures such as washing hair in water boiled with the sweet flag, tea ceremonies, riding swings, shooting arrows and making the rice cakes with mallet(tteokme).

 Muaz Bahadir Mutaf from Turkey said, "My hair is really shiny after washing it in water that boiled with the sweet flag(changpo) for six hours," and added, "Korea is a safe country and the people are kind and nice so I enjoy staying here. I've becoming fascinated with the traditional songs of Korea and I will learn about Korea as much as I can during my remaining time in Korea and contribute to the exchange between Korea and Turkey."

 
 Lor Oudom, a public official of Siem Reap in Cambodia is washing his hair in changpo water at the 37th 'Gyeongsan Jain Danoje Festival'.

 Gina Anindyajati, a public official of Indonesia, also stated, "The Hallyu has hit Indonesia so many people are curious about Korea. Korean is difficult, but the more I learn it, the more interesting it becomes. Once I return home, I will introduce and share with my people that Korea and the Korean society is quite charming."

 Suh, Jong-hak (61, Department of Korean Language Education), director of the YU Korean Language Institute, who is overseeing this education program, stated "In addition to reading, writing, speaking, listening, vocabulary, and grammar of the Korean language, I want to help them to accurately understand the history and culture of Korea and Gyeongsangbuk-do. I will do all that I can so that they will later become key figures who are Korea-friendly and Gyeongbuk-friendly."

 Jeon, Byeong-gi, secretary of international commerce for the Provincial Government of Gyeongbuk, stated, "This program for inviting public officials of sister cities of Gyeongbuk started in 2005, and 51 people from 11 countries including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Japan, Russia and Turkey participated in this program. By creating a continuous friendship with them, we are planning to utilize them as our human network when conducting exchange with their respective provinces."

 During this program, they will attend major festivals in the Gyeongbuk province such as the Pohang Fireworks Festival and the Andong International Maskdance Festival and visit major historical, cultural, tourist places, and industrial complexes so that they may experience the history and development of Gyeongbuk and Korea. They will return to their homes in November of this year.