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A Great Chance to Learn More about Korea

A group of 50 U.S. teachers of Korean history, politics, and culture; education administrators; and textbook writers visited Korea to participate in a workshop on Korean studies sponsored by the Korea Foundation. For the purpose of providing teachers and educators involved with Korea-related education with objective information on Korea and an opportunity to better understand Korea’s history, politics, economy, society, and culture, the Foundation regularly organizes sessions of the Korean Studies Workshop for American Educators. For this, applications were submitted to the Foundation’s collaborative institution in January, and the program participants were selected in May.
Due to the program’s growing scale, two sessions were held on June 28-July 11 and July 12-25, which included the participation of two groups of 50 educators, who attended lectures/seminars, toured provincial areas, and enjoyed a variety of cultural/artistic activities.



Out and About in Seoul
The workshop started with an orientation session at Yonsei University and a campus tour. On the second day, the participants made their way to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where they viewed the Joint Security Area of Panmunjeom, Dorasan Observatory, and Tunnel No. 3, which North Korea dug under the DMZ, to gain a sense of the political situation of Korea. After touring Cheong Wa Dae (Korea’s White House), Changdeok Palace, and Insa-dong on the third day, the U.S. educators said that they had thoroughly enjoyed the traditional culture of Korea. On the fourth day, they attended lecture seminars at Yonsei University, which provided them with objective information for a more in-depth understanding of Korea. During their stay in Seoul, the group also visited the War Memorial of Korea, National Museum of Korea, and Itaewon, as well as Namdaemun and Dongdaemun Markets, to personally experience everyday life in Korea. In addition, they visited Goyang Foreign Language High School, for firsthand observation of the actual process of education in Korea. And they had an opportunity to enjoy Korea’s traditional culture by experiencing traditional Korean food and attire, along with learning about tea-ceremony etiquette at Yejiwon.

Appreciation of Korean Culture
While the first half of the workshop was conducted in Seoul, the second half included field trips to Gyeongju and Hapcheon. Despite sweltering humidity on the first day of the field trip, the group gamely trekked up the slopes of Mt. Gaya to view the Tripitaka Koreana, housed at the Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, which has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage. They were also impressed by the artifacts and restored tombs of Gaya, which included the burial of living persons along with the dead, at the Museum of Daegaya in Goryeong.
Mr. Matthew Nelson, who works for a textbook publisher, was amazed at the well-preserved condition of the Tripitaka Koreana, over such a long period of time. “Considering science and technology at that time, it is just amazing that people could carve such a great number of letters with such elaborate skills. I could not see the woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana more closely because of the wooden bars. But I understand it is for their preservation and I am satisfied with the fact that I was at least able to see the Tripitaka Koreana in person.”
Mr. Jason Spoor, a middle school teacher, said: “It is the first day of the field trip, and I like the program very much. I am pleased that I have seen more than I expected during my stay in Korea, before returning home. The itinerary is tight but I can notice the efforts of the organizers to show us as many things about Korea as possible during the short period of time.”
Following the visit to Haeinsa Temple and the Museum of Daegaya in Goryeong, the American educators moved on to Gaesil Village, where they paired up to make yeot, traditional Korean malt candy. They delightedly went about making yeot for the first time, much like gleeful children.
On the second day of the field trip, the workshop participants visited the Buddha-carved image at Mt. Dongnam; Daereungwon, a group of tombs from the Silla period; and Cheomseongdae, an astronomical observatory. They also toured Gyeongju National Museum, where they learned how to replicate a pattern from the surface of a monument and make sotdae, a kind of spiritual pole. On the third day, they visited representative cultural and historic attractions in Gyeongju, including the site of Hwangnyongsa Temple, where a nine-story wooden pagoda once stood before being destroyed by fire; Bunhwangsa Temple, which is said to be where Buddhist Priest Wonhyo created Hwaeomgyeongso, annotations on the Avatamsaka Sutra; Seokguram Grotto, which is known for its iconic Buddhist sculptures; and Bulguksa Temple, a treasure trove of relics and artifacts. The group was noticeably impressed with the cultural brilliance and splendor of the Silla Dynasty.

▲ Participants of the workshop for U.S. educators learned much about Korea’s culture and history from their visits to Haeinsa Temple, the Museum of Daegaya in Goryeong, Buddha-carved image at Mt. Dongnam, Silla Dynasty tombs, Cheomseongdae astronomical observatory, and Gyeongju National Museum.


Sharing Experiences with their Students
The field trip wound up with a tour of the Hyundai Heavy Industries complex in Ulsan, after which the participants returned to Seoul and expressed a high level of satisfaction with the program overall. Ms. Beverly Ann Sweet, a high school teacher, noted: “I did not have an opportunity to come to Korea earlier, although I have taught Korean history for a long time as a high school teacher. This is my first visit to Korea, and I will be pleased to tell my students about what I have seen and heard at seminars and visits to the War Memorial of Korea, palaces, the DMZ, Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, and many other places. I think it was a great chance to learn more about Korea.” After the workshop’s conclusion, the American educators said they had an enjoyable and informative time during their stay and looked forward to sharing these experiences with their students back home.

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