KOREA FOUNDATION

On a pleasant April day, with flowers abloom everywhere, the KF spend some time with Salma, a participant of the Korean Culture Class field trip to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.

Jo Hyeong-hyun (KFVN): Thank you for taking part in this trip. Would you please briefly introduce yourself?
Salma Mouhammad (Salma): My name is Salma Mouhammad, and I’m from Egypt. I studied Korean in Egypt for two years and came to Korea as a KF fellow.

KFVN: This is your third time on a Korean Culture Class event, so why were you interested in this outing?
Salma: I heard a lot about Hwaseong Fortress through Korean dramas and TV programs, and I found several great photos online. So, I was already interested in the fortress, and when I heard about the field trip, I signed up immediately.

KFVN: This trip took you to several sites around Suwon. Which was the most memorable for you?
Salma: There were two memorable moments for me, the first being the story behind King Jeongjo. It was surprising, since I didn’t know there was such a sad history behind Suwon, and it made me view Suwon in a new light. The second was my archery experience. I had seen many scenes involving archery in dramas, so I wanted to try it, and although I wasn’t very good at it, I still enjoyed myself.

KFVN: Is there anything else you’d like to experience with the Korean Culture Class?
Salma: I’d like to visit Gyeongju.

KFVN Guest Reporter Jo Hyeong-hyun