History lessons for foreign students

Participants of the Northeast Asia History Foundation’s first academic program on Northeast Asian history pose in this 2013 file photo. / Courtesy of Northeast Asia History Foundation

By Park Si-soo

A state-run history research center will run a second academic program to educate 33 foreign students from 11 countries about Northeast Asian history, through which the center hopes they will gain a deeper understanding of Korean history and its culture.

The opening ceremony for the program will be held today at the Northeast Asian History Foundation’s (NAHF) auditorium in downtown Seoul. The program is comprised of 15 sessions and will continue through June 25, according to the foundation. Inaugurated in 2013, it is held twice a year.

The students will learn about Korean history, culture and geo-political conflicts with surrounding countries using a textbook written by scholars at the foundation. They will also visit Ulleung Island, as well as the easternmost islets of Dokdo. The islets controlled by South Korea are the frequent targets of repeated territorial claims by Japan, which has cast a pall over bilateral relations with the right-leaning Shinzo Abe administration.

Other programs include special lectures hosted by well-known historians of the Northeast Asian region. All lectures will be delivered in Korean; thus students that sign up, or will sign up in the future, must be of TOPIK (Test of Proficiency Level in Korean) level four or above.

“We expect this program to promote Korean history and culture among foreign students who will play a big role in their countries in the future,” an NAHF spokesman said.

The annual program started last year with 20 students from nine countries.