Educators win Korea-Japan award

Korean Education Minister Lee Joon-sik, fourth from left, and his Japanese counterpart Hase Hiroshi, fourth from right, pose with the winners of the Korea-Japan Education Exchange Award. The winners are, from left, Ryu Dae-sung, a teacher at Incheon Marine Science High School; Sin Sun-gyun, a teacher at Cheongseok High School and president of the Korea Japanese Teachers’ Association; Jung Gi-young, professor of Japanese studies at Busan University of Foreign Studies; Takeda Jichi, president of Kyushu High School; Nakano Hitoshi, head of the Kyushu University’s Research Center for Korean Studies; and Naito Hiroyuki, representative of the Japan Forum. / Courtesy of the Ministry of Education

By Chung Hyun-chae

Two high school teachers and one university professor were honored by an inaugural award for promoting educational and cultural exchanges between Korea and Japan.

The winners of the Korea-Japan Education Exchange Award are Sin Sun-gyun, Ryu Dae-sung and Jung Gi-young. Sin is a teacher at Cheongseok High School and president of the Korea Japanese Teachers' Association. Ryu is a teacher at Incheon Marine Science High School. And Jung Gi-young is a professor of Japanese Studies at Busan University of Foreign Studies.

The award ceremony took place at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel in eastern Seoul, Saturday

Marking the 50th anniversary of Korea’s diplomatic relationship with Japan, the education ministries of the two countries jointly launched the award to honor individuals and institutions for their contributions to bilateral educational exchanges.

“It is meaningful that growing children can experience Japanese culture while becoming friends with Japanese students,” Ryu said. “I believe this kind of personnel exchange could raise awareness of Japan and its culture amid heightened anti-Japanese sentiments among the Korean public over some thorny issues.”

Under his guidance, in 2000 the Incheon marine science school formed sisterhood ties with Namerikawa High School in Toyama, Japan.

The two schools have run diverse programs in which students from both countries try a navigation simulation and go scuba diving.

Prof. Jung has dedicated himself to Japanese language education at the Busan university since 2004.

“I think it is also important to exchange skilled personnel between the countries,” Jung said. “Our university encourages students to get jobs overseas, widening their horizons.”

According to him, the university annually sends 120 students to other countries for employment, more than 30 of whom opt for Japan.

He also created a so-called Japanese village in the southeastern port city in 2011 to support children from biracial families with a Japanese parent.

“We teach them the Japanese language which I believe fosters better self-esteem,” Jung said.

Sin, as a Japanese language high school teacher in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, has focused on enhancing Japanese language and culture education for Korean students by holding various school events such as a Japanese speech competition.

“I think Korea-Japan exchange programs should be more diversified in order to deepen mutual understanding,” Sin said, calling on the nation to strengthen Japanese language education. “Proper education should be a prerequisite to any exchange program.”

Beyond the three Korean educators, three Japanese institutions were also awarded for promoting bilateral cooperation in the education sector.

The Japanese winners include the Japan Forum, Kyushu High School and Kyushu University’s Research Center for Korean Studies.

The award ceremony will be held every five years.