Students join drive to help Japan

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Fri, December 8, 2023 | 15:58

Students join drive to help Japan

Posted : 2011-03-15 18:47

Updated : 2011-03-15 18:47

Japanese exchange students at Yeongnam University in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, hold a fundraising campaign to support their home country, which was hit by a deadly earthquake and tsunami last week. Universities and students around the country are doing their share to help the neighboring country’s recovery efforts. / Yonhap

By Han Sang-hee

University students are doing their share to help victims from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last week.

Many students have arranged small scale donation booths in and outside schools, while others have prepared a more organized plea.

Yeongnam University in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, started a campaign to gather relief funds for the Japanese victims on its website (www.yu.ac.kr). Since 2003, the school has had sister ties with Tohoku University in Sendai, Miyaki Prefecture, the area most devastated by the natural disaster; and along with funds, it is also planning to send relief supplies to Japan.

``It’s so sad to see all the horrific photos and news about the Sendai area. Having a relationship with Tohoku University, we really wanted to pull up our sleeves to help them, although we live far away,” said Woo Byeong-jin, director at the school’s student service department. “So far, students are a bit shy, but after listening to our staff and fellow students about the campaign, they eagerly decide to help.’’

Hallym University, which also has been working with Tohoku Fukushi University since 2002, expressed their concern and also plans to support victims.

``It’s impossible to even contact anyone from the school, but we are planning to support them as much as possible when things settle down a bit and we can get a clearer picture of what we can do,’’ said a university official.

Students from schools that don’t have any direct ties with Japanese schools are also preparing to help.

Masafumi Yamada, a 28-year-old Japanese student at the Korean Language & Culture Center at Korea University, wondered what he and his friends could do to help fellow students and victims in Japan after watching the tremendous destruction.

``We all gathered together and just started talking about what we could do. Obviously, it would not be something big or grand, but we want to help them in any way we could,’’ he said.

Students from the center are planning to collect relief funds around the campus and make pamphlets to help local students understand the seriousness of the situation.

The International Student Organization (ISO) at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is also gearing up to support Japan through fund raisers, while students from Seoul National University are doing the same.

``It’s great when schools take action, but we wanted to do something ourselves to show Japan and our Japanese friends that we care and we are here to support them. This all started voluntarily and we have had a lot of help so far,’’ said Kwon Yun-ki from ISO at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

The department of Japanese and Literature at Chonnam National University also announced that it was joining fellow schools in efforts to aid the neighboring country.

``We are planning to start within our department, and then slowly expand our campaign to the college of humanities, the university and finally the city of Gwangju,’’ the school said in a statement.

Along with a campaign to raise funds, the school will also invite Japanese students enrolled at the school to think of adequate ways to help them and their families back at home.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr