1.The Foreign Ministry will hold the first workshop of the Scholars Group for Public Diplomacy on October 11 under the theme: “Creativity is a long tradition, a culture and a life to Korea.”

° The “Scholars Group for Public Diplomacy,” launched on January 29, is composed of 16 foreign scholars working at colleges in the Republic of Korea.

*The Group’s first workshop will take place at Shilla Hotel, Seoul, at 10:00-16:00 on October 11.

*The attendees will include Foreign Ministry officials, such as Ambassador for Public Diplomacy Ma Young-sam and Director-General for Cultural Affairs Hahn Choong-hee, the Group members and cultural attachés to the ROK from the home countries of the Scholars.

2. At the inaugural workshop, professor Emanuel Pastreich of Kyung Hee University, professor Kim Hee-jae of Chugye Art University, and head of the Korea Culture Contents Institute Shin Kwang-cheol will deliver presentations on the sub-themes of “experience of Korea’s creativity,” “taste creative Korean food” and “delve into the creativity in traditional Korean culture.”

° The presentations will bring the attention of the Scholars Group to the fact that the creativity underlying traditional Korean culture and life is the driving force behind the ROK’s economic development and the popularity of Korean pop culture, including dramas and songs.

3. The Foreign Ministry together with the Scholars Group, by building upon the content of the presentations, will discuss ways to more effectively introduce creative Korean culture to the world. The Ministry will continue to consider having opinions to be presented at the workshop reflected in drawing up and implementing its public diplomacy strategies.


                 Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

*unofficial translation