Keizai Koho Center dispatched 50 Japanese high school teachers to Korea to participate in a six-day program from August 24 to 29, 2024. The program, which is part of the youth exchange initiatives of the Japan-Korea and Korea-Japan Future Partnership Funds established by Keidanren and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), included visits to schools and companies. The program aims to promote cross-cultural exchange among Japanese and Korean high school teachers, following the invitation of 50 Korean high school teachers to Japan in January 2024.

Mr. Jin Ryu, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, Mr. Hong Kyun Kim, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Yoon Kim, Chairman of the Korea-Japan Economic Association, delivered speeches at the welcome reception on August 26. They emphasized the importance of the program, stating that the role of educators in teaching and guiding the younger generation is essential for building a future-oriented Japan-Korea relationship.

Ms. Reina Kojima, a teacher at Kaetsu Ariake High School, a school that the Korean teachers who were invited to Japan visited in January 2024, gave an address on behalf of the Japanese teachers. She expressed her hopes and expectations for the program, highlighting the significance of exchanges with Korean teachers and students.

Mr. Koichi Mizushima, the Japanese Ambassador to South Korea, made a congratulatory remark, emphasizing that multilayered exchanges, not only government-to-government but also personal ones, are essential for building a strong and stable Japan-Korea relationship.

The reception was also attended by 17 Korean teachers who had visited Japan in January 2024. They actively exchanged views with the Japanese teachers at each table by sharing their challenges and experiences of their daily work in the field of education.

The Japanese teachers gained specialized knowledge on the current situation and prospects of Korea-Japan economic and trade cooperation through a lecture delivered by Dr. Kim Woonghee, President of the Korean Association of Contemporary Japanese Studies. They also learned about the Korean education system and educational policy from Dr. Park Hashik, Principal of the Korean Minjok Leadership Academy.

The teachers visited the Embassy of Japan in Korea, where Minister Daisuke Namioka shared his global perspectives which were cultivated through his experience and knowledge as a professional diplomat.

Additionally, the teachers experienced the depth of Korean culture through activities such as kimchi-making, a performance combining taekwondo and folk instruments, and a visit to Jukanji Temple.

At Hana High School and Yongin Samgye High School, each school explained their educational policies and curricula and provided the teachers with opportunities to tour various facilities on their campuses. Many of the Japanese teachers were inspired by the advanced approaches used in several subject classes, such as extensive group discussions and the full utilization of ICT in both software and hardware. Active exchanges, including discussions about the education system and school environment and candid conversations with the students over lunch in the cafeteria, took place.

At Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, the teachers were exposed to cutting-edge technologies of the manufacturing processes and safety measures. At LG Sciencepark, they learned about the electrification of auto parts, audiovisual equipment, and home appliances that provide a comfortable lifestyle. A visit to Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc. included a tour of their development site, followed by an impressive speech on the further development of Japan-Korea relations by Mr. Lee Young Kwan, Chairman of the company. At Pangyo Techno Valley, an innovative R&D hub, they were given a presentation about the facilities and systems designed to foster start-ups and deepened their understanding of the efforts to foster cutting-edge businesses in Korea.

Another group of Korean teachers are scheduled to visit Japan in January 2025. Keizai Koho Center will continue to promote mutual exchange and strive towards building a future-oriented Japan-Korea relationship.