Korean, Japanese students gather in Gangneung for cultural exchange

It has become increasingly difficult to tell Japanese university students apart from their Korean peers. The number of young Japanese people studying Korea and the Korean language — and seeking Korean friends — has jumped in recent years. Pictured is the Korea Tourism Organization's Korea-Japan university student friendship event.

Amid a steady rise in Korea-Japan couples, university students from both countries will gather in Gangneung for a two-night, three-day cultural exchange event beginning Monday.

The exchange has been held since 2019, co-hosted by Gangwon Province and its sister region, Japan's Tottori Prefecture, and jointly organized by Gangneung Campus of Kangwon National University and Tottori University. Enthusiasm for the exchange has run high enough that the two sides held online events even during the pandemic.

The timing coincides with the designated "Visit Gangwon Year" and "Visit Gangneung Year," and organizers expect participants to broaden the scope of exchange by sharing a wide range of content.

The theme — "Rediscovering the Regions and Sustainable Local Revitalization" — may sound weighty, but the fresh perspectives and wit of young participants are expected to help people in both countries discover and visit more of each other's corners.

"It's not a blind date — it's hands-on activities and discussions!" When Korean and Japanese university students are brought together these days, they warm up to each other faster than expected. Pictured is the Korea Tourism Organization's Korea-Japan university student friendship event.

A joint Korea-Japan seminar is scheduled for Tuesday morning, with five graduate and undergraduate students from each country comparing the demographic and economic challenges facing their respective regions and exploring youth-driven solutions for local development.

Despite the academic setting, students from both sides are looking forward to the event. A regional cultural facility tour will follow, giving participants a chance to experience Gangneung's cultural, artistic and tourism offerings — and share plenty of laughs along the way.

Students will visit the Gangneung Danoje Festival transmission education center to learn about the value of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, then tour the Gangneung Culture Foundation and Gangneung Convention Center in turn. There, they will reinterpret each institution's distinct culture through a youth lens and discuss ways young people can drive local revitalization.

Kim Yeong-gyun, director of international cooperation at Gangwon Province, said the exchange was made possible through close cooperation not only with Japanese local governments and universities, but also with Kangwon National University's Gangneung Campus, Gangneung City and other related institutions within the province. "We will continue to expand international exchange opportunities so that Gangwon's youth can grow on a broader world stage, building on our tight provincial cooperation network," Kim said.

abc@heraldcorp.com