ADRN

The KF Korea Workshop is hosted by the Korea Foundation and organized by East Asia Institute to promote and share understanding of Korean social, political, and economic issues among international residents in Korea.

The KF Korea Workshop visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on a two-day tour from July 21st to July 22nd. Participants visited the Dora Observatory and the 3rd Tunnel to learn about the history behind the division of North and South Korea. They also visited the Imjingak Nuri Peace Park and took a moment to think about peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Afterwards, participants listened to a lecture by Dong-Hun Ok who presented on the topic of “The Role of North Korean Defectors in North-South Economic Cooperation.” Mr. Ok emphasized the importance of North-South Korean economic cooperation, arguing that the Kaesong Industrial Complex can serve as a basis for such cooperation with its great economic potential. Mr. Ok also mentioned the importance of North Korean defectors as a bridge between the two Koreas in facilitating economic cooperation. During a dialogue session with North Korean defectors, participants were able to learn about the reality of North Korean society from a witness point of view. For the last activity of the day, 50 participants from 31 different countries including India, Mexico, Germany, Australia, and the Philippines attended the KF Korea Workshop certificate ceremony. 

On the second day, the KF Korea Workshop visited the Ganghwa Peace Observatory to get a firsthand view of the living conditions of ordinary North Koreans and the reality of North Korean society. By taking a tour around historical sites on Ganghwa Island, participants were able to get a better understanding of Korean history and culture. The trip offered KF Korea Workshop participants a unique opportunity to learn about the reality of North-South Korean divide and gain a better understanding of Korea by visiting historically important sites.