Performers from Keimyung University in Korea visited Thursday, Aug. 30 to demonstrate the benefits of Auburn's new Korea Center.
The center is being created through collaborations with Keimyung, which is sending instructors to teach Korean language courses, said Timothy Boosinger, vice president of academic affairs.
"Our Office of International Programs reached out to Korean universities we thought would be good partners, and Keimyung University was interested in working with us," Boosinger said. "They are a similar size to us and they have similar majors, so we thought it would be a good match. Obviously they're very interested; they brought 37 students and seven faculty to put on this great show."
The show included a quartet of violinists, a traditional dance team and a taekwondo demonstration team that once performed for Queen Elizabeth II in 1999.
Abbie Casey, a sophomore in anthropology, said the performance was impressive and she hopes to learn more about Korean culture through the new center.
"The performers were gorgeous," Casey said. "The dancing was my favorite because of the choreography when they spun together to make the flower with their fans, and the colors and costumes were really vibrant."
The Foy Hall auditorium was packed with people who came to see the show, and after every 'Hyaaa' from the taekwondo team little echoes could be heard from children in the audience.
Keimyung did not only bring performers, however. Language instructor Eun Hyun Park visited as well.
Park will play an important part in the new Korea Center as a language instructor for the non-credit courses that will be available later this fall.
"My major is Korean teaching as a second language," Park said. "I am interested in America, and I want to teach American people. Nowadays, I have heard that American people are also interested in Korean culture and language, so that's why I came here."
Younseok (Chris) Lee, coordinator in Keimyung's office of international affairs, said as more students become involved, additional classes may be added.
"For the Korea Center we are initially going to provide a language program, then as it grows we will put a culture portion in as well, so we'll see what happens," Lee said.
Korea's economic contributions to Alabama are part of the reason it's important to be more aware of its culture, Boosinger said.
"We think this will complement our work with the Korean community that's in Auburn and all the Korean companies that line I-85," Boosinger said. "They're doing great things for our economy, and they're creating educational opportunities for our students."
Keimyung will also benefit as the two universities become partners in research and exchange programs.
"We're looking forward to Keimyung sending us students to study whatever they're interested in," Boosinger said. "The students who performed would probably be interested in dance and theater, but others can come to study math and physics, whatever will make both universities better. That's really what this is all about, 'How do we make both universities better?'"
Lee said English is widely used at Keimyung, which will make it easier for Auburn students to study there.
"Speaking English is one of the skills needed to become a global citizen, so our university put a lot of effort into teaching English to the students," Lee said. "I think over 20 percent of our courses are taught in English."
Boosinger said he hopes Auburn students will take advantage of the new programs to increase their knowledge of other cultures.
"If you wanted to go study at Keimyung University in South Korea, you could go there and study whatever it is you want to work on," Boosinger said. "We're hoping it gives our students an opportunity to work and live and study a different culture and develop better levels of understanding."
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