By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Roufida Abouelwafa from Egypt
Video = KBS World

For the first time, Egypt is participating in KBS’S international quiz about Korean heritage and tradition, as well as about modern Korean pop culture. Overall 21 countries will be participating in the contest, including Egypt, the only Arabic-speaking country to compete. This points toward the growing relationship between Korea and Egypt.

The contest itself is an annual Korean TV game show organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and KBS, a TV station. The quiz tests participants’ general knowledge about all things Korean, allowing the national winner to participate in the final rounds of the contest in Korea to represent their country. The winners also spend a week touring Seoul to get to know the landscape up-close, all while filming them in a KBS studio for a show that will be aired during the Chuseok autumn holiday.

As for Egypt this year, the preliminary rounds were held at Ain Shams university in June and July, and the battle ended in July with the announcement that Sarah Oqelee will be Egypt’s first participant in the contest.



- First, can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Sarah Oqelee. My relationship with Korea started in middle school, as with a lot of people, because of Korean TV shows and soap operas. That wasn't the only reason, but it was the start button. I couldn't even watch that many soap operas or movies, to be honest. Only a couple of shows were enough to make me attached to Korea. A new world opened for me. Now, I'm working as an Arabic teacher for foreigners, and I have a lot of Korean students.

- Was your major related to Korea or to East Asia?
I graduated from the Hankuk University for Foreign Studies, in the Asian languages and cultures department, and from Cairo University in the Islamic and Arabic studies department. I've been preparing myself to be a Korean language teacher for Arab students, too, as my second major was teaching Korean as a foreign language.

- What made you participate in the Quiz on Korea this year? What was your experience like?
I wanted to see how much I knew about Korea. It was a good chance for me to visit Korea again, too, and to make new friends all around the world. I can't believe that I got first place in the first and second rounds. It was a great feeling, to be honest.

- Are you excited to represent Egypt? Can you tell me more about your plans regarding your trip to Korea?
It's a good chance for me to represent Egypt in a contest that's held on a famous broadcaster, like KBS. I wish I could do well because that would encourage me to develop my project to introduce Korea to Egyptian and Arab audiences more widely and more intensively. I already started a Facebook profile, "Korean DNA," sort of like the first part of my project. I'm so excited to meet new people and to visit new places during my stay in Korea.



- As you know, the contest was launched for people who speak English or Korean. Do you feel that only participants who speak English had a chance, or does speaking Korean make a difference?
From my point of view, I don't think that English is enough, on its own, to participate in this contest. You should at least be able to read and write some Hangeul and know enough about Korean grammar, because there are questions you must answer solely in Korean.
English can help a bit, to understand the questions a bit more quickly, but that's just because of the differences in the sentence structure between English and Korean. I think they make it available to all people who are interested in Korean pop culture, and even to those who haven't yet mastered Korean. Encourage those people to learn more Korean so they can have more of a chance to enjoy Korean pop music, TV shows and movies.

- How did you prepare for the contest? What do you think it takes to make it into the finals?
For participation in the contest, first of all, I watched all of last year's episodes of a few TV shows. I studied books about Korea for immigrants there. I read the magazine from the Korean Foundation, "Koreana," which I've actually been reading since high school.

- Are there any words you'd want to share with all the people who'll be watching you and supporting you?
Pray for me, please! I'll do my best. Even if I can't get first place, I'll be so happy that I had the experience. I hope I can be a guiding light for other Egyptian participants who will come along in the future.

wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.