With the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit just around the corner, media personnel from across ASEAN are coming to Korea to get more stories from the host country.

A group of journalists from Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand were invited to Seoul to check on preparations for the upcoming summit, set to be held in Busan on December 11 and 12. At the same time, during their stay, they will visit a variety of places across the country, reporting back to their domestic audiences.



The invited journalists include representatives from Thailand’s daily newspaper the Bangkok Post, Indonesia’s TV network RCTI, Vietnam’s Labor Daily newspaper and the Myanmar news outlet Eleven Media Group.

On the first day, the group visited ICONIX Entertainment, the production company that made the global hit cartoon “Pororo the Little Penguin.” The character Pororo was chosen as an honorary ambassador for children at the Busan summit, too.

They sat down with the people involved in the production of the cartoon to hear what factors were behind their success.



On November 29, the journalists visited the studio where MBC was filming the variety show “Show! Music Core.” There, they talked with popular pop groups, such as Apink and T-ara, and reported the coverage back to their home countries as their domestic fans might want to be updated on how their Korean stars are doing.

The journalists then held talks with a series of movie makers from the four Asian countries whose works are to be featured during the ongoing ASEAN Film Festival 2014, a movie festival being co-hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

For the remaining of their time, running until December 6, the journalists will capture real aspects of modern Korea. They will travel to Busan, the host city of the upcoming summit, to interview Busan Mayor Seo Byung-soo, as well as with students and faculty from the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies at the Busan University of Foreign Studies.



They will also interview actress Lee Young-ae, selected as an honorary ambassador for the ASEAN-Korea summit, to hear more about traditional Korean cuisine. The group will continue on to the Asian Culture Complex, currently under construction in Gwangju, and then head to the Taekwondowon in Muju, Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province), where they will have time to practice the traditional martial art and hone their skills together with other adherents from ASEAN countries.



“During your stay here you will see cultural exchanges underway between Korea and ASEAN and also hear the voices of the people as they discuss their vision for ASEAN's future,” said Director Kim Jae-won of the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) during a dinner on November 28 held to welcome the journalists.

“I hope you will remark on the efforts being made between Korea and ASEAN with the goal of mutual prosperity. This will become a great journey for you all, to get a better understanding of the real Korea and its culture,” he said.

- What do you think are the main issues that must be discussed between both your country and ASEAN as a whole and Korea at the upcoming ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit?

Issues concerning the environment should be closely discussed at the upcoming ASEAN-Korea summit. There was a similar summit last month in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, too, where environmental issues were high on the agenda. Recently, forests across my country have been dramatically reduced. I hope that a variety of ideas about how to restore forests in the country will come out at the upcoming Busan summit.

I realize that the influence of Korean culture has greatly increased across ASEAN. Investment from Korean businesses is on a constant rise as well. Like this, Korea has become quite influential, both economically and culturally, across Myanmar. Hopefully, issues involving cultural and economic exchanges are to be discussed, too.

- Please tell me what could be achieved if there were even closer ties between ASEAN countries.

Ties between Korea, Myanmar and other ASEAN countries have gotten closer than ever. If each county works to further strengthen those ties, we will be able to achieve greater economic development. Stronger mutual prosperity will bring us closer to solving the range of issues facing us.

- You are going to see many aspects of Korea, both modern and traditional, during your stay here. What do you expect to see? What do you expect to learn?

The "Korean Wave" or Hallyu is now booming in Myanmar. Things Korean, from soap operas, music and fashion to traditions, lifestyle and food, are growing in popularity. During my time here in Korea, I'd like to talk to celebrities and study what brought Hallyu to such a huge success. Also, I hope to visit many places where I can see in person the real lifestyle of Koreans.

- Tell me about the way in which you view Korea.

The Korean people are smart, hardworking and always seem to keep themselves busy.

- Is there anything you want to say to Korea or to the Korean people?

I am so happy to be here. If I am given another chance, I will definitely come to Korea again. I recommend you should visit my country, too. Myanmar is a country rich in Buddhist culture and traditional heritage. It's a country that has kept its history alive and has many interesting things to see. I hope you can come and see the real country.

* Journalist Hoang Kim Ahn of Vietnam's Labor Daily Newspaper

- What do you think are the main issues that must be discussed between both your country and ASEAN as a whole and Korea at the upcoming ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit?

Korean enterprises have advanced in Vietnamese markets, actively investing in the Vietnamese IT sector. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has invested much in cultivating manpower across the country, too. I think that the two sectors -- IT and manpower development -- are the most practical issues that are worth cooperating on with each other.

According to the demographics of Vietnam, the population of working-age people is very high. Considering this, investing in developing people with high-tech skills is the most urgent thing to do, among others.

The theme of the upcoming Busan summit is to build trust and make a happy ASEAN community. We need to cooperate on narrowing the gap in terms of the level of manpower between Korea and ASEAN.

- You are going to see many aspects of Korea, both modern and traditional, during your stay here. What do you expect to see? What do you expect to learn?

This is my second time to come to Korea. Every time I am here, I feel really impressed by the rapid economic development the country has achieved, while at the same time keeping its traditions intact. I ask myself, "Would it be possible for Vietnam, too, to achieve such things?" I always find it very impressive that not only the government, but also each individual, works to love their own traditions and preserve them.

- Is there anything you want to say to Korea or to the Korean people?

I hope that you will continue to preserve your traditions as you've done. I'd like to see Korea continue to welcome different cultures from around the world, while keeping alive its own traditions and characteristics. Hopefully, Korea continues to prove itself as a global, ideal development model.

My daughter always says that she dreams of working with Koreans. She believes that Koreans are thoughtful and respectful to others, based on Confucian culture, and at the same time, have a bold challenging spirit, maybe influenced by Western culture. In other words, the Korean people have only good characteristics from both Asian and Western mindsets.

* Editor Nareerat Wiriyapong of the Bangkok Post

- What do you think are the main issues that must be discussed between both your country and ASEAN as a whole and Korea at the upcoming ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit?

I assume that a wide range of important issues, including economics, security and climate change, will be discussed to further enhance the economic partnership between ASEAN countries at the Busan summit. Also, efforts will be made to find new areas of cooperation.

- Please tell me what could be achieved if there were even closer ties between ASEAN countries.

Closer ties between ASEAN countries would help boost mutual understanding with each other. The Thai people will also get a better understanding of Korea, such as K-pop. Then it will lead to more dialogue and talks between the region.

Korean soap operas and popular music enjoys great favor across Thailand. Earlier today, we went to the production company that produced the globally renowned cartoon series “Pororo the Little Penguin.” Before the visit, I’d never known about the cartoon character, even though it’s well-known worldwide. To be honest, I didn’t even know of its existence at all. Just as I got to know about the show this time, active cultural exchanges between Korea and Thailand would help the Thai people better understand what the county of Korea has to offer.

- You are going to see many aspects of Korea, both modern and traditional, during your stay here. What do you expect to see? What do you expect to learn?

We are going to make kimchi, as part of our scheduled activities. I am so excited to taste the traditional cuisine and even make it myself. Also I look forward to talking to K-pop stars. I’d like to ask them how they promote their music and ask their opinion on how, as an artist, they could help develop the cultures of both Korea and Thailand.

- Is there anything you want to say to Korea or to the Korean people?

Both Korea and Thailand are rich in traditions and arts. Thailand has a lot of things to learn from Korea, both culturally and economically. My hope is that aspects of Thai culture, too, will develop and be enjoyed in other countries, as those of Korea’s have been.

* Producer Ahmad Maimun Fikri from Indonesia’s RCTI

- Tell me about the way in which you view Korea.

Korea has quite different traditions than my country or its neighboring countries. Before I came here, I expected Korea to look similar to its neighbors, China and Japan. I was wrong. Now that I am here, I can see that Korea has different colors. It’s interesting.

- Tell us how popular things Korean are across your country.

Korean soap operas are such a boom in Jakarta. Many Indonesians are crazy about K-pop groups, including Super Junior and T-ara. Online, we have a constant flow of content related to K-pop, dramas and movies. A number of K-pop stars are coming to Indonesia, mainly Jakarta, to hold concerts for their fans. Tickets are sold-out most of the time. Before the "Korean Wave" swept across the country, J-pop was a hit. Now is the time for Hallyu. Besides Korean content, Indonesia now welcomes other cultures from around the world.

- What is it that makes many of the huge variety of traditional Indonesian cultures so intriguing and interesting?

Indonesia is a country comprising of thousands of islands. For that reason, the country has a variety of regions, traditions and cultures. People are different and so are the cultures. If you travel to just one region in the country, you cannot say that you’ve traveled to Indonesia as a whole.

- You are going to see many aspects of Korea, both modern and traditional, during your stay here. What do you expect to see? What do you expect to learn?

There are many interesting things about Korea about which I’d really like to know more. Korea is quite different from its neighboring countries, like China and Japan. During my time here, I want to know more about Korea’s entertainment industry, such as K-pop, that has boomed across Indonesia over recent years. Also, I’d like to see in person a range of other sectors, including transportation, advanced e-commerce and health care.

- What do you think are the main issues that must be discussed between both your country and ASEAN as a whole and Korea at the upcoming ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit?

Among those high on the agenda, there should be security and labor issues. These days, many Korean enterprises are advancing in Indonesian markets. Discussions about growing investment being made by Korean businesses should be made, too.

- Please tell me what could be achieved if there were even closer ties between ASEAN countries.

If Korea and ASEAN cooperate closely across a variety of sectors, then we would see more development in many ways. Closer relations with government-to-government, or business-to-business, will make for a better future, I am sure.

- Is there anything you want to say to Korea or to the Korean people?

The cartoon character Pororo, whose making process we just checked out, is very popular among Indonesian children, too. Like this, if we continue to bring more good content home from Korea, that will be good business for sure. I hope to see more bilateral exchanges between Korea and Indonesia.

By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
jiae5853@korea.kr