President Park Geun-hye met with UNESCO Director-General Irina Georgieva Bokova on February 4 at Cheong Wa Dae. The UNESCO chief visited Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO.
President Park told Bokova that Koreans regard UNESCO as one of the closest and most familiar UN organizations. “The Korean people are well aware that UNESCO helped this country in education and in preserving its culture when it needed to rebuild itself after the war.
President Park congratulated Bokova on receiving a merit medal at the celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO. “The medal proves your devotion to and efforts in promoting Korea-UNESCO cooperation,” said the president. On February 3, the Korean government awarded the UNESCO director-general with the Distinguished Order of Diplomatic Service award, called the Gwanghwa Medal.
“I am very honored to receive the medal,” said Bokova. The UNESCO chief added that she greatly appreciates the award, which shows Korea’s recognition of UNESCO’s long-term role.
President Park thanked the UNESCO chief for frequently praising Korea at international conferences, where she often describes Korea as a successful country that achieved development through education. The president said that Korea will share its development knowhow with other developing countries to pay back the aid it received from UNESCO in the past.
“Korea is one of the most successful cases that overcame both war and poverty. As a strong country in terms of soft power, the country will play an important role in establishing world peace and UNESCO will actively cooperate with Korea in this regard,” said Bokova. She added that UNESCO has been playing a large role in protecting Korean cultural assets and will continue to make efforts in this respect.
Bokova said that creativity, which President Park emphasized in her speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, is in line with the goals that UNESCO aims to pursue. “The World Education Forum, which will take place in 2015, is a very important international conference where a new vision for education will be set up for the next few decades. Korea will be the most suitable host country for the gathering, considering President Park’s leadership, vision and the country’s contributions to the world,” said the UNESCO director-general.
By Jeon Han, Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr
President Park told Bokova that Koreans regard UNESCO as one of the closest and most familiar UN organizations. “The Korean people are well aware that UNESCO helped this country in education and in preserving its culture when it needed to rebuild itself after the war.
President Park Geun-hye (right) shakes hands with UNESCO Director-General Irina Georgieva Bokova at Cheong Wa Dae on February 4. (Photo: Cheong Wa Dae)
President Park congratulated Bokova on receiving a merit medal at the celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO. “The medal proves your devotion to and efforts in promoting Korea-UNESCO cooperation,” said the president. On February 3, the Korean government awarded the UNESCO director-general with the Distinguished Order of Diplomatic Service award, called the Gwanghwa Medal.
“I am very honored to receive the medal,” said Bokova. The UNESCO chief added that she greatly appreciates the award, which shows Korea’s recognition of UNESCO’s long-term role.
President Park Geun-hye holds talks with UNESCO Director-General Irina Georgieva Bokova at Cheong Wa Dae on February 4. (Photo: Cheong Wa Dae)
President Park thanked the UNESCO chief for frequently praising Korea at international conferences, where she often describes Korea as a successful country that achieved development through education. The president said that Korea will share its development knowhow with other developing countries to pay back the aid it received from UNESCO in the past.
“Korea is one of the most successful cases that overcame both war and poverty. As a strong country in terms of soft power, the country will play an important role in establishing world peace and UNESCO will actively cooperate with Korea in this regard,” said Bokova. She added that UNESCO has been playing a large role in protecting Korean cultural assets and will continue to make efforts in this respect.
Bokova said that creativity, which President Park emphasized in her speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, is in line with the goals that UNESCO aims to pursue. “The World Education Forum, which will take place in 2015, is a very important international conference where a new vision for education will be set up for the next few decades. Korea will be the most suitable host country for the gathering, considering President Park’s leadership, vision and the country’s contributions to the world,” said the UNESCO director-general.
By Jeon Han, Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr
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