South Korea: Journalists come to Korea to build global network

Korean overseas journalists visit the JSA on October 27 at the invitation of KOCIS. Korean and ethnically Korean journalists from leading media organizations worldwide have gathered in Korea for a more in-depth look at the country, and to discuss ways to further enhance the image of Korea from a non-resident perspective.  The Korean Culture and Information Service, an organ of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, invited 13 overseas Korean journalists as part of the Bethell Fellowship, a program created to bring overseas journalists to Korea. Journalists from six nations, including the United States, Kazakhstan, and China, representing ten different press organizations, attended the carefully organized press event. The event was designed to build a global network for Korean journalists working abroad to stay connected to news and issues in Korea, and bring them to greater attention worldwide. The list of invited journalists include Jinah Kim, a Korean-American reporter for NBC News Los Angeles and President of the Asian-American Journalists Association (AAJA), Julie Chang, an anchor for New York's Fox 5, and Tsoy Vladislav from Kazakhstan's Channel 7. During the six-day trip, scheduled from October 25 to 30, the visiting journalists were given a brief overview of preparations for the G20 Seoul Summit and its related events by the Seoul Summit Committee. The Committee has highlighted the significance of Korea's role in organizing and hosting the G-20 Summit. On October 26, the invitees visited the Korean Development Institute (KDI) for an in-depth report on Korea's economic growth and development. At the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, and later on a trip to the DMZ, they focused on Korea's background as a divided nation. On October 27, the journalists toured the National Museum of Korea and enjoyed a variety of cultural programs, such as traditional music performances, to highlight Korea's cultural heritage.   At the end of their visit, the journalists will participate in an "Images of Korea from Overseas" forum.  The debate will be broadcast on Arirang TV and KTV on Tuesday, November 9. "This is the first time we have invited Korean journalists from overseas, representing the world's most prominent media organizations," said Seo Kang-soo, Director of the Korean Culture and Information Service. "It will lay the groundwork for a global network, which will facilitate future collaborations among international Korean journalists to improve Korea's overseas information activities," added Seo. By Dana Hwang Korea.net Staff Writer  Trackback : http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=50909 (Yimber Gaviria, Colombia)