Asian Studies Program Hosts Korean Delegation

Date: 2012-06-17 Hour: 8:40

Bar-Ilan University's Asian Studies Program hosted a delegation of Korean undergraduate and graduate students visiting Israel as part of the 2012 Korea-Israel Intergovernmental Youth Exchange Program. The visit of the Korean delegation to Israel is one of a series of events marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and South Korea.

Thirty students from the Asian Studies Program met with the delegation and sang songs to them in Japanese and Chinese, accompanied by flute and guitar players. The Program's administrative director, Dr. Alon Levkowitz, distributed the words of a well-known Korean song -- transliterated into English – which the Israeli and Korean students sang together. The song was written about the Korean harvest season, but also sung in protest of the Japanese occupation of Korea. It has been suggested that the song would serve as the national anthem of a united Korea.

The Asian Studies Program introduced to the delegation a new lecturer who will teach Korean-language classes which will be offered at the University for the first time beginning this Fall.

During the visit, the Asian Studies Program and the Bar-Ilan Student Union hosted an "Asia evening" featuring a display of traditional food and dress of East Asian countries. Members of the Korean delegation, who are currently studying for degrees in a wide variety of majors including the arts, international relations, political science and music, sang traditional Korean songs and danced traditional dances.