Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun Meets with French Korean Language Teachers of 'Sarangbang' Learning Community

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] On the 9th, Suwon Metropolitan City Mayor Lee Jae-jun met and held cordial talks with members of 'Sarangbang,' a learning community of Korean language teachers participating in the 'French Korean Language Teachers' Suwon City Training Program,' who are active in France.

The meeting, held in the City Hall situation room, was attended by approximately 10 Korean language teachers including Ibia (Director of Cherbourg Korean School), the Sarangbang representative, local education officials, and Gang Moon-sik, chairman of the Suwon-Tours Citizens Exchange Committee.

Suwon City concluded a sister city agreement with Tours (TOURS), France's representative tourism city, in May of last year, and then established the 'Suwon-Tours Citizens Exchange Committee,' a citizen organization led by the private sector for international exchange, in November of last year. This training program is the first project supported and participated in by the citizens exchange committee.

The 'French Korean Language Teachers' Suwon City Training Program' is a joint project between the Suwon-Tours Citizens Exchange Committee and the Suwon International Exchange Center. The participants, who began their training on the 7th, toured Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, Samsung Innovation Museum, Suwon Traditional Culture Center, and Suwon Municipal Art Museum. At the Suwon Traditional Culture Center, participants experienced traditional Korean dining culture and etiquette. The training will conclude on the 12th with a presentation of a 'Korean Culture Education Lesson Plan.'

Ibia, the Sarangbang representative, stated, "Through Korean cultural training in Suwon, I will introduce to France the historical and cultural value of Suwon that I have seen and learned," and added, "I will make efforts to create a foundation through which educators throughout France can become aware of Suwon."

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "Suwon is a city with a special relationship with France," and noted, "It is the sister city of Tours in France, and the 'French Military Korean War Participation Memorial,' a symbol of Korea-France friendship, is located in Suwon." He continued, "I ask the Sarangbang members to lend their support so that Suwon and Tours, Korea and France, can develop an even closer relationship."