Promotion of Meeting for Students from N. and S. Korea

There has been a movement to promote a mutual meeting of elementary and middle school students from North and South Korea. This exchange is drawing the attention from the public because it will not be a simple meeting but will consist of experimental study events including a 5-day communal living arrangement.

“We are currently promoting an experimental student exchange program between the North and South by inviting 20 students of elementary and middle schools from North Korea for experimental education events with 20 students from South Korea from August 13th to 17th,” Yoeng Jeong-gwon, principal of Ya Dong Elementary School in Cheungjoo, a communal representative of the `Beautiful School Movement Headquarters`, said on Monday.

“Since last year, we have been maintaining contact with North Korea through the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation. We have explained our ideas to representatives in North Korea who participated in the `3.1 National Rally` held on the 1st of this month, including Hyeok Pil-huh, vice president of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation on the North Korean side,” Yoeng said. “We also have received a positive response from the North Korean representatives. The representatives responded that they would `put forth effort to make the program a success.`

Upon success of this project, students of the North and South will jointly live in a communal environment participating in such events as research activity at the nature ecological environment experimental learning site of Ya Dong Elementary School in Choongjoo city, Choongbuk Province, school visits in the Choongjoo regions, exploration of such historical relics such as the Goguryo monument, climbing Hanra Mountain as well as viewing student performances. Moreover, a similar plan with 20 students from South Korea visiting North Korea from October 15th to 19th including the exploration of the cultural relics as well as the community living plan is also planned.

Headquarters clarified that they are planning to promote the regularization of such events as well as production of joint textbooks for both the North and South.

“This program will be meaningful since it is the very first exchange, apart from previous ones focused on culture and politics, of teenagers from the South and North who are our future leaders living together,” Gwon added.

The Beautiful School Movement Headquarters, established in July 2000, promotes activities such as development of education programs, selection of schools, human rights education, along with support for alienated students.

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