In the spirit of mutual cooperation and understanding, the Office of International Affairs at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) hosted visiting South Korean Ambassador Chang Jae-bok to explore possibilities of tie-ups and collaboration in wide ranging fields.
The Ambassador and other officials from South Korea took part in a public interface with NEHU faculty, students and scholars.
Ambassador Chang comprehensively dealt with the history of the Indo-Korean relationship and exhorted NEHU students in taking it forward in a variety of fields of mutual interest.
He mentioned that around 700 Korean companies are working in India and these companies have established deeper economic ties with India in every way.
He also alluded to the spread of K-Pop and kimchi in the North East and joined the chorus of students in naming many popular characters of various Korean dramas that have gone viral in India.
The Ambassador spoke at length on various issues, like academic collaboration and economic tie-ups through various companies.
In his welcome address, NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prof PS Shukla mentioned the need for opening up wide-ranging collaborations between South Korean universities and NEHU. He cited NEHU’s contributions in cutting edge areas of bio-science, bioinformatics, physical sciences, humanities and social sciences and drew attention to unique local and indigenous knowledge systems, cultural and bio-resource diversities as well as instant chemistry between North Eastern and Korean cultures.
In the interaction with students, on a specific question of a NEHU student who runs a start-up and who wants to extend it to South Korea, Ambassador Chang referred to South Korea’s Kolkata trade office that can provide guidance to such ideas.
In yet another response, the Korean side took great interest in the demand for increasing more scholarships for Indian students, to which the Ambassador sounded positive. On assisting in opening up a Korean learning centre at NEHU, the Ambassador referred the matter to the Korean Cultural Centre at New Delhi, which NEHU would pursue in the right manner.
