Seven eventful days in Korea: A journalist’s experience

Nigeria and Korea share common similarities. They both survived civil wars and were ruled by military dictators until they embraced democracy. Also, they both have rich cultural heritages. Both countries had colonial experiences. While Nigeria was colonised by the British, Korea was ruled by the Japanese. Today, they are proudly independent. Arising from such similarities, […]

Nigeria and Korea share common similarities. They both survived civil wars and were ruled by military dictators until they embraced democracy. Also, they both have rich cultural heritages. Both countries had colonial experiences. While Nigeria was colonised by the British, Korea was ruled by the Japanese. Today, they are proudly independent. Arising from such similarities, Nigeria and Korea are engaging in bilateral relations for mutual benefits.

In a bid to promote cultural relations between the two countries, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) invited 12 journalists for a programme aimed at showcasing Korea to the world. The 12 participants, including this writer, were from 10 countries: Nigeria, Brazil, Senegal, Czech, Botswana, Kazakhstan, Iran, Russia, Argentina and Eswatini (Swaziland). The programme held from June 23 to 29, 2019.

During the occasion, participants were taken for a wonderful tour to truly appreciate what Korea has to offer. I think it is worthwhile to share my experience during the seven eventful days in Korea.

Day 1: As we arrived at the Incheon International Airport on Sunday, June 23, we were welcomed by a friendly member of staff who took us to a luxurious The Plaza Hotel at the Sogong-ro Jung-gu area in Seoul.

After dinner, we received an orientation on the schedule ahead of us. At the end of the session, we hurriedly went to have some rest.

Day 2: By Monday morning we had a fresh start with a visit to the Korea Small Business Institute (KOSBI), which was founded in 1993. There, we were charged with how to develop small businesses, while carrying out empirical research activities to resolve various issues faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Its vision and mission was, “Improving Competitiveness and Advancement of SMEs.” The success stories of Hyundai, LG and Samsung represent what the KOSBI has so far done for Korean businesses and economy.

The take-home message for developing nations like Nigeria, Luckily, the KOCCA project manager at the broadcasting division, Jae Dong Kim, rekindled my hope when he expressed willingness to assist any Nigerian project with Studio Cube designs; while pledging his readiness to support any further request for assistance from Nigeria, but subject to the approval of the Korean government.

I was quick to intimate Alhaji Aminu Dalhatu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Korea about the developments. He promised to keep the conversation going. I also hope Korea’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Lee In-Tae, would accord him the necessary cooperation to pursue any initiative arising from there. However, everything will definitely depend on the political will and commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to see the need to urgently drive the initiative under the Nigeria-Korea relations platform.

Day 4: We visited the New ICT Experience Centre, where the activities we engaged in happened to be mind-boggling. We were taken to a 2049 simulated trip to the technologically planned Korean life, courtesy of the global telecommunications giant, SK Telecom. At the Hoop Station of the Centre, we boarded a light train that travels at super-high speed while taking us to the dock station. We proceeded to board the shuttle for our onward space journey in a simulated space shuttle. The virtual reality of the facility makes you feel truly like an astronaut cruising into space at astronomical speed.

In the course of our voyage, we passed through envisaged city settlements with futuristic infrastructures: eco-friendly environments, anticipated transportation systems of hi-tech, aquatic life and structures in oceanic environments. The sceneries were both breathtaking and exceptionally imaginative.

My take on the technological advancement of Korea is that Nigeria should strengthen closer ties with it. The country vividly remembers the financial assistance to it by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa government of Nigeria in their trying moments of the 1960s. Also, cultural diplomacy is a priority area of Korea’s present government, and I could see prospects of cooperation along that line.

Nigeria has market to offer Korea in terms of products and services. I understand that there is an outstanding invitation for President Muhammadu Buhari to visit President Moon Jae-in, who is waiting with open arms and heart based on his May 19, 2017 inaugural speech, when he said, “I will be president for everyone. I will be a president who communicates with others.” Nigeria needs to cash in on this gesture.

We also undertook a special exhibition tour at Gheongwadae Sarangchai, which is a comprehensive promotion centre designed to shed light on the history of Korea’s former presidents and the country’s traditional culture. A visitor is given the opportunity to take pictures with the presidential gift items and replicas of the president’s office and his car.

We later visited the magnificent Blue House or Cheong Wa Dae. It is the building with blue roof tiles, which is the executive office and residence of the president. It is located near the Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is the main royal residence of the Joseon Dynasty of 1392 to 1910. Also, it stands at the foreground of the imposing Bugaksan Mountain. Actually, it is considered one of the greenest areas of Seoul.

Day 5: We attended the Smart Tech Korea 2019, an exhibition event, where technology companies displayed quite a range of products and services. Exhibit items include Artificial Intelligence, 5G, big data/block chain, virtual reality and smart factory/robot. The Korea Technology (KT) company took us round their pavilion with display of the historical development of the 5G programme. Also, we met a cross section of start-ups who are becoming players in the Korean technology ecosystem.

Koreans have been practising Buddhism for more than 1,700 years. We visited the traditional Buddhist temple, known as Bongeunsa. It is a place where worshippers believe that monastic adherents purify their minds and bodies.

The temple is located at Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu in the centre of Seoul city. It is where many distinguished masters who carry on the Seon (meditation) legacy of Korean Buddhism were produced. Today, Bongeunsa plays the important role of spreading Korean Buddhism and culture, both at home and around the world.

Day 6:  We went for a sight-seeing at the Seoul Tower, which is the fifth tallest building in the world, with 123 floors. Although the tour guide explained the technological aspects involved in the construction of the tower, I was greatly overwhelmed by the details. The only thing I can remember is her assurance about the measures undertaken to ensure that visitors are quite safe at the edifice.

By lunch time, we had meals at a prestigious Korean Restaurant with our host agency, the KOCIS. At the end, the director of Foreign Media Relations, Jae Hwan Kim, offered each participant a parting gift. The occasion was very enjoyable and memorable.

We were taken to the Global Knowledge Exchange and Development Centre (GKED), located in the Hongneung National Policy Research Centre. We learnt about how the nation grew from an agrarian to a technology-based economy, rising from being one of the poorest countries in the world to becoming the 11th largest economy on earth. This feat was achieved through tenacity, hard work and the dedication of Korean citizens.

The historical Korean journey to greatness is both fascinating and encouraging to people of developing countries like Nigeria. It gives one the hope that achieving such remarkable transformation is quite possible.

The hope came from the encouraging submissions of Prof Joon-Kyung Kim, who delivered a lecture on, “Overview of Korean Economic Development” to our group. According to him, the factors responsible for Korea’s rapid economic development are “export-oriented, market-friendly policies, human capital development and an innovation-driven economy (by expanding technical and engineering education and establishing a nucleus of research and development laboratories), and good governance.”

Kim went on to submit that Korea’s large export items by 1960 were iron ore, tungsten, silk, squid and anthracite. But by 2017, they were replaced with semi-conductors, automobiles, petroleum products, ships and display. He stated that Korea was one of the few countries where “shared growth” had made it relatively easy for the national economy to grow “with relatively low income inequality.”

In summary, the lessons from Korea’s experience demonstrate that attaining broad-based development means ensuring that growth in a market economy must be accompanied with broad social benefits to all. Growth policies also need to ensure poverty reduction, social equity and environmental quality, which are factors that make a more open and tolerable society.

Day 7: On June 29, by 1:35am, Mohammedamin Mokarrami from Iran and I began our trips back to our respective countries. The eleven-hour flight to Addis Ababa from Seoul and that of four hours from Addis Ababa to Kano were long enough for me to recap the major activities of my eventful visit to Korea.

from a senior research fellow at the KOBIS, John-ho Lee was: “Spread knowledge to your public if you want to succeed in development.” Nonetheless, Lee cautioned, “When you provide excessive protection to your children, they tend to refuse to grow up.”

In the afternoon, we visited the Ministry of Science and ICT, where we were received by the director, ICT and Broadcasting, Park Tae Wan. He briefed us about Korea’s highly successful 5G project, which is mainly used as key strategy to support the nation’s current ‘fourth industrial revolution.’ By December 2018, Korea became the first country in the world to roll out commercial consumer service on 5G network. It has already attained a subscriber base of up to one million while delivering 800 to 1000 mega pixel per second service via smart phones. Korea is already targeting ‘smart factory’ with industrial technology-based management and expertise.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), for example, is taking centre stage in Korea’s strategic planning for the future. These are true indicators of opportunities to be exploited, anywhere, for the common good of humanity.

Our next visit was to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education that has the mandate to provide “innovative education, which cultivates creative democratic citizens.”  The director-general of the Education Policy Bureau, Kun Ho Park explained that they were mainly concerned about providing children with “innovative future education,” which ultimately “promotes a balanced development of intellect, sensibility and character.” The key to achieving this is through creating “classrooms full of questions,” where students study and live, while thinking creatively; “schools with friendships,” where students are nurtured to be “considerate of one another and socialise well in all education spaces,” and “life-cultivating education” that “uncovers the true value of life. Invariably, the target remains in providing “innovative education towards the future for the happiness of all.”

Just like Nigeria, the Korean educational system contains the basic school type of 6-3-3-4 (elementary, middle, high and university). In addition, special education is being offered, which caters for students with disability; alternative education meant for school dropouts, maladjusted or those wishing to receive education that fits their personal traits. Equally, provision is made to offer opportunities to develop students with artistic sensibilities, creativity, self-motivation and self-confidence. These efforts are to ensure that every child is appropriately developed with knowledge that suits his/her capacity and capability.

I strongly believe that Nigeria’s education planners could borrow from these laudable Korean initiatives.

Day 3: We visited three places that are of importance to my areas of specialisation – radio, television and film. They are the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), the Korean Film Museum, both at the Theme Park in Seoul; and the Studio Cube at Daejeon, a two-hour drive from Seoul.

The massive MBC complex houses both radio and television stations. We were received on arrival by Jean Hur, who is the director, Content Promotion. She conducted us round the facilities while offering useful explanations about the corporation, which was established in 1961.As you move into the hall, you will encounter an area that gives you a panorama of the corporation’s history displayed in a pictorial form and made up of personalities, facilities (used through the period of the corporation’s existence) and staff who earned laurels through the course of time as ‘Golden Mouth Awardees.’ We were made to feature in a mock MBC news presentation, with this author as the anchor.

We proceeded to visit the Korean Film Museum. It was an opportunity to experience the one-century-old Korean cinema. As the history of the medium unfolds in the country, Korean films were categorised by three key terms: Modern, Colonial and Joseon (the early Korean films made during Japanese colonial rule).

Instructively, my Korean visit has truly directed my thoughts to Nigeria’s movie industry, Nollywood, which is being celebrated as either the third or second largest producer of film titles in the world. It produces over 2,000 movies annually, yet the Korean initiative deserves to serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria to have a truly formidable film archive of national pride and international repute. Nigeria’s Ambassador to Korea, Alhaji Aminu Dalhatu, narrated how a movie from Nigeria, ‘Up North,’ was screened at the recently concluded Africa Week in Seoul and it received laudable acceptance of the audience.

We visited Studio Cube at Daejeon, a city of a two-hour drive from Seoul, where the commitment of the Korean government to the creative enterprise was truly demonstrated by providing the facility to reinforce the competitiveness of the nation’s broadcasting and film content industry. The facility, which was established in 2017, has a 4,960 square meter area, consisting of special effects studio with four-plane Chroma key that enables one to achieve many forms of special effects. All the studios are equipped with battens for multiple lighting and set applications. There are camera chain facilities for rental as well. It is no wonder, therefore, that Studio Cube has already handled 28 productions in the two years of its existence. As a matter of fact, we saw an ongoing production project of Netflix’s ‘Kingdom’ being shot at the facility.

The sight of the facilities and the activities going on at Studio Cube made me to soberly cast my mind back to Nigeria, making some wishes – that the dormant and neglected dream of establishing the Abuja International Film Village materialises and the aborted or suspended proposal of a Federal Film Village realised.