1. The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Korea, together with Korea Broadcasting Station (KBS) World and The People's Daily network of China, will hold the 2014 ROK-China Public Diplomacy Camp in Seoul from June 8 through 13. The event will come as part of measures to strengthen the ROK-China cooperation on public diplomacy in accordance with the joint statement adopted after the bilateral summit talks on July 3.

2. The Camp themed “a trip of heart and trust” will bring together some 60 youths from various sectors, including media, academia and businesses, of the ROK and China. The youths from the two countries will spend six days together learning about each other and engaging in in-depth debates on matters of mutual concern. The Chinese youngsters will also take the opportunity to learn about and have first-hand experience of Korean culture ranging from its traditional culture to Hallyu (Korean Wave).

3. Despite the geographical proximity as well as historical and cultural exchanges and bond between the two countries, the mutual impressions and the level of emotional bond between the younger generations of the two countries have yet to match the level of the ties between the two countries. To help them strengthen their bond, “Public Diplomacy Talk (100ºC for Korea-China Future)” has been organized as one of the key programs of the Camp for them to have candid conversations and communicate with each other.

ο The participants will discuss ways for their two countries to develop together as cooperation partners into the future in various fields, including society, culture and economy; and what the younger generations of the two countries can do together to boost bilateral cultural exchanges.

4. In addition, the participants will visit the production studios of Korean soap operas and K-pop programs -- sites of creative economy and Hallyu; and attend a lecture on storytelling. These programs have been arranged to meet the recent interest and demand of the young Chinese in these fields.

5. The participants will also visit provincial cities representative of Buddhism and Confucianism shared by the two countries to retrace the Chinese footsteps in Korea. They will also visit the five best tourist attractions in Seoul, including Namsangol Hanok (traditional house) Village to have first-hand experience of traditional and contemporary cultures of Korea.

6. The Camp will take place at a time when the ROK and China are closer than ever before following President Park Geun-hye’s state visit China in June 2013 and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the ROK on July 3 and 4. 2014. As such, it is expected to serve as an opportunity to demonstrate the willingness of the two countries to conduct two-way, people-friendly people-to-people and cultural exchanges and to build heart-felt trust between the younger generations of the two countries. 


                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation