Shawdesh Desk:

The Government of the Republic of Korea has decided to support the installation of ‘Window on Korea’ (WOK), through the National Library of Korea, at the library of the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) this year.

This programme is expected to increase understanding and interest in Korean culture and history in Bangladesh by providing a wide range of books and materials related to Korea.

Under this programme, the National Library of Korea will provide the cost of facility equipment such as computer, chairs, desk and signboard as well as books and materials related to Korea up to 1,500 to 3000 volumes in the first year and 200 volumes yearly during the next 5 years, said the Korean Embassy in Dhaka on Monday (Jan 31).

IUB will be the first university hosting the Window on Korea and the second university hosting a Korea devoted section in the library after the Dhaka University.

Dhaka University installed the Korea Corner at its Central Library in 2013 through the support of the Korea Foundation (KF). In addition to the Window on Korea, IUB is expected to host a King Sejong Institute, a Korean language education program, this year with the support of King Sejong Institute Foundation of Korea.

IUB has been playing an important role in promoting academic and cultural relations between Korea and Bangladesh by providing various programs such as Korean Cinema and Society course at the Department of Media and Communication since 2014.

The University’s IUB K-Club, a voluntary students group which has over 200 members has been organizing regularly various cultural events such as Korean film night and K-pop festival.

In cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the University has also been providing venues for TOPIK, Test of Proficiency in Korean, Korean Speech Contest and other Korean culture related programs.

Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun expressed his hope that the ‘Window on Korea’ could better accommodate the growing interest in and demand of Korean culture and language of the Bangladesh youths and play a significant role in promoting the cultural and people-to-people ties between Korea and Bangladesh.