Imphal, January 02 2008: THE REPUBLIC of Korea is interested in facilitating the opening of a new Korean language studies centre in Manipur University.

This was conveyed by the Korean Ambassador, Mr Young Sun Bak during a meeting with state Education Minister Langpoklakpam Jayanta Kumar at the Korean Embassy in New Delhi on December 30 last.

The meeting focused on the introduction of Korean Studies in Manipur University and the exchange of cultural programmes and cooperation in economy with Manipur.

Assuring that his government intends to open such a centre in Manipur University, the Ambassador said that the proposed centre will cater to people who would like to learn Korean either at the primary level or at high school level.

It will also include short term courses such as one-year diploma courses for professional skill workers who want to learn Korean to avail job opportunities in Korea.

The Republic of Korea will provide the required teachers, study materials and other requirements, he expressed, urging the state government to submit a written proposal at the earliest to enable them to translate the assurance into action in the near future.

Education Minister L Jayanta Kumar told the Ambassador that Manipur has around six lakh unemployed youths and appealed to the Korean Government to help in training the youth of Manipur so that the "Korean wave" that is coming over to Manipur and Northeast India can be channelised in the right way.

On behalf of the Chief Minister of Manipur, he also extended an invitation to the Ambassador and his team to visit Manipur.

The invitation was wholeheartedly accepted by the Ambassador who mentioned that if they do come to Manipur, they will come with a cultural troupe.

The Korean team further promised that they will welcome an academic tour of a team of Manipur to visit Korea in the near future to nurture a people to people contact.

The delegation from Manipur headed by the Education Minister also included Director of Education (S) and Additional Secretary of Education Mangsatabam Harekrishna and social worker Naoroibam Ratan (Kapu) Meetei.

The Korean delegation comprised the Ambassador, Mr Young Sun Bak, Cultural Secretary of Korea, Mr Seung Ho Kim and Professor JK Kin of JNU.

This is the second such meeting between Manipuri delegates and Korean government for extending collaboration.

The first meeting was held on October 10 last.

The Korean Ambassador and his team were presented with Kokyet and khadangyet.

Besides several ethnic clothes such as Tangkhul Haora, Khongsai phi and Leiroom phi were given to the Ambassador and other team members.

The ambassador's wife was gifted Kabui phi and Phanek.

Besides, Kangjei and a basket of oranges from Tamenglong were also given to the delegation by the Manipuri team.

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