The Ambassador of South Korea to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, Mr. Lee In – Tae has admonished students at the University of Liberia that it takes education to develop a country, as he shares the Korean experience with the audience during a one – day lecture at the University’s Fendall campus.
In a power presentation which was followed by questions and answers both from students and staff at the University recently, Amb. Lee explains that just as Liberian people suffered civil war, his country South Korea also suffered war.
But he notes that after the Korean war, Koreans had the mind to invest both in human resource development and economic development which have brought the country to where it is.
Touching on South Korea’s scholarship programs to aid international students, Amb. Lee indicates that his country has two scholarship programs, one of which is a global scholarship program.According to him, if an applicant is approved of as successful for the scholarship, the Korean Government pays all the transportation, accommodation and allowance of that person, among others.
Lecturing on the topic “Growing the Liberian Economy through Education: the South Korean Model,” Amb. Lee explains that his country can import [crude oil], but then after refinery, it re-exports the product to other countries.With this business approach used by his country, Amb. Lee asks his audience during the lecture as to who is the winner in the business, as he goes on to answer in accord with the participants that Korea wins.
Also presenting on education, South Korean Deputy Head of Mission to Liberia Mr. Kim Dohwan says he believes the reason for which Korea’s education system could be successful is the focus on realizing potentials for people.
According to Mr. Kim, if more people are able to achieve higher education, it means you have more human resource of high quality education which could contribute to national development.
He adds that the more you have human resource of high quality, the more they contribute to economic development.Welcoming Amb. Lee and his Korean delegation at the University earlier, UL President Rev. Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson says it is a privilege to have the Korean envoy and his team at Fendall, less than 24 hours after presenting his letters of credence to the Visitor to the University and President of Liberia George Manneh Weah.
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“So it’s a privilege for me and the University Family to welcome you and your entourage to visit with us and share some ideas with us how we can prepare ourselves to move into this New Year, this new decade as a University Family,” Dr. Nelson says.Dr. Nelson notes that it’s a privilege that Amb. Lee had accepted to go to the University’s Fendall campus to share with the institution as it jumps into the future.By Winston W. Parley
