Every May 15 in Korea, we celebrate Teacher’s Day. Even though each country may celebrate Teacher’s Day on different days or not celebrate it at all, I believe that all of us appreciate teachers just the same.

The Asia Journalist Association, which can be said to be the roots of The AsiaN has organized dinners each year since 2009 in commemoration of Teacher’s Day. At this year’s Teacher’s Day dinner, held on the evening of May13th at the Press Center in Seoul, The AsiaN’s 86 year-old columnist and nature lover Park Sang-seol, former head of the Korea military academy Min Byung-don, former president of the Journalists Association of Korea Lee Hyung Gyun, Correspondent for Turkey Cihan News Agency Alpago Sinasi as well as more than 20 other teachers and young people participated and shared their love and gratitude. One commonality of all the teachers was their humble approach to life and others despite all their achievements.

On May 10 to 11, some Junior AJA members, who are international students studying in Korea, went on a trip to Chungnam, Yesan-gun. The students, who were from Egypt, Belgium, Ethiopia, Mexico and China, visited an exhibition of more than 300 wild flowers held by Yewha Girls’ High School, experienced sleeping in a Korean traditional house, and visited the “slow” city’s monthly market, a Confucian school and Sudeok Temple. Hossam, a graduate student at Korea Development Institute (KDI) shared, “I could learn much by visiting this small rural city in Korea and see how the traditional and modern blended. When I return back to Egypt, I would like to contribute to the establishment of an Egyptian development institute based on the Korean development model.”

“If we help one another, happiness with come to us instead of the impossible.” May this saying give you strength throughout the month of May.

May 15, 2013

Sincerely,
Lee Sang-ki, CEO & Publisher of the AsiaN

www.theasian.asia

kor.theasian.asia

cn.theasian.asia

ar.theasian.asia