NORTHEAST ASIAN HISTORY FOUNDATION 07/2022
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Yeo Byeong-mu, Professor, International University of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
‘Mongolian History Teachers Workshop’
At eight o’clock in the morning, I opened the lobby door. The door did not open easily, just like my body, exhausted from a cold. ‘Hi!’ It’s a familiar voice. I looked up. It was students who prepared for today's workshop until late last night. Korean Studies students, with bright smiles, guided people through the maze-like passage leading to the workshop area. They must have been tired after hanging up banners, cleaning the area, and preparing snacks, but the corners of my mouth turned up naturally at their bright smile. Chimge and Aja, who took Korean history last semester, registered participants and distributed workshop materials. Minje and Bila volunteered to help, saying they might as well study the Goryeo Dynasty.
At the end of May every year, the International University of Ulaanbaatar holds the ‘Mongolian History Teachers Workshop’ for history teachers in Mongolia. It targets about 30 history and social studies teachers recommended by the Ulaanbaatar Office of Education and teachers and professors teaching Korean studies for 50 teachers. This year's topic was "The History and Cultural Exchanges between Mongolia and Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty." K-drama broadcasts on Mongolian TV are very popular. History teachers had difficulty answering questions about the main characters in dramas like Jumong, Heo Jun, Dae Jo-yeong, and Korean history. They hope this workshop will resolve some of the difficulties they experienced. I have heard that some teachers have visited Korea in the past. I was also looking forward to being selected as an excellent teacher this time and given a chance to visit Korea.
Hearing More about Korea for the First Time
Korea is the hottest topic in Mongolia, which chose economic development as the country's key challenge. Most Mongolians have at least one close relative or friend living in Korea. When I hear the news that someone I know became successful in Korea, I feel envious sometimes. I have always been curious about Korea, the land of opportunity, after seeing students singing along to K-pop and watching Korean dramas. Samsung and LG TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and mobile phones almost monopolize electronics stores.
I have been teaching history after graduating from college. Still, it was not easy to dream of personal growth in the tight field of education, and there were few opportunities to gain new knowledge. I did not learn Korean history much in college because most of my studies were on Western history and Chinese history. With my modest salary, it was not easy to purchase books related to Korean history. I was always sorry to the students for not reflecting on the latest research results in class. This workshop was like a welcoming shower in the middle of a drought.
Goryeo is “Goiling Ols” in Mongolian. This is the first time teachers have heard so much about Gosling Ols. The teachers were intrigued to hear that soju, found in Korean restaurants in Mongolia, originated from Mongolia and that Mongolian clothing influenced Goryeo. I also learned that Goryeo’s culture was quite popular in the Yuan Dynasty, just like today's Korean Wave.
The happiest time during the workshop was lunchtime. I had a Korean lunch box filled with rice, sea mustard soup, and side dishes such as spicy stir-fried pork, kimchi, chicken, pickled radish, and cabbage salad. Samgyeopsal (pork belly), jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork), and galbijjim (braised short ribs) are the most popular dishes enjoyed by Mongolians. No one said they were spicy. The lunch box was emptied clean without leaving a single side dish. Our conversations during the short lunchtime over simple refreshments and drinks were also pleasing. It does not have to be a buffet or a separate dinner as it used to be in the past.
Workshop that Raised Curiosity about Korea
A question and answer session followed all of the lectures. The teachers asked questions during the lecture and shared their impressions about today's workshop. A teacher said, "The content of today's workshop was interesting. I wanted to learn Korean. I also wanted to know more about Korean history." Another teacher said, "I learned that Mongolia and Korea have many cultural similarities. I am grateful that I learned a lot of new facts today." Another teacher said, “I couldn’t learn professional knowledge after I graduated. I was happy to learn new knowledge. It was a great day.”
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- Northeast Asia History Network
- Northeast Asia History Library
- DOKDO Research Institute
- DOKDO Museum Seoul
- Education and Training
