The first CPI Reunion in Mongolia 23 August 2019
KOFICE has been holding CPI Reunions overseas since 2016 in order to create a network between the participants and actively promote continued cultural exchange. It was held in Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and in 2019, the first CPI Reunion in Mongolia was held on August 23rd in Ulaanbaatar.
There have been about 130 Mongolian participants who participated in the CPI program from 2005 through 2018, they had shown great interest for a CPI reunion. On the day of the event, over 60 participants who attended the reunion extended their gratitude to KOFICE for hosting the reunion, which allowed them to share their pride to be CPI participants. Not only the personnel from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea but also people from the Mongolian National University of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Korea attended this event.
The reunion opened with greetings from Park Jongsup, cultural exchange project director at KOFICE, followed by congratulatory message from Park Eunjeong, First Secretary of Korean Embassy, and the introduction of the accomplishments of CPI programs as well as the active post-training activities of the Mongolian participants, which received a big round of applause from the attendees.
Lkhagvasuren Molomjamts (The Foundation for Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage of Mongolia), who was 2011 CPI of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation in 2011, mentioned in his presentation on the cases of cultural exchange occurring in the field of Intangible Cultural Heritage between Korea and Mongolia that the CPI programs are serving as a successful stepping stone for cultural exchange between the two countries.
The event also featured an exciting performance of traditional Mongolian music by performers including many participants from the Chungbuk People's Art Federation, which stole the attention of the audience. The final performance of “Arirang” was the perfect ending to the program, leaving a lasting impression on all in attendance.
Sharav Ljilmurun (2011, National Theatre of Korea), who was appointed as the first president of the Mongolian alumni association at the reunion, spoke on her aspiration to strengthen the cultural capacity of the participants and promote friendship between them by creating a strong network among Mongolian participants.
This reunion was an opportunity for us to meet the Mongolian participants who are actively engaged in key areas of Mongolia, whose careers were propelled by their training in Korea. We were also able to see that the results of the program continue to expand and that the training experience in Korea remains a fond memory to the participants. With this reunion as a momentum, KOFICE will continue to support and to develop network with/among CPI participants around the world.
Participant Interview
QUESTION 01
How were you able to maintain lasting relationships with other participants over the years?
All the participants were actively engaged in the field of art and culture, which enabled us to meet through our work, and we got even closer over the course of the CPI training period. Through social media, such as Facebook and group chats, we kept in touch and could maintain our friendship consistently over the years. (Batjantsan Khishigzaya, 2008)
QUESTION 02
This was the first CPI Reunion in Mongolia. What do you hope to see happening in the future through this event?
Now that we have appointed a president of the alumni association, I would like the alumni association to establish meaningful projects that could contribute to the cultural exchange between Mongolia and Korea by coming up with plans to create alumni association websites or devise more systematic and detailed ways to organize its members. (Damjin Davaasuren, 2008)
Participant Survey
1. Have you ever visited to Korea after CPI program?
2. CPI Program helped enhance participant’s expertise in your field?
Strongly disagree (0%) / Disagree (0%) / Somewhat agree(0%)3. Overall, Mongolian Reunion was satisfied.
Strongly disagree (0%) / Disagree (0%) / Somewhat agree(0%)4. What do you expect the most of Mongolian CPI Reunion? (Multiple Selection Available)
support
from KOFICE.
between Mongolian
CPI participants.
in various fields
in Mongolia.
and collaborating
with Mongolian
CPI participants.
