Talkback Classroom comes to South Korea
30 June 2006
Two Australian secondary school students visiting South Korea to study prospects for peace and reunification will question a key Korean government adviser next week in the National Museum of Australia’s first Asian Talkback Classroom.
The students – Georgina Sneddon, of Canberra, and Isaac Wright, of Boorowa – have been working with two South Korean High School students, Minyoung Rhee and Dongwook Oh to interview Dr. Moon Chung-In on the future of peace and reunification on the Korean peninsula.
In Australia, Georgina attends St Francis Xavier College, Canberra, and Isaac attends Boorowa Central School in southern New South Wales.
Prior to their departure to Korea, Georgina and Isaac interviewed the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, and the Republic of Korea’s Ambassador to Australia, Cho Chang-beom.
In Korea, the students have gained a deeper understanding of reunification through briefings with experts from the United Nations International Crisis Group, the United States and Australian embassies, the Korean War Memorial Museum, the Korean Development Institute and visited the Demilitarized Zone on the 38th parallel.
The guest, Dr. Moon, is professor of political science at Yonsei University. He accompanied former president Kim Dae-jung to the historic Pyongyang Korean summit in June 2000 and is currently Presidents Roh’s special envoy on international affairs.
The Talkback Classroom interview can be seen at EBS Womyun-dong Studio 1 (next to KEDI building) from 11.30am to 2pm EST on Monday, 3rd July.
The students’ trip and the forum will be the subject of a television documentary produced by EBS TV. This network will also host the forum on 3rd July and provide a satellite link from Seoul to the National Museum in Canberra, where a student audience will be able to participate.
Talkback Classroom is a National Museum program that gives students access to key public figures as part of the civics curriculum. Guests have included Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Governor-General Major-General Michael Jeffery.
This international forum has been made possible with the generous assistance of the Australia-Korea Foundation, established by the Australian Government in 1992 to extend the links between the peoples of Australia and Korea.
For more information please contact Ms Hyo-jin Lee, Executive Officer (Korea), Australia-Korea Foundation, Australian Embassy Seoul, Tel : 2003-0168, Fax : 723-7732.