At a highly colorful ceremony, the Ambassador of Korea to Uganda H.E Park Jong Dae launched the Korea Corner at Makerere University Main Library on 6th August 2014.  The launch was as a result of long term relationship between Makerere University and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uganda, to enhance the learning and teaching of Korean language in the institution.

According to the University Librarian Prof. Maria Musoke, the corner was set up to promote cultural and academic exchanges between Makerere University and South Korea. To achieve this, Prof. Musoke said, the corner will be stocked with reading materials computer facilities to help the students to acquire knowledge and skills on Korean language and culture.

“I thank the members of the Korean Embassy and the School of Languages Literature and Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) for coming up with such a fruitful initiative of setting up a Korea corner in the Main Library. I do believe that this corner will be instrumental in enhancing the students’ skills in the language. Makerere University started teaching Korean language in 2012 and I am grateful that the corner will be a source of information and data to our students” Prof. Musoke remarked.

The University Librarian emphasised that the Library Management was not privatizing portions of the library by setting up the Korea Corner, but instead noted that, “This is going to help in renovation, expansion and development of Library,” she added.

Through his speech read by the Dean of Students Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, said that the presence of the Korea Corner as the specialized section in the Main Library, will give Makerere an opportunity to establish strong ties with other academic institutions in Korea for purposes of capacity building.

“As the leading institution in the region, Makerere University is passionate about innovations through knowledge, transfer partnerships and networking.  We are keen to use every opportunity available to us, to embrace new frontiers of innovation. Makerere University is set to host the First Foreign Languages Conference later this month and I am glad that this corner will be operational by then for the conference participants to see the depth we have gone in embracing multilingualism,” read the Vice Chancellor’s speech.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Uganda H.E Park Jong Dae said that, opening up a corner in the Makerere University Main Library, is one of the activities lined up to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Uganda this year.

“We had this idea of introducing Korean language, culture and education in Uganda, as a way of strengthening the diplomatic ties between Uganda and South Korea. We had to look for a place where the public can better access the information and data on Korean culture. After several meetings with my colleagues we agreed that Makerere University Main Library was the best place because students here have free access to the library and I am very happy that the University has provided us with some space,” said the Ambassador.

Located on Level Two of the Makerere University Main Library, the Korea Corner will comprise of a well stocked Korean bookstore, wall hangings (Paintings/pictures), Korean cultural wear, movies, Korean educational information, computer facilities and class room for conducting lectures on Korean language.  The corner will be manned by a Korean teacher (KOICA Volunteer) to teach the Korean language course as well as guide and assist all those who come to the corner.

By Prossy Nabatte, Intern, Public Relations Office