They crossed thousands of kilometers to come to Palestine in an attempt to share their culture and to express a genuine desire to spread peace across the globe. This was the mission of a Korean student delegation that visited An-Najah National University on Wednesday, February 1, 2006, and participated in a day-long cultural exchange program organized by An-Najah Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Palestine branch of the Institute of Asian Culture & Development (IACD). The program included several activities that were designed to introduce Palestinian students to Korean culture and Korean students to Palestinian culture.Korean students performed several traditional songs as well as songs that expressed their wishes and hopes for peace to come to Palestine. In a reciprocal fashion, Palestinian students from An-Najah music department played several Arabic classical music pieces followed by an energetic Dabkah music. Several students performed a collection of famous Dabkah dances like “Dalona” and “Zareef Al Tool” and taught some Korean students how to perform the basic steps of the dances. The spirit of spontaneity and open interaction between Korean and Palestinian students produced a greatly joyous atmosphere of cultural exchange.
The program also included a slide presentation and lecture about contemporary Palestinian political history and culture followed by a discussion on the current political situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in light of the recent changes after the Palestinian Legislative Elections. A basketball match was also organized to foster the friendship between the two sides. Additionally, An-Najah Taekwondo team gave a brief demonstration of skills in this famous Korean sport.At the end of this cultural exchange day, the Director of the Public Relations Department Mr. Saed Abu-Hijleh presented the University Emblem to Dr. Min Sung-Ho and to Mr. Jong H. Yoo from IACD in appreciation for their efforts in organizing this delegation to An-Najah. And the coordinator of the Zajel Youth Exchange Program Mr. Ala Abu-Idhair followed suit and presented the Korean students with a Palestinian flag as a gift in an expression of admiration for their endeavors to build cultural bridges with the Palestinian people.