[미디어펜=김규태기자] 지난 12일 송종환 주 파키스탄 대사는 파키스탄 고등교육위원회(HEC)가 주최한 파-한 교육, 연구 및 스포츠 연계 행사에 주빈으로 참석했다. 동 행사에는 Muhkhtar Ahmed 고등교육위원회(HEC) 위원장 및 임직원, 대사관 관계직원, Atif Faraz 국립외국어대학교 한국어과 교수, 한국 유학 경험자 및 한국 유학에 관심을 갖고 있는 학생, Pakistan Observer, Centerline지 기자 등 200여 명이 참석했다.

동 행사에서는 연세대, 한양대 등에서 박사학위를 받은 후 HEC 등 관계 기관에서 근무하는 5명이 한국 유학 경험담을 발표하면서 한국유학의 기회를 준 고등교육위원회(HEC)와 한국 정부 및 대학의 지원에 감사함을 표하고, 한국의 선진 교육 시스템 및 한국인들의 친절함과 근면함에 대하여 높이 평가했다.

파키스탄 고등교육위원회(HEC) 위원장은 현재까지 446명의 파키스탄 학생들이 한국 대학의 석박사 과정에 참여하여 파키스탄의 인적자원 개발에 크게 기여하였고, 향후에도 지속적인 한-파 교육협력을 희망하였습니다.

▲ 지난 12일 송종환 주 파키스탄 대사는 파키스탄 고등교육위원회(HEC)가 주최한 파-한 교육, 연구 및 스포츠 연계 행사에 주빈으로 참석했다. 사진은 관계직원들과 송 대사가 얘기를 나누는 모습.

송 대사는 한국이 ‘한강의 기적’을 이룩한 것처럼 파키스탄이 ‘인더스강의 기적’을 실현할 수 있도록 한국에서 공부하고 돌아온 인재들이 각자의 분야에서 파키스탄의 변화의 주역들이 되어 주기를 당부했다.

송 대사의 격려사 전문은 아래와 같다.

Dr. Song Jong-hwan
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea

HEC Seminar with Korean Alumni-2015.10.12

Professor Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Chairman Higher Education Commission,
Professor Dr. G. Raza Bhatti, Executive Director of Higher Education Commission,
Senior Officials, Respected Faculty,
Distinguished Guests, and graduates of Korean universities,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As-Salaam-o-Alaikum, Good Morning,

Our embassy has labeled October as Korea month, in which more than a dozen events have been arranged. One of them is the Pakistan-Republic of Korea Education, Research and Sports Linkages event at the HEC. I would like to thank the HEC chairman, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad and appreciate the HEC for organizing today’s event.

I would like to speak very candidly today. As ambassador I attend numerous functions and seminars but I have never been happier and felt more pride in attending an event than I feel today. The reason is that you, the graduates of Korean universities, are the living testament to the excellence of the Korean education system. It would give me a great joy to know that graduates of Korean universities are amongst the most successful people in Pakistan.

I would like to quickly share some recent Korean history with you. The Republic of Korea rose above the ordeals of partition, war and absolute poverty and achieved industrialization and democratization within a short span of time and became one of the top 15 economies in the world. From the end of World War II till now about 140 countries have gained independence. Of all these countries, Korea was the first to change from an aid recipient country to a donor country in 2010.

Korean per capita income in 1960 was less than $80. Now Korean per capita income is more than twenty-eight thousand dollars! Korea’s trade volume has been more than one trillion dollars since 2011. This progress is called the ‘Miracle of the Han River’.

There are many reasons that Korea was able to achieve this miracle. One of them is Korea’s focus and dedication to education. Today Korea’s literacy rate is almost 98%.

As Her Excellency Korean President Park Geun-hye said at the 70th UN General Assembly “Education is the key sustainable development agenda that helps empower the individual and achieve national development”. Korea hosted the World Educational Forum with UNESCO last May, which adopted the ‘Incheon Declaration’ to set the global education standards to be achieved by 2030.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my dream to see Pakistan’s ‘Miracle of the Indus River’ similar to the miracle we experienced in Korea. And you are the best candidates to be the agents of change in Pakistan.

I am convinced my dream of the ‘Miracle of the Indus River’ will come true with Korean help. Korea is already helping this dream become a reality in 3 ways:

Korea is helping Pakistan to achieve the ‘Miracle of the Indus River’ with the EDCF (Economic Development Cooperation Fund). The 2015-2017 EDCF Framework Agreement amounting to five hundred million dollars was signed on 2nd October in Islamabad. Under the signed Framework Arrangement, various projects in Road Infrastructure, Agriculture, Information Technology and Health Sector will be completed.

A number of grant projects are being undertaken by KOICA, the Korean Aid Agency under the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Korea is also providing scholarships to Pakistani students to study in Korea. I can promise you that I will make my best efforts to help realize the Miracle of the Indus River.

I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
Shukria!  

▲ 송 대사는 파키스탄 고등교육위원회(HEC)가 주최한 파-한 교육, 연구 및 스포츠 연계 행사에서 격려사를 통해 “한국이 ‘한강의 기적’을 이룩한 것처럼 파키스탄이 ‘인더스강의 기적’을 실현할 수 있도록 한국에서 공부하고 돌아온 인재들이 각자의 분야에서 파키스탄의 변화의 주역들이 되어 주기”를 당부했다.