Mr. Song Il Seok, Consul for Education of the Republic of Korea in Irkutsk, visited Baikal State University on October 12. The visit was a result of the April meeting of Victor V. Ignatenko, Rector of BSU, with the delegation of the Korean Consulate, and the agreements reached during that meeting.

Representatives of the university and the Consulate discussed the issues of development and organization of scientific and educational cooperation with the six priority for BSU Korean universities, an increase in the Korean language being taught, as well as the establishment of a Center for Korean studies.

Mikhail P. Kuz'min, Vice-Rector for International Relations of BSU, mentioned that currently five Korean students are studying Bachelor's degree programs at the university, three students are taking Russian language courses, and 20 Russian students are studying Korean as a second foreign language.

"BSU has the essential potential to increase the number of Korean students and develop academic mobility, as it implements a wide range of promissing programs both in Russian and in English, and carries out various research projects in the areas of priority for the Korean and the Russian sides. The university administration believes that the establishment of the Center for Korean studies supported by the Academy of Korean Studies and the Korean Foundation can be a powerful impetus for the development of bilateral relations", noted Mikhail P. Kuz'min.

Mr. Song Il Seok noted that there's a wide range of promissing areas for cooperation between Baikal State University and Korean universities in education, science and culture, and thanked for assistance in organizing the Korean film festival. We are ready to assist in making contacts with Korean educational institutions, organizing and holding exhibitions, festivals, as well as expanding the methodological base for teaching the Korean language.

Continuing his words, the Consul presented to BSU a set of educational and methodological literature (self-teaching guides, textbooks, workbooks etc.), that are necessary for learning one of the most popular languages in South-East Asia. In addition, the future translators recieved branded bags made of envinronmentally friendly materials and protective masks that can contribute to the common cause of preventing the spread of COVID-19.