From Korean language classes to disaster relief, one woman's mission in Fukushima
FUKUSHIMA, Japan — For years, Chung Hyun-suk, a Korean living in Fukushima, Japan, devoted herself to teaching Korean language and culture, building ties between local residents and her home country. But the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan in 2011 transformed her mission from cultural exchange to disaster relief and, eventually, community welfare. Chung, 65,…
Fukushima resident Chung Hyun-suk, a Korean woman, has transformed her mission from teaching Korean language and culture to disaster relief and community welfare following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Chung founded Fukukan Net, a nonprofit organization promoting cultural exchanges, in 2001 when opportunities to learn Korean language and culture in Fukushima were limited.
The organization peaked in the early 2000s, with its Korean language program attracting around 400 students, largely due to the popularity of the Korean drama Winter Sonata. However, the disaster that struck in 2011 led Chung to shift her focus to assisting refugees and providing disaster relief.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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