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We will work as a bridge between our country and Korea! Meet the 3 foreign trainees at KOICA More
KOICA's 30th Anniversary Special Feature Looking back at the 30 years of KOICA from 1991 to 2021 More
President of KOICA, Sohn Hyuk-sang 30th Anniversary Interview More
The 30th anniversary of KOICA, and KOICA's newsletter that have documented history From 'Global Village' to 'Together KOICA' More

You're 30? So am I! Meeting the 30-year-olds who have grown together with KOICA

You're 30? So am I! Meeting the 30-year-olds who have grown together with KOICA

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[We are KOICA] Meeting the 30-year-olds who have grown together with KOICA KOICA, Korea s representative organization for development cooperation, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. We talked about how to live life wisely with three KOICA family members who have spent their teens and 20s building the basis and have reached a stable phase at 30. Kim Tae-il I am Kim Tae-il, I joined KOICA on December 31, 2019 and is currently working in the national programs team. Jeon Ji-hyun I joined KOICA in 2018 and is currently working in the East Africa Office. I started at the end of the year and now it s my 4th year. Kim Soo-jin I am a third-year employee who joined on March 31, 2019. I am in charge of the Algeria/Tunisia project in the Middle East and Central Asia Office. Kim Tae-il I thought that when I was in my 30s, everything including my path would become clearer. But when I turned 30, I was only getting older and my worries remained the same. Jeon Ji-hyun There are many people who are afraid of turning 30 when in their late 20s, but I looked forward to it because I felt like I would be more mature and become an adult when I turn 30. Kim Soo-jin I actually felt like I was turning 30 when I became 28. I felt like I was already in my 30s. It was a process of finding answers in the past, but I felt pressure that I now actually have to know the answers. Kim Tae-il I entered my 30s on December 31, the end of my 29th year which was when I joined KOICA. What is different from my 20s is that I am thinking about how to develop competence and professionalism for the future, unlike before when I was preparing to join the agency.Jeon Ji-hyun I joined KOICA at the age of 28, so I turned 30 after two years of working. I myself feel that my capabilities have improved compared to then, and as I spend time thinking about what kind of work I will do in the future, I feel more motivated and have more strength to achieve what I want.Kim Soo-jin When I turned 30, I was in my second year at KOICA. 30 is an age that is considered an adult by others, but in reality, I was a newcomer with limited authority for what I could do at work. I was 30 years old but felt I was still young at the agency and had a long way to go.Kim Tae-il It was difficult to become financially independent before, but when I joined KOICA at 30, I thought, Now I can take responsibility for my life on my own . I feel like I have achieved real independence .Jeon Ji-hyun It was the opposite for me. I felt less pressure because people around me and my family didn t see me from the perspective of Now you have to be an adult . So entering my 30s was fun and it helped me to live more independently. It was also a motivation for me to go on with what I was supposed to do naturally.Kim Soo-jin Being the youngest in the family, their perspectives didn t change at all. The average age in KOICA is high in general, so I feel we are aging slowly together. These days, I want to put pressure on myself to become more mature, but at the same time I don t want to become a kkondae* (condescending older person) *kkondae: A slang noun used by young people to refer to a condescending and stubborn older person with an outdated way of thinking. It is usually attributed to older men. The characteristics and customs of the so-called kkondaes is called the kkondae culture .Kim Tae-il It differs depending on the friend, but when I meet friends working at companies, we usually talk about housing issues. Friends who are studying usually talk about how to improve their studies.Jeon Ji-hyun When we were in our 20s, we were searching for jobs, so we talked about what kind of company we would join or what our dreams are. Now most of us have jobs and are in a more stable stage of life, so we talk a lot about stocks and finance.Kim Soo-jin Everyone s life has diversified. When I was in my 20s, me and my friends usually went in the same direction in life, but now our directions have changed a lotdepending on the choices we made at that time. So, there are friends who talk about marriage, and there are friends who talk about stocks or real estate.Kim Tae-il Since financial income or investment is a trend recently, I worry about my financial investments. I think everyone around my age has similar concerns.Jeon Ji-hyun Similar to me, I talk a lot about housing and stocks. I also think a lot about what kind of career I should build at the agency.Kim Soo-jin I ve been assigned to Cameroon so I have to leave in two months. There are a lot of things to prepare and take care of before I leave. I have a lot of decisions I have to make and lots of worries, but the thought that is most stuck in my head is, How much will I have changed as a person when I come back from Cameroon?Kim Tae-il I am who I am now because of the decisions I made for the last 30 years. For the next 30 years I would have probably grown in professionalism and competency, so I want to use those traits and deliver it to others.Jeon Ji-hyun My dream is the same as before joining KOICA. My ultimate dream is to become a professor. I would like to teach young people ways to strengthen their international development cooperation capabilities based on my academic knowledge and project experience I accumulated at KOICA.Kim Soo-jin Putting my job aside, I want to be an independent person financially and not depend on people around me for health problems. Also, I want to be a fun person to be around even in my 60s. Kim Tae-il As I entered my 30s, I gained weight. Maybe a process of aging? I couldn t believe it at first but it was happening. So I started working out again and it s really fun. I lift weights and go jogging after work.Jeon Ji-hyun I like taking videos, so I recently started posting vlogs on YouTube. I m doing this because I want to record my daily life, and these days, it s the most fun thing for me. Kim Soo-jin Actually, I think I will regret it later if I say this (laughs), but recently, I ve been fangirling over a member of the boy group SF9, Rowoon. Originally, I had no interest in idols at all, but at some point I fell in love with them. Life became more fun (laughs).Jeon Ji-hyun I have been interested in diplomacy since childhood, and wanted to work for an international organization. Then I thought of applying to KOICA, an organization representing international development cooperation in Korea. I prepared for about a year, it was helpful to read a lot of development cooperation documents during my master s degree.Kim Tae-il I also wrote a thesis on international politics while doing my master s degree. I got to read papers on the authoritarian system. As I started working at an NGO, I was contemplating between academic study and field practice, so I joined KOICA to make some practical changes.Kim Soo-jin Since college, I naturally developed an interest in international development cooperation by visiting various countries, including developing countries. The opportunity arose and I got a job at the KOICA Research Center. I wanted to join KOICA because I was very satisfied with the working environment.Jeon Ji-hyun What surprised me is that the organization is younger than I thought, and there are many areas that are trying to make innovative changes. Also, personally, my goal in life is to be happy and have fun, and I think this is a place where I can work happily because the work-life balance is good and there are many opportunities for self-development.Kim Tae-il Before joining the agency, I perceived it as the group KOICA , but after becoming a member, I felt different things because I experience the micro details. But when I think that all my work contributes to the group KOICA, it motivates me for what I am doing.Kim Soo-jin Sometimes, while working, I wonder if I might form an anger addiction , a word I saw in a column(laughs). But there are times when the rewarding feeling is overwhelming. Every time I feel it I think, There is no way I could find such a rewarding job like this .Kim Tae-il Since the agency is paying a lot of attention to that part internally, I don t think I ve ever experienced it myself. Maybe I might laugh a little louder to my boss s jokes...(Laughs), but I don t think this is a kkondae culture.Kim Soo-jin Rather than the kkondae culture , I heard about the great in the old days . Approvals can be made electronically now, but in the past, documents were written by hand and delivered directly to the accounting office, which amazed me.Jeon Ji-hyun It s not something I ve experienced, but I heard that in the past, when a new employee wrote and reported a document, bosses were very strict about letter spacing, line spacing, and spelling. This is still very important of course, but I think they put more emphasis on the content. It became more flexible.Jeon Ji-hyun I get along a lot with juniors, but when I spend time with them, I ask personal questions like, Where do you live? Do you have a boyfriend (girlfriend)? before I realize. It might be rude to ask such a thing these days. So I sometimes become surprised with myself and think, Am I a kkondae? Kim Tae-il I was working on a YouTube project with an employee in his 20s. and there was a talk about buzzwords used by people in their 20s these days. I really couldn t understand the new buzzwords. So I thought that I had become a generation that could not communicate with young people (laughs).Kim Soo-jin I had a meal with my seniors and juniors. I thought that the middle-aged female boss who was there was obviously married. But a junior employee who was 5 years younger than me was surprised to find out that the boss was already married. Without realizing it, I thought that older people would have obviously gotten married. I was surprised to see that marriage is not taken for granted in people in their 20s.Jeon Ji-hyun I would like to express my pride and gratitude to be a part of KOICA. The agency worked hard traveling between offices in 47 countries amid times of unclear regulations and trial and error.Kim Tae-il I hope KOICA will become an institution that can further develop professionalism and demonstrate its capabilities to the world, like becoming a 30-year-old who have experienced the challenges of a teenager and the worries of a 20-year-old.Kim Soo-jin It s like what I want for myself in my 30s. I hope KOICA will always live a youthful life, not getting stuck in old customs. I wish KOICA will always be cautious of that and live a blossoming young life.Written by Lee Kyunghee, Photo by Lee Seongwon

Egyptian-Korea Technological College, Becomes a Strong Partner for Egyptian Youth

Egyptian-Korea Technological College, Becomes a Strong Partner for Egyptian Youth

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[About KOICA] The future is bright for the Project for the Establishment of Egyptian-Korea Technological College, which is in its fifth year since 2016.Egyptian-Korea Technological College (Beni Suef Technological University, hereinafter BST) opened with 136 freshmen in 2019, and recently signed an MOU for internship with Samsung s local subsidiary, and the first graduates are graduating this year. Let's learn about the background and current situation of this project.Egypt has a youth unemployment rate of over 30%. Egypt, located on the banks of the Nile River, is the birthplace of human civilization and boasts a history of 5,000 years. The marvelous relics and ruins such as luxurious pharaoh tombs, temples, and pyramids, are counted as one of the seven wonders of the world. However, despite the glorious past, Egypt is currently struggling with a serious economic crisis. In addition to the high unemployment rate and the severe gap between the rich and the poor, 35-40% of the people are living on less than two dollars a day.The biggest cause of Egypt's economic downturn is the business environment in which private companies have failed to grow. Egypt's business environment was ranked 131st out of 190 countries (as of 2016) in the World Bank's Doing Business, which evaluates each country's business environment every year.The non-transparent economic system was also a problem. Due to the large size of the underground economy, the official exchange rate of the Egyptian bank and the rate of private currency exchange counters were significantly different.1)Another problem was the sluggish tourism industry. The number of foreign tourists visiting Egypt's splendid cultural heritage, which was also selected as the world's number one luxury travel destination by PATWA in 2017, was about 15 million people every year before the Arab Spring, and the income was about 12.5 billion dollars (about 15.62 trillion won). However, after the revolution, bad news such as political turmoil and extremist terrorism occurred one after another, and tourists stopped visiting for a while.2)Along with the uneven industrial development and declining tourism industry, educational conditions were poor. Moreover, Egypt lacks natural resources, which are the source of revenue for other Middle Eastern countries. In such a situation, as in Korea did in the past, the crisis must be overcome by raising the capabilities of human resources through investment in the education sector. Such problems and solutions were discussed in earnest at the Korea-Egypt summit in September 2014, and the Project for the Establishment of Egyptian-Korea Technological College was promoted. This also displayed the Egyptian government's will to develop young people's vocational skills and improve the quality of employment based on Korea's experience.Accordingly, KOICA conducted a preliminary in-depth survey, and started a project to establish the Korea-Egyptian Beni Suef Technological University worth $5.83 million dollars in the Beni Suef region, located in the west bank of the Nile in Upper Egypt.The Egyptian government showed a strong will to carry out the construction of the university building by sending in an engineering force. Thanks to this, the opening of the school and the start of the new semester proceeded normally. Other than that, the process was not easy.This project was not a simple establishment of an educational institution, but a task with a responsibility to strengthen practical technical capabilities by reflecting the demands of the industry. In Egypt s case, there was a problem in linking education and employment. Even after studying hard and graduating, it was difficult to find a job because the job seekers did not have the technical competency the companies required, and this led to a high unemployment rate. One of the reasons was the unfair prejudice that vocational schools were a place where people who are not good at studying attend, which was a prejudice Korea also had in the past. In this regard, KOICA focused on improving the overall situation of vocational and technical education in Egypt and presenting a desirable model. The tasks were accomplished through active collaboration with related organizations and systematic planning and realization based on data.First of all, establishing a technical education suitable for the local situation in Egypt was the biggest task. Rather than just benchmarking Korea s education system, a system that can hone skills that are practical in the local field was needed.In this sense, KOICA laid a strong foundation to provide an educational environment that matches the local situation through subdivided efforts such as department selection, curriculum development, school operation, establishment of an engineering certification system, labor market demand survey, and development of a performance management system that tracks graduates.Efforts were also made to improve the quality of education. BST opened in September 2019 with mechatronics and ICT departments, and the automotive engineering department and the renewable energy department is also being operated. It has a total area of 13,200㎡, 17 professors, and 25 lecture rooms, and the satisfaction of students is high.3)In November of last year, the Korea University of Technology and Education dispatched a manager in charge of mechatronics field for mechatronics field training, adding knowledge necessary for industrial sites such as pneumatic practice, PLC practice, and microprocessor practice to enhance competency.This also opened the doors of employment for students. From the beginning of the business planning, KOICA paid attention to the fact that education should not end with obtaining school diplomas but should be linked to students' employment. This is also why there was an abrupt change of the location, from Damietta to Beni Suef, where Samsung Electronics Egypt, SEEG-P, is located.And this has recently become a reality. In December of last year, KOICA signed a tripartite MOU with Samsung Electronics Egypt (SEEG-P) and Egyptian-Korea Technological College for an internship program at the 1st anniversary of the school s establishment. Accordingly, starting this year, Samsung Electronics Egypt's manufacturing subsidiary will provide an 8-week internship program to 30 BST students.BST, which opened in September 2019 with 136 freshmen, is in its second year of establishment, but is already yielding remarkable results. KOICA decided to strengthen the educational capabilities of BST by establishing a Korean language center in the university and continuing consulting for engineering certification evaluation. In addition, Samsung Electronics - Egyptian- Korea Technological College - KOICA, which signed an MOU, will continue to improve the school curriculum and internship program through regular evaluation. It is predicted that the production of practical technical manpower will enhance the proper operation of the entire university education and contribute to the economic development of the Beni Suef region, and the Egyptian government is also paying great attention to it.1) Currently, due to the efforts of the Egyptian government, there is no difference between the official exchange rate and rate of private exchange counters.2) Recently, it showed a clear recovery due to the stability of public security, but it has contracted again due to Covid-19. (Middle East Wreaking Havoc with Covid Main Industry-Growth Engine All-Stop, Cairo Correspondent Lee Se-hyeong, Dong-A Ilbo, March 26, 2020)3) Currently, KOICA is only supporting mechatronics and ICT departments.Written by Hyunsoo Lee, Photos by KOICA

'Goodbye, thirst!' What beverages from around the world drive the heat away?

'Goodbye, thirst!' What beverages from around the world drive the heat away?

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[KOICA Global Culture] The feeling of thirst that we experience on scorching hot summer days dominates our minds and bodies.In such times, we are reminded of a cold glass of water, which is even better with added flavors. The Korean sweet rice beverage called sikhye and cinnamon punch called sujeonggwa are a few examples.What beverages are enjoyed around the world that help people overcome the heat with its special flavors?Che refers to Vietnam s traditional sweet drinks, soup, and pudding. Che is usually enjoyed by mixing sweet potatoes, fruits and boiled grains, such as beans, mung beans, and red beans to nuoc dua (coconut water) with lots of ice. As a dessert most commonly enjoyed in Vietnam, its flavors and appearance resemble the Korean shaved ice with sweetened red beans called patbingsu. There are stores in Vietnam that feature a wide variety of che. Che is prepared in various ways, from traditional to modern (fusion) ways. The most common Che is the che dau, which is nuoc dua added to boiled beans, and che thap cam, which is a combination of five ingredients like beans, red beans, peanuts, etc. Che that contains fruit is called sihn to. This is popular as it contains various types of tropical fruit.Buko means coconut in Filipino. Appetizing buko are found on palm trees throughout the Philippines. In the Philippines where there is an abundance of coconuts, beverages that use buko are sold in the streets. Fresh buko juice is juice found inside a whole coconut.The refreshing 100% coconut water with no additives helps quench your thirst and is also beneficial to the skin. Buko juice is also made by slicing the coconut meat and adding it to the fruit s juice, while the buko shake, which has a uniquely nutty and sweet taste, is made by blending the white coconut meat with condensed milk and ice. All parts of a coconut are edible, from its juice to its peel. Shaved ice with coconut instead of milk is also a popular dessert.Chai tea is a type of black tea that is enjoyed in India and other regions in southern Asia. Chai usually refers to Masala chai, which is an Indian-style milk tea that contains milk, sugar, and spices. People in India start and end their day with chai tea. Travelers taking the train through India can often hear shop owners repeatedly mention chai tea.Chai tea is mainly enjoyed as a hot drink since ice is scarce in India. One serving of this tea is about one and a half glasses of a soju glass. In the past, chai was enjoyed using small earthenware cups, and people broke the cups after drinking the tea. However, it is now difficult to find earthenware cups for chai tea in India. Thus, the cups were replaced with disposable plastic cups. There are so many plastic cups are thrown out onto the train station platforms to the point that it covered the railways.Aguapanela is a Colombian lemonade with a refreshing and sweet flavor. Although aguapanela can be enjoyed the same way as an original lemonade with no additives, it is commonly enjoyed by adding panela, which is hard sugar cane. Fresh lemon is squeezed into a cup and a chunk of sweet panela is added to the lemon juice and boiled to make a fine cup of warm aguapanela. The warm aguapanela is packed with vitamins, which is perfect as a healthy drink for the body. Aguapanela is especially effective in fighting off a cold, and it is an essential drink for people in Bogota who live in the cold weather. Aguapanela with lemon pulp is also enjoyed as cold lemonade by adding ice cubes.Sahlab is a traditional cream pudding or beverage in Islamic nations that is enjoyed with cinnamon powder and coconut flakes. The drink is offered during Ramadan in the sham region of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine, and its thick texture is similar to soup or porridge. It is very filling in the sense that a cup of sahlab will fill up your stomach even before you finish the drink, while warming your body as well. But keep in mind that sahlab is high in calories. Sahlab is a drink that existed since the Ottoman Empire, and it is known by a different name depending on the region. It is enjoyed as a hot drink in winter and a cold drink in summer.Written by Uhm Yongseon

We can overcome COVID-19 with persistence! How KOICA is moving forward with partner countries

We can overcome COVID-19 with persistence! How KOICA is moving forward with partner countries

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[Post Covid, Post KOICA] We can overcome COVID-19 with persistence!How KOICA is moving forward with partner countriesGuatemalaEstablishing an infectious disease prevention system and creating jobs in the local communityIn February, KOICA donated 20,000 masks and 5,000 protective suits made by local Korean company to a maternal and child health hospital in Huehuetenango, Guatemala.The Huehuetenango region has the highest malnutrition and mortality rate for infants and children under the age of 5 in Guatemala. It is located on the Mexican border, so there is a high risk of spread of infectious diseases by outsiders.Accordingly, the Huehuetenango Maternal and Child Health Hospital, established in 2018 with the support of KOICA, treats approximately 45,000 patients annually and is dedicated to safe childbirth through prevention of COVID-19.The quarantine products donated were locally produced by Korean companies in Guatemala. It was an opportunity to create local jobs and lay the foundation for improving the quarantine capability by securing an in-house production system for quarantine products in Guatemala.PeruKOICA fighting against COVID-19 and crime!On March 23rd, KOICA donated 7,000 medical gloves, 600 protective suits, and 800 N95 masks to the headquarters of the Crime Investigation Bureau of the National Police Agency (DIRCRI PNP) located in Lima, the capital of Peru.The donation was for the protection of Peruvian police officers. The Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Peruvian National Police Agency is a department that responds to various crimes such as murder and drugs. It is reported that 72% of police confirmed cases occur here due to frequent contact with an unspecified number of people.The Peruvian National Police Agency expressed its gratitude, saying, I hope that the cooperative relationship between KOICA and the National Police Agency will continue in the future. EthiopiaCOVID-19 prolonged, now we are strengthening our treatment capacitySince July of last year, KOICA has been conducting the Ethiopia COVID-19 Comprehensive Emergency Support Project in consideration of the local situation where it lacks capability to diagnose and treat COVID-19. Accordingly, KOICA plans to deliver 21 types of COVID-19 products through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).14 types of COVID-19 items, including 10,000 oxygen masks, 2,000 protective suits, and 20,000 oxygen infusion tubes, are planned to be distributed to Ethiopian hospitals through the Ethiopian Ministry of Health's medical supply channel.Through this project, KOICA will focus on improving Ethiopia's overall COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment capabilities.UzbekistanComprehensive support in all areas related to COVID-19KOICA plans to launch a $5 million-dollar comprehensive emergency assistance program in Uzbekistan this year. On May 12, we delivered a total of 97 types of medical equipment worth 4 million dollars to seven organizations including the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Hygiene and Epidemiology.In addition, in the health field, we provide invitation tarining for health and quarantine policy makers, establishment of an infectious disease diagnostic laboratory quality control system and national disease monitoring system, and support for COVID-19-related research and capacity building. We plan to provide job suppotr for the underprivileged in connection with the project.Overcoming COVID-19!Listen to lectures on infectious disease response in your languageKOICA supports the online training of the Korean Infectious Disease Response Master Class in Korean, English, and Spanish, and promotes global distribution of knowledge on infectious disease response.The training, conducted in collaboration with the Korea Institute for Health and Welfare Human Resources Development and KOICA, consists of content to strengthen the capacity for managing infectious diseases and responding to COVID-19 in general.Koreans/foreigners wishing to participate can take online lectures in Korean, English, and Spanish through the Health Welafre Learner (https://edu.kohi.or.kr) of the Korea Human Resource Development Institute For Health and Welfare.

Look into KOICA's partner countries! Vietnam, El Salvador, Mozambique

Look into KOICA's partner countries! Vietnam, El Salvador, Mozambique

KOICA, one of the main organizations for development cooperation in Korea, promotes customized ODA in consideration of the local environment of partner countries around the world, including countries in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. KOICA, as a Korean platform for ODA, supports the economic and social development of partner countries and contributes to peace and prosperity in the niternational community.In this regard, Together KOICA examines partner countries that are cooperating with KOICA, and takes a closer look to become more close friends with the partner countries.The countries to be introduced this time are Vietnam in Asia, El Salvador in Central and South America,and Mozambique in Africa.Let s look into each country that possesses originality and various charms.Vietnam is a country in the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia, officially known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It borders China to the north, Laos, and Cambodia to the west, and the sea to the east. Vietnam envelopes the Indochina Peninsula, extending from north to south. For this reason, the width from east to west is only 600 km at its widest point, but it stretches for 1,650 km from north to south.Vietnam has been building its economic foundation through agriculture since ancient times, and its main exports are wheat, corn, potatoes, rubber, tea, and coffee. In particular, rice farming has developed around the fertile lands of the Red River and Mekong Delta, making Vietnam the world's third-largest rice exporter.KOICA has been conducting an inclusive rural development program since 2019, such as improving medical facilities and building the first modern health center in Tuyen Quang Province, one of Vietnam's poorest areas, Through this program, KOICA is taking the lead in improving the quality of life in underprivileged areas by promoting integrated support for regional development in Tuyen Quang Province. The area is actively cooperating with KOICA and maintaining a close relationship.Ha Long BayHa Long Bay is located in northern Vietnam, and it is made up of 1,969 large and small islands and limestone pillars and is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. 'Ha' means 'coming down', 'Long' means 'dragon', which makes the meaning of Ha Long dragon that came down from the sky . The limestone hilly district has been eroded by seawater, rain, and wind over many years, and islands and rocks rose above the emerald blue sea. The sight of the strangely shaped rocks and small islands forming the cliffs is magnificent.HueHue is a city in central Vietnam and was the capital of the last dynasty of Vietnam. As the former capital, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is comparable to Gyeongju in Korea. The shallow and wide Perfume River flows through Hue, and on the left side of the river is Dai Noi, the royal palace of the Vietnamese Empire built in the Chinese style in the early 19th century. The Hue dynasty ruled Vietnam for centuries. In colonial times, the French lived on the right side of the river and today the eastern side of the city is a commercial district. It is an important transportation hub with the road and railway connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.It is a religious, cultural, and commercial center, where rice milling, lumber, textile, and cement industries are being made.Motorcycle and cycloThe number of vehicles and motorcycles in Vietnam increased rapidly in the 1980s, and motorcycles are still the most popular means of transportation to this day. As traffic laws and signaling systems on Vietnamese roads have also been established mainly considering motorcycles, motorcycles have become a convenient means of transportation. There are about 20 million motorcycles in Vietnam, and almost every household owns one.On the other hand, cyclos, another popular transportation in Vietnam along with motorcycles, are three-wheeled vehicles found a lot in Southeast Asia and are especially popular with travelers. There are two types: a bicycle-type that moves by human power and a type with motorcycle engines. Although it is not possible to move quickly, it has the advantage of being able to admire the scenery of Hanoi while moving.Vietnamese spring roll / goi cuonVietnamese spring rolls, called goi cuon in Vietnamese, are a traditional Vietnamese food in which various ingredients such as noodles, carrots, cucumbers, pork, shrimp, and mushrooms are wrapped in rice paper. Rice paper is made by grinding rice finely, pouring water into it, kneading it, and then slightly baking it and drying it. Sometimes you eat it by slightly moistening the rice paper in hot water to wrap various vegetables. And sometimes you eat the fish and meat after blanching them like shabu-shabu. It is served with fish sauce, red pepper sauce, or peanut butter sauce. It has a mild and healthy taste.CoffeeVietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer and exporter, and Vietnamese coffee is one of Vietnam's main exports. Vietnamese coffee is mainly used as instant coffee, and the mainly cultivated kind is Robusta , which has a hard bean and savory and bitter taste.When brewing coffee in Vietnam, they use micro-perforated containers called cafe fins, rather than filters. It is a method of brewing by adding coffee beans to a coffee fin and pouring hot water. Because it is brewed slowly for over an hour, the deep, rich, and bitter taste becomes stronger. You can pour hot water or ice into the extracted coffee, or drink it with sweet and strong condensed milk instead of sugar. In Vietnam, there is a culture of drinking coffee in the morning, and the price of coffee beans is cheap, so it is a drink that is consumed daily.Rice (Indica)Rice is also a staple food in Vietnam, but it is different from Korean rice. They consume Indica rice, which is also called Annammi. It is the main rice variety that accounts for 90% of rice worldwide. It is harvested in large quantities in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's largest granary.In Vietnam, rice is called 'com', and when you look at a menu at a restaurant, if it says com on the menu, it is much easier to choose a menu that comes with rice or cooked rice. Rice is also used in various food, such as rice noodles, rice paper, alcohol, sweets, glutinous rice, porridge, and ice cream, so rice is an essential part of Vietnamese food.■ KOICA Vietnam Office18th Fl., Landmark 72 Tower, Plot E6, Pham Hung Street, Tu Liem, HanoiEl Salvador is a country in Central America, officially known as the Republic of El Salvador. It is the only country in Central America that does not border the Caribbean Sea but only the Pacific Ocean, and it has a coastline of 307 km. With an area of 21,041㎢, it is about onetenth the size of the Korean Peninsula and the smallest in Central America. The climate is mild tropical, and more than 90% of the land was created by volcanic activity. In the past, it was a typical agricultural country, but it has grown into an industrial country since the 1960s, and its main resources are coffee, cotton, sugar, and shrimp.KOICA recently held a ceremony to donate a multimedia studio and classroom for e-learning content development at the El Salvador University of Technology (UTEC) in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. In addition, last year, the Korea-El Salvador Medical Center was built with about KRW 4.1 billion, to provide continuous support and cooperation for the underprivileged in El Salvador to receive medical benefits.Santa Ana Volcanoes and Izalco VolcanoesEl Salvador is a region with active seismic and volcanic activity, and Santa Ana Volcano and Izalco Volcano are the major volcanoes of El Salvador.Santa Ana Volcano is the tallest (2,181 m) volcano in El Salvador and has erupted 12 times since the eruption recorded in 1520. The volcano has a flat circular crater, a central vent, and a small volcanic arc, which is rich in sulfur, giving it an emerald green color.Izalco Volcano, the youngest volcano in El Salvador, is a parasitic volcano formed by the eruption of Santa Ana Volcano in 1770. It was so active that it erupted more than 50 times by 1957 and was visible from far away from the coast, so sailors who set out on voyages in the 19th century used it as a milestone. However, since 1958, it has maintained a lull.Joya De CerenLike Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, Joya De Ceren was an agricultural community before the Spanish conquest and is buried in 7m thick ash from the eruption of the Loma Caldera around 600 AD. It is a residential area of the Maya period excavated by archaeologists and is also called 'Pompeii' of Central and South America. This well-preserved property, with its buildings, gardens, farm implements, and farmland in perfect condition, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a reminder of the life of the Mayans who worked and farmed the land before the Spanish conquest.Coffee plantationAbout 12% of El Salvador's land is coffee farms, and about 20,000 households are engaged in coffee farming. Because more than 90% of the country was created by volcanic activity, coffee with a unique flavor can be harvested. In El Salvador, forest conservation and wildlife habitat protection are doing well because shade farming is mainly used to shade coffee trees by planting other trees in between. This method suppresses the occurrence of weeds and pests, and it is said that it is possible to lower the defect rate of coffee cherries because it is easy to control moisture.After the coffee harvest is over, villagers who worked on coffee farms pick up coffee cherries that have fallen on the ground. When drinking coffee, the coffee cherries are ground, peeled by hand, and roasted over a wood fire using a tool called 'Galdol' in the traditional Mayan method.PupusaPupusa is an El Salvador food that is grilled with cheese, seasoned pork, and black bean sauce inside a corn tortilla. Like Bungeoppang or Hotteok in Korea, it is traditional street food in El Salvador. Traces of pupusa cuisine were also excavated at the Joya De Ceren site. It is said that in the past, pupusa did not contain meat but made a half-moon shape with herbs and vegetables.■ KOICA El Salvador OfficeCalle El Mirador y 87 Avenida Norte, Edificio Torre Futura,Nivel 10, Local 3, Colonia Escalon, San Salvador, El SalvadorThe Republic of Mozambique is in the southeastern part of the African continent, and it faces the Mozambique Channel. Because it is located in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to those of Korea. It has a tropical climate, with an average winter temperature of about 20 C and an average summer temperature of about 26 C. It has major mineral resources such as coal, bauxite, diamonds, and gold.KOICA has helped Mozambique respond to COVID-19 by donating six Korean walk-through diagnostic booths to the National Medical Center in Mozambique in 2020. For a safe educational environment in Mozambique, we also donated quarantine products to the Matola Industrial School in Mozambique together with the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the trainee reunion.Island of MozambiqueThe Island of Mozambique is located in Nampula Province, northern Mozambique in Africa. It is an island with a fortified city, located in the Indian Ocean, 3.5 km from the African continent.The Island of Mozambique is a port for trade routes from Portugal to India, and you can get a glimpse of the establishment and development of the Portuguese route connecting Western Europe and the Indian subcontinent, and all of Asia. The buildings in this area show architectural unity, characterized by the consistent use of the same architectural techniques, building materials, and decorative principles since the 16th century. Mozambique's heritage includes the oldest Fort St Sebastian (1558-1620) and other defensive structures, as well as many buildings from the 16th century onwards and religious buildings. Mozambique was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.Maputo CathedralMaputo Cathedral was designed by engineer Marcial Freitas eCosta in 1936 and opened in 1944. It is located in Independence Square of Maputo, the capital, and stands as a landmark of Maputo with a height of about 18 meters.Cashew nutsIn Mozambique, 80% of the population is engaged in agriculture, and agriculture is the main industry that accounts for more than 20% of total GDP. Mozambique is a long country with a diverse climate, so it can cultivate a variety of crops, and its main products are corn, sugar cane, cassava, and cotton. Among these crops, cashews are particularly famous, and Mozambique's 2017 production of cashews is 140,000 tons. Mozambique exports cashew nuts to India, Vietnam, and the United States, and the revitalization of the cashew nut business is a source of income for about 1.5 million households. The Mozambican government is currently pursuing a policy to revitalize the cashew nut industry, which was 50% of production in the 1970s, but has declined due to the nationalization of factories.TimbilaA timbila is a xylophone made of 5 to 30 wooden keys of various sizes and ranges, and is particularly famous for its ensemble music unique to the Chopi people, who live in the southern Inhambane province, south of Mozambique. Timbilas are mainly performed at weddings and other tribal events, with ensembles of all ages participating. For this reason, the timbila master and his pupil play together, and sometimes his grandson plays alongside his grandfather. However, due to recent deforestation, the mwenje wood needed to produce its distinctive tone has become difficult to obtain, and the experienced timbila players are mostly older, making this heritage less accessible to young people.■ KOICA Mozambique OfficeAv 25, de Setembro n 270, Edificio Time square Office Park bloco 4, 1 andar Escrito rio 4, nesta cidade de Maputo, MozambiqueWritten by Nam Jiyeon, illustrated by Kim Ihyeon

Look into KOICA's partner countries! Bangladesh, Ecuador, Morocco

Look into KOICA's partner countries! Bangladesh, Ecuador, Morocco

KOICA, one of the main organizations for development cooperation in Korea,promotes customized ODA in consideration of the local environment of partner countries aroundthe world, including countries in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. KOICA, as a Korean platform for ODA, supports the economic and social development of partner countries andcontributes to peace and prosperity in the international community.In this regard, Together KOICA examines partner countries that are cooperating with KOICA,and takes a closer look to become more close friends with the partner countries.The countries to be introduced this time are Bangladesh in Asia, Ecuador in Central and South America, and Morocco in Africa.Let s look into each country that possesses originality and various charms.The People's Republic of Bangladesh is a country located northeast of India in southern Asia. It borders Myanmar to the southeast, the Bay of Bengal to the south, and India to the rest of the country. The name of the country means Land of Bengal .It is considered one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Although the land area is about 1.5 times that of Korea, it has the world's highest population density with a population of 166.3 million, which is about three times that of Korea. It is also one of the poorest countries in the world, with foreign aid accounting for half of th #000000 e government spending. The country's economic development plan is in line with the country's top priority to eradicate poverty, increase food self-sufficiency, enhance employment, and reduce the population growth rate.KOICA established the only nursing graduate school in Bangladesh in 2012. In 2020, we delivered emergency medical supplies to COVID-19 screening centers and supported the establishment of an intensive care unit (ICU) in Bangladesh to foster the nursing workforce and strengthen its ability to respond to the pandemic.Mosque City of BagerhatThis is an ancient Islamic city site in Bagerhat, southern Bangladesh. It is an ancient city located at the start of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers and Bagerhat Bridge, and was built by Ulu Khan Jahan of Turkey in the 15th century. Once a wasteland, it gradually developed to become the commercial center of Bengal, and 360 mosques were built. 9 mosques remain today, most of them built of bricks. The eaves are in a gently curved shape which is a unique Bengal style, and the four corners of the building are in the shape of a cylinder. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 as a relic that shows that the ancient architectural techniques were advanced considerably.RickshawRickshaw is a common means of transportation used in Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh. The name comes from the Japanese word 'rikisha'. Most of the rickshaws are cyclic cars, which are modified bicycles, and auto-rickshaws, which are three-wheeled vehicles with small engines. A cycle rickshaw is three-wheeled with a wheeled chair attached to the back of a bicycle, and is mainly used for short-distance travel. Auto rickshaws running through the city center are often called tuk-tuks in Southeast Asia. There is a device that calculates the fare by distance inside the rickshaw, but it is rarely used, and the fare is usually decided by negotiating beforehand.It is an important means of livelihood for the poor and an important means of transportation for the common people, and Bangladesh has the highest number of rickshaws in the world. Auto rickshaws, which are fast on busy roads, are somewhat dangerous because they easily run between cars, but accidents are rare.Sundarbans and Mangrove ForestSundarbans is a large area of mangrove forest located in the southwestern tip of Bangladesh, near the borders of India. It was designated as a national park in 1984 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Sundarbans means beautiful forest in Bengali. It is famous for its vast area of mangrove forest. The combined area of it in India and Bangladesh is 140,000 hectares, and a total of 453 species of wild animals live here.Mangrove is a generic term for trees that grow wild along the coasts of tropical and subtropical regions, and does not refer to one particular species. Mangrove forests are home to many living things, and they block wind and waves, preventing erosion of the tidal mudflat. It breathes with roots above the mud, and its roots are intertwined above and below, so it stands upright even when submerged in water. When a tsunami occurs due to an earthquake, the mangrove forest absorbs 70-90% of the waves and prevents soil loss by catching mud, due to its nature of breathing with the roots out outside the ground.Otter FishingIn Bangladesh, they use an unusual way of fishing using otters. Unlike other fishermen who just use nets to catch fish, it is a traditional Bangladeshi way of fishing by using trained otters. Bangladesh is the only country in the world that uses otters to catch fish. Otters use their sensitive whiskers and developed senses to detect fish movements and drive them to the net. They mainly go into the water inside mangroves to chase fish, and when the otters drive the fish into the net, fishermen pull their nets up.Trained otters are leashed, but the cubs do not leave their parents, so even if the mother and father are leashed the family stays together. It is said that symbiosis is possible because otters know that helping humans and getting a portion of the catch as a reward is an easier way to eat rather than hunting the fish themselves.Bengal TigerBengal tigers, also called Indian tigers, live in the Sundarbans of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. It used to live throughout India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Thailand in the past but has decreased by more than 90% over the past 100 years, mainly due to habitat destruction and poaching.Currently, it lives only in the jungles of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and in fewer than 10 protected areas such as Kanha National Park and Sundarbans National Park. Sundarbans National Park is home to the world's largest mangrove forest and is famous for being the major habitat for Bengal tigers. The Bengal tiger is the second largest in size among tiger species, after the Siberian tiger, and it has the largest population, accounting for more than 70% of tigers.Rice (triple cropping)In Bangladesh, 62% of the country's population is engaged in agriculture and more than 70% live in rural areas. Rice is Bangladesh's main agricultural product, and rice production ranks among the top in the world. However, it is a country that imports rice because of its large population, so consumption is much higher.Double and triple cropping is possible in the climates of Bangladesh. In particular, the number of areas where triple cropping is possible has greatly increased due to the supply of wells and enhanced strain, greatly increasing rice production.■ KOICA Bangladesh OfficeLevel 5N, Grand DELVISTAA House CES(A) 1A, Road 113 Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka-1212, BangladeshThe official name is Republica del Ecuador, and its capital is Quito. It borders Colombia to the north, Peru to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, 965 km away from the mainland, are also Ecuador s territory. 'Ecuador' is a Spanish word meaning 'equator', and the equator actually runs through the northern part of the country. The capital, Quito, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its long history and rich heritage. The main export is shrimp farmed in coastal fisheries, and tuna also accounts for a large proportion.Last year, KOICA provided 11 biosafety carriers and 410,000 KF94 masks to Ecuador to deal with COVID-19, and established a start-up supportive innovation center of 4,000㎡ in the old airport site in Quito. It is used to promote projects such as providing consulting for public innovation research institutes and in creating innovative industry clusters.Equator MonumentEcuador is a country that is located on the equator. In the town of San Antonio, about 22 kilometers north of Quito, there is a zero-degree line that separates the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, on which the Equator Monument stands. The Equator Monument is a 30m-tall monument made of volcanic stone to commemorate the discovery of the equator line by French scientists who came to Ecuador in 1735. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Quito. At the Equator Museum (Inti-Nan Museo) near the Equator Monument, you can do various gravitational experiments such as making eggs stand and have guided tours.BananaEcuador is the world's largest banana exporter, and bananas play a major role in the country's economy. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ecuador's annual banana exports amounted to 66,850,000 tons as of 2019, ranking first in the world. The figure is highest by far among the world's major banana exporters, followed by the Philippines, Guatemala, and Colombia.Galapagos Islands and On the Origin of Species The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000km from the continent of South America. Its official name is Archipielago de Colon and is Ecuador s territory. It is located 1,000km west of mainland Ecuador and crosses the equator.The 19 islands and the surrounding marine resource reserve are also habitats for marine life because it is the place where three ocean currents meet. It is an area that forms a very unique marine ecosystem, called a living museum and exhibition hall of evolution . British biologist Charles Darwin is famous for writing On the Origin of Species (1859) after observing unusual fauna here in 1835.Galapagos PenguinsIt is the only tropical penguin that exists. Living in the Galapagos Islands, it is a small species of about 50cm in height. As an endemic species of the Galapagos, it has the lowest reproductive rate among all penguins and is an endangered species with a small population. The Galapagos penguins have less hair on its face than other penguins due to adaptation to the hot temperatures near the Galapagos.Galapagos IguanaThe Galapagos iguana lives in the Galapagos Islands and is the only lizard to have the ability to camouflage and survive in the sea, also called marine iguana. It can jump into the water from a height of 10 meters and can be found throughout the Galapagos Islands. Although omnivorous, their diet is plant-based, feeding on cacti and fruits.Galapagos Blue-Footed BoobyFound only in western Mexico, northwestern South America, and the Galapagos Islands, the blue-footed booby, as its name suggests, has large, vivid blue legs and feet. On the ground, it shows clumsy behavior such as wobbling, which was why it was given the name 'boobie', meaning fool . However, the blue-footed booby, which feeds on small fish, squid, anchovies, and flying fish, can fly over water and catch prey by diving with great speed. It is agile when flying, submerging almost without splashing water and jumping out of the water from a few meters away with prey in its mouth.Galapagos Sea LionGalapagos sea lions are seals that only live on the Galapagos Islands. They are very social and are one of the most populous species in the Galapagos Islands. They often sunbathe in groups on sandy shores or rocks, and glide gracefully on the waves. With no natural enemies, the Galapagos is a paradise for these sea lions.■ KOICA Ecuador OfficeAv. 12 de Octubre N24-660 y Francisco Salazar, Edf. Concorde, 3er Piso, Quito-EcuadorThe official name is the Kingdom of Morocco. Its capital is Rabat, and the official language is Arabic, but Berber and French are also widely spoken. It borders the Iberian Peninsula in Europe across to the Strait of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest. It borders Algeria to the east and southeast, and the western Sahara to the southwest. Their main products are wheat, barley, and olive oil, and underground resources such as phosphate, coal, and iron are also abundant.In 2018, KOICA launched a medicine management program in Morocco through CTS (Creative Technology Solution), which links the innovative technology of startups with ODA to combat tuberculosis in Morocco, one of the high-risk countries for tuberculosis designated by the WHO. KOICA also continues to cooperate by dispatching overseas volunteers.Medina and Boujloud in FesFes, Morocco's former capital and cultural and religious center, is a city that displays the prototype of a medieval Islamic city. In the past, Fes had an advanced commercial industry, and the city leading Morocco's religion, academic studies, and art. The old town medina of Fes, which retains its medieval appearance, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.The biggest characteristic of the medina is its 'complex maze'. In Islamic culture, it is common to design a city with a complex maze to prevent invasion by foreign enemies. In order to pass through the narrow alleys of the medina, the gates of the houses facing each other must be staggered, and the main means of transport are donkeys that can cross the narrow streets.Bab Bou Jeloud, the starting point of Fes medina, is also called the Blue Gate , and is the famous entrance to the medina. The inside is decorated with green tiles and the outside is decorated with blue tiles, with blue representing Fes and green representing Islam.Chouara TannerieFes, which is famous for its excellent dyeing technology and natural leather, is also famous for its leather tanning workshop, which has continued the tanning and dyeing practice for over 1,000 years. The workshops in the medina are called tanneries in French, and there are three tanneries in the medina. The Chouara Tannerie is the largest and oldest among them. Tannerie is known to produce the world's highest quality leather fabrics because all processes are performed in a traditional way and only natural raw materials are used. It is a must-see destination for tourists visiting the medina of Fes.Tagine PotTagine is a traditional Moroccan dish made from clay, meaning frying pan in Arabic. It consists of a flat, round bottom for holding food and a cone-shaped lid with a handle. The cone-shaped lid not only traps heat well, but also has the advantage of being able to cook with minimal moisture because it prevents moisture from evaporating, with a structure that allows steam to collect inside and then fall back to the food. This is very practical for those who live in areas where water is scarce. Moroccan families give their daughters a well-tamed tagine when they get married, as a token of their love.Argan TreeThe argan tree is a tree native to the southwestern region of Morocco, and it is a tree found only in about 8,000㎢ in Morocco and southwestern Algeria. It grows to a height of 8 to 10m, adapts well to harsh environments and survives for hundreds of years, but it is currently classified as a risk of extinction. Goats jump on this tree to eat the leaves, as seen in wellknown photos.Argan OilArgan oil can be extracted from the fruit of the argan tree. Argan oil contains twice as much vitamin E as olive oil and has excellent moisturizing power, so it has been used as a treatment for skin inflammation and rashes since ancient times. Today, it is used as an effective oil for skin and hair care, and is also used as a moisturizer and hair essence. The entire process of making argan oil is done by hand, all of which are done by local women. Argan women teach their daughters the traditional method of extracting argan oil and the various uses of this oil, systematically passing it on to their daughters to apply in real life.■ KOICA Morocco OfficeNo.19, Av. Mehdi Ben Barka, Soussi, Rabat, MOROCCOWritten by Nam Jiyeon, illustrated by Kim Ihyeon