KOREAN NET

- Participants invited to apply -

2015 OKFriends homecoming

www.korean.net

Overseas Koreans Foundation(OKF) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an exclusive organization for overseas Koreans. Since being established in 1997, OKF has helped 7 million overseas Koreans so that they would maintain ethnic tie and individually develop into a model citizen in his(her) residential country.

OKF holds「2015 OKFriends homecoming」every year for overseas Korean teenagers and university students who will become the putative leaders of the overseas Korean communities in future.

This is an opportunity for Overseas Korean teenagers and university students from around the world to come together and communicate with one another. During this training, they will experience mother country's society, culture and history, so that they can raise self-worth as Korean people and develop leadership.

We are inviting overseas Korean teenagers and university students to join us for「2015 Global Korean Youth Network」

1. Outline of the training

  a. The name of the training :「2015 OKFriends homecoming」
  b. The purpose of the training
    ◦ Provide overseas Korean teenagers and university students with a chance to build up Korean identity and social network by experiencing mother country's society, culture and history.
    ◦ Promote a sense of fellowship among Korean teenagers and university students both at home and abroad so that they help one another grow into global leaders in future.

  c. Training period
    ◦ Middle and high school students : July 14(Tue)~July 21(Tue) <7 nights 8 days>
    ◦ Preuniversity•University students : July 28(Tue)~Aug 4(Tue) <7 nights 8 days>

  d. Venues : Seoul, Local areas

  e. For whom
    ◦ For whom : Overseas Korean teenagers and university students
    - Full 13~23 years old(as of March 1, 2014)
       ․Only in the case of Russia and CIS, those aged 15~23(in full) are allowed.
    - Middle․High school students(enrolled), University students(Preuniversity students included)
     ※ Following recent revision to the Youth Activity Encouragement Law, only those over 18 years of age(in full) are allowed to participate in the college students training. (as from July 1, 2015)
    ◦ The number of participants : 700 people
    - Middle․High school students 450 / 
      Preuniversity students, University students 250
    ◦ Qualification for application
    - Overseas Koreans who are legitimately living abroad as citizens, permanent residents, Korean adoptees or marriage immigrants more than 5 years.
    ․Korean-Vietnamese, Korean-Philippines, etc, are included.
    - Those who have contributed to overseas Korean community and have excellent results of public service.
    - Those who are sound in mind and body, and able to practice camp training(Attending classes, trip, etc)
    - Those who have not committed a legal wrong with regard to a departure permit in their residential country. Those underage must get parents' consents.(Submission of a consent form is required.)

f. Training contents(For more details, refer to attached file.)
  1) Arriving in Korea and registering in the camp.
  2) Opening ceremony
  3) Traditional culture experience, theme travel and homestay
  4) City Tour, K-pop, K-food, and K-Culture experience
  5) The proud Korean campaign. Korean language camp
  6) Leadership forum. Public diplomacy forum
  7) Visit the fields of creative economy. Communicate with teenagers and university students in Korea
  8) Closing ceremony
    ※ The above programs are subject to change.

2. Application

  a. Application period : Feb. 24～Apr. 4 / Make sure to check the deadline for applications set by a diplomatic office in your residential country.

  b. Documents for submission (①～④ required, ⑤,⑥ optional)
   ① A copy of the application form(Fill out the prescribed form on 'Participants invited to apply' of notice on www.korean.net, Print out → Submit to the diplomatic office)
   ② A letter of self-introduction(choose either in Korean or in English) ※ clearly state where you were born and how long have you lived there.
   ③ A copy of the passport
   ④ A copy of the proof of enrollment or admission letter
   ⑤ Documents to show that you have special talents for a certain field or have been awarded. (Duplicates)
   ⑥ Recommendation letter(from the principal or counselor)
    ※ Documents for submission should be prepared on a word processor(Korean or English).
Please correctly enter contact information such as e-mail address, telephone No. etc.(Because a notice will be sent by e-mail, entering e-mail address that you often use(naver, hotmail, gmail, etc,) is recommended.
Make sure to enter the emergency contact number and Korean contact number.

  c. Where to submit : Diplomatic office in the country where you live.

3. Selection and support

  a. Selection procedures
    ◦ Receipt of applications in the diplomatic offices(Apr. 4)
    ◦ Screening for selection in OKF(Apr. 21)
    ◦ Notify the selectees of the result.(Apr. 28)
    - Post on the diplomatic office homepage and OKF homepage (www.korean.net).
    ※ The above schedule may change depending on OKF's circumstances.

  b. Preferential treatment
    ◦ Those who are excellent in Korean language (Only when a copy of the certificate is submitted, this is recognized.)
    ◦ Special talents, prize winner and social service activities
    ◦ One who has got his(her) principal's recommendation.

  c. The number of people allocated by areas

Note 1」‘2nd’ team is for middle․high school students(450 people), ‘3rd’ team is for university․preuniversity students(250 people)
Note 2」The above allocation may change depending on the status of application by continent or country. If the number of applicants is fewer than that of allocation in a certain area, those recommended from other area will be allocated instead.

  d. Support contents
    ◦ Airfare
    - Participant pays principle
    - CIS area(Korean's diaspora) : 100% funded(Round-trip ticket, Economy class)
    ※ In the case of Russia and Kazakhstan, 50% funded(One-way ticket, Economy class)
    - Korean descendants in Mexico and Cuba : 100% funded(Round-trip ticket, Economy class)
    ◦ Board and lodging. Training expense
    ◦ Medical insurance(Travel insurance)

4. Enquiry
    ◦ The person concerned : Kim Ju-dong(Asst. Manager) in Future Generations Depart.
    ◦ Contact No.
    - Tel : 82-2-3415-0175, Fax : 82-2-3415-0118
    - email : gkyn@okf.or.kr Website : www.korean.net