Five students studying a BA (Hons) in Language Studies (Korean) in the Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) were awarded scholarships by Samsung Electronics Hong Kong in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.

The BA (Hons) in Language Studies (Korean) programme, established in the 2007-08 academic year, is Hong Kong’s first-ever bachelor’s degree programme majoring in Korean studies. Through intensive training and the provision of exchange opportunities, the programme encourages students to immerse themselves in Korean culture and language.

Samsung Electronics Hong Kong invited students of the programme to submit presentations on “My passion for Korea” or “How Korean culture impacts on the world”, competing for the scholarship. According to the students’ understanding of Korean culture, five outstanding students were selected and each awarded a $10,000 scholarship.

The five scholarship winners were Wong Yuen-ling, Ng Cho-hong, Canny Lai Yuen-wa, Lee Pak-ming and Ella Yuen Wai. At the scholarship presentation ceremony held at CityU on 5 November, they presented their submissions and shared with the participants their reasons for studying Korean, their passion for Korean culture and their aspiration to foster exchanges between the Chinese and Korean cultures.

Professor Lilian Vrijmoed Kwan Lee-ping, Dean of Student Learning, offered effusive praise for the outstanding presentations of students. “Deepening the understanding of different cultures is vital to the construction of a peaceful and harmonious society,” she said. “I hope the scholarship winners can increase their understanding of Korean culture through the programme and contribute to the global community.”

“The programme is the first-ever bachelor’s degree programme majoring in Korean studies in Hong Kong,” said Professor Jonathan Webster, Head of the Department. “We greatly appreciate the support of Samsung Electronics Hong Kong and look forward to receiving more support from the Korean community. This will play a significant role in

Mr Soek Tong-youn, Consul-general of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong and Macau, said CityU’s Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics was the pioneer of Korean education in Hong Kong. He hoped students studying Korean in CityU could become experts in Korean culture and language, and promote exchanges between Hong Kong and Korea.

Mr Kim Byung-wook, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics Hong Kong, believed students in Korean studies would help foster closer ties between Hong Kong and Korea, which would benefit both societies.

Participating students said studying Korean laid a solid foundation for their future career development. “We have been given the opportunity to explore Korean culture in a deeper and broader way. The programme not only enables us to appreciate our favourite Korean films and songs, but also prepares us for bright careers in Korean companies,” said Ng Cho-hong, one of the scholarship winners.