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| ▲ As head of the Jeju International Training Center, Chung Dalho will help officials from developing countries learn how to improve their homelands’ standards of living, environments and security. Photo by Darryl Coote |
It was Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to Jeju in 1991 that inspired top Korean officials to bestow the island with the tagline, “The Island of World Peace.” This maxim may appear unfounded or even confusing, but Jeju is trying to prove it true by establishing the Jeju International Training Center in the International Peace Center in Seogwipo. It is set to open in July of this year.
On March 30, a memorandum of understanding is scheduled to be signed between the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Jeju International Peace Foundation. The memorandum is to create a training center for high-ranking officials from developing countries.
“Through these centers,” said Chung Dalho, former Ambassador to Egypt and Panama and current chief for the Jeju International Training Center, “UNITAR tries to impart knowledge for development and to share best practices to implement UN objectives in different countries at different levels of development.”
Once opened, the center will welcome high-level authorities (such as lawmakers, administrators, members of parliament and journalists) from developing countries. The training will specifically target how to improve each country’s national standard of living, environmental qualities and human security, and will take place during two- to three-day courses of seminars and workshops.
Chung gave his definition of human security: “It’s compared to traditional security which focuses on the security of the state. Human security thinks the prime reference of security should be people-centered not the state. We want to be a leading training center in human security.” This includes human rights, medical capabilities, living conditions and environmental sustainability, he said.
The seminars will be taught, informed Chung, by experts in their field, for the most part from Korea. Initially they will be provided by UNITAR until the center establishes its own network of professionals.
“At this moment,” Chung said, “Korea has become a model for development for any developing countries. In South and Central America and also the Middle East, Central Asia and South East Asia of course, people wonder how Korea has developed so quickly over one generation. They think we have some secret. And they come to Korea to get these secrets.”
When asked what this secret might be, Chung laughed. “It’s an open secret; education and hard work.” He believes evidence of this can be found in the behavior of modern Korean youth. “They seem to have been inspired by something, something arising out of tradition, or I don’t know exactly. The younger generation is more inspired and more creative these days, so I have to learn from the younger generation.”
Korea was chosen as an ideal destination for the center for specific reasons. For one, it has been one of the fastest-developing nations in the past century. Another factor, Chung said, is that, “Korea can play a role, a bridge between advanced countries and countries aspiring to become developed. We have much to provide I think. As a country we are able to specialize in environmental accessibility and human security.”
Jeju’s aspirations for peace are another reason for the island’s selection as the site of the center. “First Jeju has been designated as the island of world peace. Jeju aspires to become a center to discuss world peace,” and end war, “through international conferences and summit meetings. Jeju has been a venue for such meetings.”
Chung was excited when approached three months ago with the offer to helm the project. “This job,” he said, “is related to UN objectives and goals and my experience in the foreign ministry was also involved with the UN, so I thought it was a good opportunity for me to continue my interest and involvement with UN things. I thought it was a chance to continue service to society, to Jeju. Because I am enamored with Jeju,” he said, with a laugh. “I am. I love Jeju.
“I myself have the first impression of Jeju when I landed last November. It was my first visit in 20 years. When I drove through here having left Seoul’s hustle and bustle atmosphere, I found myself in a state of peace. Such is the atmosphere one can have in Jeju.” The multiple meanings of the word peace mean that not only does Jeju work toward it achieving world peace, but the island is also a peaceful place to be, although that has not always been the case.
Chung said that since Jeju holds a history of extreme turbulence and strife, the island can demonstrate to dignitaries from other countries that are going through such chaos that a better future is possible. “I think the visitors, the trainees who will come to this place, naturally will have a chance to look around the exhibition here [the International Peace Center] which refers to Jeju’s tragic history. So they will learn about Jeju’s tragic history some point in the past.”
The enthusiasm Chung has for his new position and for the island, which he now calls home, is apparent. “In Jeju I can do a service for developing countries,” he said, “and also I don’t know how I can serve the Jeju people, but I will try.”
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ⓒ Jeju Weekly 2009 (http://www.jejuweekly.net)
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