To promote broader regional diversification and more balance in its programs, which to date have been focused on the U.S., European, and Asian regions, the Korea Foundation is striving to expand its support for and exchange with regions where it has not conducted exchange activities at a level commensurate with their potential significance. One such region is Central and South America, which is now drawing keen attention due to President Roh Moo-hyun¡¯s recent tour of regional countries. It is thus timely to provide an overview of the Foundation¡¯s recent activities in the Central and South American region.

Support for Korean Studies Activities
The first-ever Korean Studies in Latin America Conference, co-organized by the Foundation and the University of Buenos Aires, was held in Argentina in October 2003. In particular, this gathering provided positive momentum for the promotion of Korean Studies in Central and South America, where the status of Korean Studies programs is not especially active, and the Foundation¡¯s support had been provided on an irregular basis. As a result of this conference, the Argentine association of Korean Studies came into being in June 2004. The second Korean Studies conference for this region was held at Colegio de Mexico in October 2004, which included an agreement to establish a Central and South American association of Korean Studies.

The Foundation has increased its support for the Central and South American region in 2004 to further build on this groundwork, in several regards. Accordingly, the University of Colima (Mexico), the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina), and the University of Chile are now undertaking Korean Studies programs in earnest, which includes such activities as establishing a center for Korean Studies, offering Korean language courses on a continuous basis, and conducting research on Korea-related subjects. To help sustain these efforts in the Central and South American region, the Foundation has agreed to extend continuing support to these universities. Of note, the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina opened its Korea-Argentina Center in November this year. During his visit to Argentina, President Roh met with University of Buenos Aires President Jaim Etcheverry to express his gratitude for the opening of this center, while mentioning that he would convey to the Korean people the significance of this new Korean Studies center, only the second area studies center, along with the French Studies center, at this prestigious university. In addition, President Roh received an honorary faculty appointment from the University of Buenos Aires. The Foundation has also signed memorandums of understanding with the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Colima for the launch of their Korean Studies programs. The University of Chile, which has expressed its plans to establish a Korean Studies center, is scheduled to implement its Korean Studies programs in the near future as well.

To promote more cooperative relations with Korea, the Foundation organized the first lecture tour program for Central and South American countries in 2004. Under this program, Professor Kwak Jae-sung of Kyung Hee University and Professor Kim Ki-hyun of Sunmoon University presented lectures on Korea's politics, economy, and international relations to audiences of professors, students, and the general public at Colegio de Mexico, the University of Colima, and Asia Pacific University in Mexico; the Diplomatic & Consular Academy in Paraguay; and the University of Simon Bolivar in Venezuela. The Foundation plans to conduct this lecture program on an annual basis.

Cultural Exchange Efforts
On the occasion of President Roh¡¯s visit to South America, the Foundation organized a touring performance of the Seoul Performing Arts Company of Panama, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela, from October 21 to November 2. The Company performed a variety of traditional Korean dance, such as hwagwanmu, cheoyongmu, hallyangmu, buchaechum, barachum and seungmu, along with farmers¡¯ music arranged in a contemporary style, for the South American audiences who have only limited opportunity to personally experience Korean culture. The Foundation also provided support to the Yohangza Theatre Company and the A-Soon Dance Company for their participation in the International Festival of Theater of Manizales, in Colombia, and the International Cervantino Festival, in Mexico, respectively. The performances were well-received by the Central and South American audiences.

Intellectual Exchange
It is noteworthy that the Foundation invited government officials and journalists from five Central and South American countries, including MERCOSUR member countries, to visit Korea from September 16-22, under its International Exchange of Young Leaders. The invitees from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile had an opportunity to enhance their understanding about Korea¡¯s politics, economy and society, and develop personal contacts for future-oriented relations with Korea. Under its Invitation Program, the Foundation also invited two distinguished figures from the region, including the president of the University of Chile. As for support for international conferences, the Foundation provided assistance to the 8th Korea-Latin America Forum for Cooperation.

Publication, Media & Reference Materials Distribution
The Foundation distributes the Spanish edition of its Koreana publication to 1,739 institutions and individuals in 20 Central and South American countries. The Spanish version of the Foundation¡¯s quarterly on Korean culture and art, which was first published in 1990, has been instrumental in introducing the culture and arts of Korea to Central and South American readers.

In light of the effectiveness of Korean TV drama series in promoting a favorable image of Korea by providing glimpses of Korea¡¯s economic and cultural development, the Foundation is supporting the distribution of Korean TV drama programs to Central and South American countries, which have expressed an interest in their broadcast for local viewers. In this regard, several drama series, which have been popular in Korea, have been selected and distributed to five Central and South American TV will be broadcasters, for airing from early 2005.

The Foundation also supports the distribution of Korea-related reference materials to lay a cornerstone for and to encourage more active Korea-related education and research in Central and South America. This year, the Foundation distributed about 360 volumes of reference materials to eight institutions in eight Central and South American countries, including the Catholic University of Chile. This relatively low level of assistance reflects the still-developing status of Korean Studies activities in the region. To further promote Korean Studies programs in these regions, the Foundation is currently preparing a bibliographic list of introductory reference materials on Korea, which will be distributed in 2005 in order to expand the availability of basic reference materials on Korea.