BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Department of Youth and Sports under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), yesterday organised a farewell dinner for 10 female South Korean delegations for their participation in the Brunei-Korea Bilaterial Youth Exchange Programme.

The programme started on May 12 with the aim to show the Korean delegation on the Bruneian lifestyle as well as its cultures and surroundings.

Present at the farewell dinner was the Acting Permanent Secretary at MCYS Hj Md Noor Jusmin Hj Abd Samad, the representatives of the South Korean Embassy to Brunei, the director of Youth and Sport as well as officers from MCYS.

The event was held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium

In his opening speech, Hj Md Noor Jusmin emphasised the importance of knowledge gained from both parties in this programme. “It is this knowledge and learning that provides the much needed common sense in our daily choices. Common sense comes with much knowledge, learning and exposure.”

Hj Md Jusmin also stressed the needs to improve good characters amongst the youth from both countries for progressive fulfillments.

“Youths are the heartbeat of our two nations. As our heartbeats youth must build and focus on good character building so as to achieve positive progress and prosperity for our nations.”

Meanwhile, the farewell remarks of Korean delegation were delivered by its head, No Kyoung Park, the head of the South Korean delegation, said he hoped that through this exchange programme, both countries could strengthen its bilaterial relationship and the participants gained more knowledge on various fields particularly in terms of its cultures.

The event continued with the handing over gifts and certificates to the South Korean delegation as well as the foster families who participated in the programme.

The youth delegation from South Korea stayed in the Sultanate for a period of ten days.

Six Bruneian families were selected to foster the delegation.

Speaking with The Brunei Times, a member of the delegation, Oh Seong Yeon, said she was fascinated by the hot weather, culture and lifestyle in Brunei.

“It was something new to all of us and there are big differences between our culture and Bruneians’ culture, but one thing that I will always remember is the friendliness of the Bruneians,” she said.

A Memorandum of Understanding between Brunei and South Korea was signed in 2009 with the aim to increase mutual understanding and trust between the two sides through youth participation in the programme.

Yesterday's event also saw the delegation from South Korea performing their traditional and modern dances.

The Brunei Times