Ambassadors from 11 countries will meet middle and high school students through a public diplomacy program prepared by a non-profit group.
The Korea Culture and Diplomatic Mission (KCDM), a group established to help Koreans build awareness of global cultures, said that it will host the three-day Youth Ambassador Academy at the International Youth Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Aug. 4.
Under the program, ambassadors from 11 countries, including the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Malaysia and Colombia, will give presentations about their cultures and countries to some 110 middle and high school students.
Those students will be divided into 11 groups by country and each ambassador will work closely with the students on their country's team. Ambassadors will serve as mentors and help the students in their teams prepare their English presentations and speeches about the countries.
The KCDM will select students who give excellent presentations for special recognition. The August camp is the first of its kind, according to a KCDM staffer.
Students will receive certificates upon their completion of the three-day program. The KCDM said it will receive applications from students for the program until early August.
Since 2012, the organization has hosted the Global Costume Festival in Seoul. Nearly 50 to 60 ambassadors join the festival every year.
Korea, Kenya sign 3 agreements
Korea and Kenya signed a set of agreements to avoid double taxation and protect investors.
On Tuesday, Lee Kyung-soo, deputy foreign minister for political affairs, and Kenyan Finance Minister Henry Rotich inked the treaty to avoid double taxation on income at the finance ministry in Kenya.
It also aims to prevent overseas tax evasion by allowing the two countries to share tax information.
The two sides signed an agreement to protect Korean investors from wealth and property expropriation to facilitate Korean investments into the African country. Lee and Rotich also inked an aid agreement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the signings of the three agreements would lay the groundwork for bilateral cooperation in tax and development assistance.
Italian design exhibition to begin
The Korea Foundation (KF), in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute, will host an exhibition to showcase Italian fashion, opera, history and craftsmanship.
Starting from July 17, the "Craftsmen, Designers, Makers: Made in Italy with Love" exhibition will continue until Aug. 27 at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center in Seoul.
The exhibition will showcase several art works and fashion designs, including products made by Alessandro de Beneditti and Massimo Osti
"The exhibition will highlight challenges and opportunities facing traditional arts and craftsmen in an era of digitalization," the KF said in a press release. "Through the exhibition, visitors will find how craftsmanship and brands interacted through artwork and shaped the trends in the high-end industry."
The exhibition is the second in a series of showcases highlighting Italian design to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the establishment of Korea-Italy diplomatic relations.