The name of this familiar fish is “Koi.” Koi is a type of fancy carp, known for its unique characteristic. 

In a fishbowl, koi can only grow to 5 to 8 cm. In a pond, koi can grow to 25 cm. In a river, they can grow up to 120 cm.

Depending on their environment, the same fish can grow to different sizes. Koi can be small aquarium fish or big river fish. Depending on our environment and the size of our dreams, our life can also be different. Break out of the fishbowl to expand your dreams. Pursue bigger dreams in a bigger world.

What should we do?

Use your passion 1000 times.
Take a challenge 1000 times.
Take action 1000 times.

Then, your dream will no longer be just inside your mind.
Soon, your dream will have the power to change the world.

Here, let us introduce you to a man who made it happen. 
This man has been changing young Koreans and the world.

The achievement of his dream is related to the number “1000.”

VANK was established about 10 years ago by a college student, who was interested in developing pen-pal relationships with foreigners.

Without his passion, challenge and action, VANK would have been impossible. 

1000 times using his passion
He sent 1000 emails to Korean language programs around the world.

He had never travelled abroad.
His dream was to take a trip to a foreign country.

At the time, he couldn’t afford such trips.
So, he found foreign pen-pals online. 

He developed friendships with his foreign pen-pals.

He started dreaming of becoming a person who represents Korea abroad. He knew that there were other people like him who have never been abroad. For those people, he sat at an internet café and built a small pen-pal website. He needed to take other actions to recruit foreign members for his website.

Again, he used his passion 1000 times. He emailed 1000 professors who teach the Korean language at universities. Such efforts led many foreign students to join his pen-pal website.

10 years later …
Guess what happened to this website.

It has become a leading organization that helps young Koreans build friendships with foreigners and promote their country to the world.

It is now widely known as Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK).

1000 challenges
In pursuit of persuading 1000 textbook publishers and cartographers around the world 

While running the website, he discovered something unexpected. Foreign textbooks and maps have a lot of errors about Korea. The East Sea is often referred to as “the Sea of Japan.” Dokdo is often referred to as “Takeshima.”

Korean history is often introduced as a part of Chinese history.

He started searching through other textbooks to find similar errors.

He identified 1,000 authors of the textbooks that contained errors.

He launched a project to contact and persuade each of the authors to make corrections.

National Geographic and renowned textbook publishers started correcting the errors.

An increasing number of foreign sources accurately represent Korean territories and history.
 
1000 actions
A million copies of Korean promotional materials were delivered to foreign classrooms.

The young man took notice of another surprising fact.

The number of pages in foreign textbooks that cover Asian countries
Japan 20 pages
China 30 pages
Korea 1 page

Most foreign textbooks didn’t even mention Korea.

However, he didn’t despair.

Instead, he distributed Korean promotional materials to Korean students who were going abroad.

He made world maps that accurately represent Dokdo and the East Sea.

He sent these maps to classrooms around the world. 
 
Until now, over a million copies of Korean promotional materials have been sent to thousands of classrooms abroad.

Numerous foreign students received our materials.

For the last 10 years, this young man used his passion 1000 times, took 1000 challenges, and took 1000 actions to achieve his goals.

In the beginning, his small pen-pal website was in a fishbowl.

Now, it works with 100 thousand Korean members who represent Korea.

The website is now known as an organization called VANK.

For the last 10 years, the young man and VANK members took 1000 challenges together!

As citizen ambassadors, we travelled to many different countries. 

We have offered helping hands to people in Asia and Africa.

We have been growing to become true global leaders.

Now, you use passion, take challenges and take action 1000 times.

Achieve a big dream in a bigger world!

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Isaac Newton

We hope that young Koreans find their own dreams through our 1000 projects.

They will stand on the top of the world. 

Eventually, they will become giants who change the world.

Young Koreans’ dreams create the future of Korea. 

Korea’s dreams create the future of the world.

A cool and shady bamboo forest

Stretching out to the sky, bamboo trees grow up to 30m.

A small bamboo shoot
The amount of time this small thing takes to make a sheltered forest …

“Only 6 weeks”
Each day, a bamboo tree can grow 1m.

However, many people fail in their attempt to grow a bamboo forest.

The reason many people give up
“5 years”
For about 5 years after they are planted, bamboo seeds show no change.

No sign of change.

To grow a bamboo forest, a long time is spent being patient and constantly watering and fertilizing the soil.

Only people who endure the long wait can finally see a thick and strong bamboo forest. We have a dream of seeing a bamboo forest grow. What are you doing to grow your own bamboo forest? Your dream can be realized within 6 weeks.

However, you need 5 years of preparation to see the change.
A bamboo forest requires 5 years to take form. 
5 years + 5 years = 10 years

For 10 years …
There was a young man who dreamed of growing a big forest.

In February 2013, he received an award in recognition of his work in training young Koreans to become citizen ambassadors in innovative ways. 

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development gave him the presidential award.

It was the fifth presidential award that he received.

The forest that he created to receive such results was Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK). VANK is leading Korean promotional activities with its 100 thousand members.

We are also dedicated to creating a better world. 

The amount of time this forest took
10 years

In the beginning, the young man had nothing in his hands. He had no knowledge of diplomacy, special skills, financial resources, or connections. However, he made a constant effort for 10 years to see the forest.

For that period, he developed his own techniques and programs to promote Korea abroad. VANK is now empowered with a widespread network of 100 thousand members!

The network continues to fertilize his forest.  This is not an unordinary story about one man.

Written by an internationally recognized author, Malcolm Gladwell,
“Outliers: The Story of Success”

The author investigated commonalities among people who made great accomplishments.

He reached a conclusion. 

The 10,000-Hour Rule
3 hours per day for 10 years

What made their accomplishments possible was not their genius, but the efforts that they put into it of over 10,000 hours within 10 years. Through such efforts, they became famed experts. However, VANK suggests that young Koreans go even further.

We hope you prove the 60,000-Hour Rule.

Instead of 3 hours, but in 18 hours a day!
10 years of constant effort to achieve your dream
The 60,000-Hour Rule

Except for your 6 hours of sleep, use all of your time to accomplish your goal.

Do you think it is impossible?
No, it is not true!

Guess how much time VANK took to become what it is now. Three hours a day was far from enough to achieve his dream! His English wasn’t good enough to promote Korea. First, he bought a pen-pal guidebook and started memorizing English sentences. Korea has had conflicts over history with China and Japan.

He stayed up all night reading history books written by renowned scholars. When he couldn’t understand by himself, he visited experts to ask questions. Then, he emailed foreign scholars and publishers.

Through such efforts, many errors about Korea have been corrected in foreign textbooks. He also made promotional materials about Korea for foreign tourists. Whenever possible, he distributed them to foreign friends. Three hours didn’t seem to be enough for him to create a forest.  

He spent all his available time to achieve his dream.

His constant efforts have continued
For 60,000 hours

It made his small pen-pal website into a leading organization for public diplomacy. What made this miracle possible was 60,000 hours of dedication. What is your dream to grow your own forest?

How do you need to spend your day to achieve your dream?

VANK is looking for young Koreans who will prove the 60,000 Hour Rule to the world.

Let’s create a miracle together.

Don’t blame your lack of knowledge, techniques, money or connections.

Become a pioneer by using your time as fertilizer to grow your dream!

You are the future of Korea.
You are the one who gives hope to the world.

In 2005, a public campaign advertisement about VANK was broadcast after the prime time news. The 50 second advertisement promoted VANK’s dream to the public.

Now, VANK has a bigger dream.

VANK started with an email that one young man sent to his foreign friend. His foreign friend didn’t know anything about Korea, but he still expressed an interest. The young man felt happy about having the opportunity to promote Korea.

Soon, he realized that there was a lot of incorrect information about Korea.
“Historically, Korea was a colony of China and Japan.”
“Korea is a crime-ridden and poor country.”

The lost name of the East Sea on world maps
The wrong reference to Dokdo as Takeshima

Actually, Korea has a prosperous culture.
Korea has 5000 years of great history.

We Koreans have strong passion.
VANK wants to accurately promote Korea to the 7 billion people of the world.

We also want to change the world. We hope that young Koreans will find their own dreams and make a difference in the world. Now, even people on the other side of the world have started getting interested in Korea.

Some foreigners buy a Korean dictionary to learn Korean. There is a foreign friend, who wants to become a diplomat and work in Korea. We research foreign textbooks, and write to publishers if we find errors about the East Sea.

With VANK, young Koreans have been promoting Korea to the world. Now, we have also started paying attention to our friends in Asia and Africa. We are helping them promote their culture and history to the world. VANK has been widely recognized for its contribution to promoting Korea abroad.

We received five presidential awards for our contribution to culture, education, diplomacy and national promotion.  Korea has become “a country of friends” around the world.  This is what we have achieved with our love for our country. A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds.

However, it eventually grows to a big tree. Soon, birds come down to rest on its branches. The seed of VANK was our passion to accurately promote Korea. Now it has become a tree with thick branches and abundant fruit.

We hope it will continue to grow, and become a forest of hope for the world.

That is VANK’s dream.

We want to share our dream with everyone who believes in the potential of a mustard seed.

Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK)

These two countries have long been actively engaged in international exchange.

They sent many expeditions across the world.

Zheng-He’s Expeditions
“Go across the oceans to the end of the world, and make every single country pay tribute to China!”
- Yongle, the third emperor of Ming China, in the 15th century 

The Emperor Yongle ordered Admiral Zheng-He to go on expeditions.

For the next 28 years, Zheng-He led seven expeditions with 62 treasure ships and nearly 30 thousand men.

Zheng-He began the first great voyage across the world.

Asia
America
Africa
Zheng-He opened up a Silk Road in the ocean.

He visited numerous countries to deliver the emperor’s desire to develop exchange relationships.

China aggressively pursued international cooperation and exchange.

Zheng-He’s expeditions preceded Columbus’s discovery of the New World and European expeditions.

Through the new sea routes, Zheng-He promoted China across the world.

It is no surprise that China is the most-known Asian country in the western world.

It is the result of China’s effort to promote its culture and history for over 600 years.

The Iwakura Mission
The primary purpose was to learn advanced military and industrial technology from the West in order to strengthen Japan.

After the end of the Edo period, the Meiji government took control of Japan. 

The Meiji government organized a mission that consisted of 106 members, including its top officials.

The Iwakura Mission was sent to America and Europe.
(1871 – 1873)

One of the officials was Ito Hirobumi, the key figure in Japan’s annexation of Korea.

Japan was determined to defeat the Western powers and become the center of Asia.

It started accepting Western culture and closely watching international affairs. 

The mission went to the U.S. capital of Washington D.C. to research international political trends.
 
They later moved to the U.K. to study the Industrial Revolution.

Japan wanted to revise unequal treaties with the U.S.

So, Japan started building relationships with high-ranking American government officials.

Japan thoroughly examined the treaties.

Japan eventually used this knowledge to make an unequal treaty with Korea. 

Japan also adopted advanced military technology after observing American and European military systems.

The mission visited many different countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, the Netherlands and Russia.

Using the knowledge they gained, Japan successfully upgraded their economic and military systems.

With renewed confidence, Japan waged the Russo-Japanese War and the Sino-Japanese War.

These wars caused tragedy and disaster in Northeast Asia.

In the 15th century – Zheng-He’s expeditions (China)
In the 19th century – The Iwakura Mission (Japan)

In the 21st century, Koreans are embarking on a great expedition to change the world and establish peace in Asia.

The Mission of Young Koreans for Asia
Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK)

VANK started as a pen-pal website in 1999.
It is now an organization that has 100 thousand members as of 2012. 

We recruit young Koreans through the internet. 
We train them to become cyber diplomats. 

PRKOREA 200 Thousand Project

The purpose of this project is to train 200 thousand citizen diplomats, who will promote Korea across the world.

Our goal is to have each of the 200 thousand citizen diplomats make friendships with at least 5 foreign friends. 

Then, a million foreigners will become our friends.

Citizen diplomats will interact with their foreign friends, families and their local communities.

Through friendly interaction, they will promote everything about Korea, including its culture, history, politics and economy.

They have corrected wrong information about Korea in various international sources.

Citizen diplomats play a crucial role in building Korea’s global image as a friendly country.

Their foreign friends learn about the real Korea.

In turn, those foreign friends promote Korea to their families and friends.

Someday all foreigners will think of Korea as “a country of good friends.”

This is our biggest dream.

Some say,
“VANK’s dream is unobtainable.”

“An enormous amount of money and effort will be required to promote Korea throughout the world. The dream is simply futile.”

Despite such skepticism, VANK members did not give up.

Korea has the world’s best internet infrastructure.
Taking advantage of the internet, everyone can promote Korea at will.

Some say,
“It’s a good dream, but it is still unrealistic.” 

However, VANK members feel confident that they can achieve the dream. 

Ten million Koreans travel abroad each year.
They can all be citizen diplomats!!  

Together, we can promote Korea to the 7 billion people of the world.

Many believe that promoting Korea is to show something amazing about Korea.

VANK disagrees.

What we need to promote Korea is not glamorous advertisements.

The best tool to promote Korea is our genuine friendship.

Build a sincere friendship with each of your foreign friends.

In just a matter of time, your friendship will reach the communities of your friends.

Your friends will express their love for Korea in their local communities.
 
Korea will be known as a country that makes friendships with the entire world.

This is the kind of Korea we want to achieve through the PRKOREA Project.

There is one question that Koreans are asked most frequently outside Korea.

“Are you Japanese?”
“Or, are you Chinese?”
“Isn’t Korea the country between China and Japan?”

VANK hopes that someday Asians will be asked such questions as:

“Are you Korean?
“Is Japan the country next to Korea?”
“Isn’t China a neighbor of Korea?

Korea becomes the center of Northeast Asia, the gateway to Asia, and the friend of the whole world.

This is VANK’s dream of “Near Korea.”

VANK wants Korea to continue to prosper economically and spiritually.

We also want Korea to share its prosperity with its global neighbors.

Friendly Korea is our ultimate dream.

Students
Housewives
Office workers
Entrepreneurs
Artists
Scientists

Whatever dream you have, please remember this:
Your vision will make a difference in your country. 

Your vision will make the future.

Korean people, 1% of the world’s population
Korean territory, 0.07% of the world’s total land

Should the size of the population or its land decide Korea’s global influence in the 21st century?

Henry Kissinger, a master of diplomacy
Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and one of the richest people in the world
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook (the biggest SNS in the world)
Steven Spielberg, the most influential figure of the Hollywood movie industry

They are people with great influence on global politics, economy, society, and culture. Do you know what their commonality is? 

The Jews
The Jews comprise only 2% of the American population and 0.2% of the world’s population.
Due to the persecution of imperialism, they immigrated to America. Now, they have great influence throughout all areas of American society.

What is their secret to becoming the power that influences America and the world?

The invisible power that is spread throughout the world, Network
The Jewish network is closely connected across the world. Through this network, the Jews reflect their interests in the international community. Their immense power is rooted in the network.

On Passover, the biggest Jewish holiday, many of them return home. They share information about the different parts of the world where they live. Throughout their history, they have made a conscious effort to preserve their traditions and culture.

The Jewish network is a combination of pride and intelligence. The network reinforces their power in international politics. With the influence of their network, they are leading the future of their country and the world.

“Regardless of where you live, all Chinese are one Chinese.”
- Chinese’s collective spirit –

Chinatown
Overseas Chinese
Chinese Economic Bloc

The Chinese also have a worldwide network that connects Chinese across the world. The network of overseas Chinese is a source of global intelligence. Using the network, the Chinese have increased their influence on international society.  Like the Jews and the Chinese, many peoples of the world are increasing their global influence through their network.

Network is power in today’s world. It is clear what young Koreans should do to prepare a better future of Korea. Make the Korean Network!

To achieve our dreams in the global arena, we should establish the Korean Network.  This is the best thing we can do to ensure a promising future for Korea. Koreans have spread throughout the world.

In the 1900s, the Korean peninsula went through historic tragedies:
The Japanese Occupation Period and the Korean War

In these difficult times, Koreans went abroad to work at sugarcane farms. Some started their life as construction workers in a foreign country. Through their unique diligence and passion, many Koreans pulled through all challenges. They achieved success on foreign soil against discrimination and stereotypes.

They are now enhancing Korea’s international standing. The Korean overseas community is the world’s fifth largest after the Chinese, Italian, Israeli and Indian. Seven million overseas Koreans live in 175 countries!

Regardless of where they live, overseas Koreans are helping to promote Korea. They are supporting the spread of the Korean Wave, Hallyu.  

They are also promoting the legitimacy of the East Sea and Dokdo to the global community. Likewise, overseas Koreans are making constant efforts to increase Korea’s global influence.   At the same time, they strive to ensure that their children remember their Korean roots. Overseas Koreans have established over 1,200 Korean language schools across the world.

The second and third generations of Koreans are now learning Korean in those schools. Seven million overseas Koreans have gained a great deal of intelligence and experience. There are also 50 million Koreans on the Korean peninsula.

Fifty seven million Koreans will build a powerful Korean network! The network will give us great power and pride.

“Koreans are like sand. They are unable to unite.”
- Uchida Ryohei
(A secretary to Ito Hirobumi, the first resident-general of Korea during the Japanese Occupation Period)

To justify its occupation, Japan devalued Koreans’ ability to unite. It also purposely ignored Koreans’ potential to improve. However, we know Koreans have a great potential to make a greater Korea. We can see our potential and ability to unite in our history.

“Two sets of hands are better than one, even to lift a piece of paper.”

Koreans have proved their potential to unite and overcome challenges during many important moments in history.
In the gold collection campaign during Korea’s IMF economic crisis
In the comfort women related campaign to fight against Japanese lobbying in the U.S
In a series of efforts to promote the truth about the East Sea and Korean culture

And during the World Cup and the Olympic Games!! Koreans have shown their ability to unite on all these occasions. Throughout our history, we all worked together to overcome hardships. With seven million overseas Koreans, we should create a strong network.

Let’s build a bigger and better Korea!! Our dreams will rapidly spread across the world. With the Korean network, we can achieve bigger dreams in the world. VANK is looking for young Koreans, who want to hold hands with seven million overseas Koreans.

Together, we will create a greater Korea. Fifty million Koreans on the Korean peninsula
We have a total of 57 million Koreans.

With the Korean network, we will overcome the limits of size, which is 0.07% of the world’s total land and 1% of the world’s population. We will achieve a great dream to lead the future of the world in the 21st century.

Our dream is not to become the world’s most powerful country.
Our goal is not to threaten other countries with wealth and military power.
We want to build a worldwide Korean network.

The goal of this network is to deliver hope to people throughout the world. We will become friends with the people of the world, and bring about world peace.

Fifty million Koreans on the Korean peninsula
Seven million overseas Koreans

We will gather all Koreans and expand the Korean network worldwide.
With the global Korean network, we will create a better and greater future for Korea.

We are all proud Koreans!

Spec
Short for Specifications

Korean job seekers refer to the combination of educational background, professional background and English test score as “spec”.
Good specs include graduating from a top university, family wealth, fluent English, and international experience.

There was a young man who had none of these.
His life seemed hopeless.

He went to an average university.
He did not seem to have a promising future.

His family was too poor to support his education.
For him, there were more challenges than opportunities.

Had a mediocre level of English

Could not take the usual backpacking trip to Europe during college

An employee at a major company,
A government employee,
A professional with specialized knowledge, or
A teacher

All those admired occupations seemed to be far from him. 
His future seemed uncertain.

However, 10 years later, he …

• Became one of the 101 Most Influential People in Korea
Seoul Newspaper 
• Received the Social Change Innovation Award
Joongang Daily

• Received the Seoul Grand Tourism Award
Seoul Metropolitan Government
• Received the Grand Tourism Award
Korean Tourism Organization (KTO)

• Received four organizational presidential awards
- National promotion area
- Cultural development area
- Diplomacy and unification area
- Accurate national information promotion area

• Selected as a next generation leader and was invited for training
The US Department of State

He is the president of VANK, a cyber diplomatic organization with 70,000 members.

This is the dramatic story about a young man, who was far from having good specs. 

He chose not to restrict himself to typical qualifications.

Instead, he developed his own set of specs to achieve his dream. 

He decided not to waste his time and effort gaining standard but irrelevant skills.

Instead, he devoted all his energy to promoting Korea to the world.

“Don’t be restricted to the standard specs that turn you and your dream into a machine and a product. Develop your own specs that inspire your life.”

“This is the most important message I want all young Koreans to remember.”
-Park Gitae, President of VANK

Here is what the president of VANK, Park Gitae, wants to tell you.
“A New Approach to Specs”

What VANK sees as real specs are not the typical specifications that people often assume.

For VANK, the most important spec is courage to change the status quo. 

Spec
‘S’ stands for sweat. I wrote my life Story with Sweat.

My priority was not getting overseas experience and better TOEIC scores.

Instead, every day I went to Deoksugung Palace to introduce Korean palaces to foreigners in English. 

Sometimes I was rejected by the foreigners.

Despite some challenges, my time with foreign tourists was far more helpful to my life than going to TOEIC classes. 

I learned my English with a lot of sweat.
It was more valuable than any overseas experience.

sPec
‘P’ stands for passion. I made Progress with my Passion.

My specs were not good enough to be selected for overseas language programs or volunteer work projects.

However, I didn’t let it discourage me, and I decided to connect online with foreigners who are interested in Korea.

So, I made a pen-pal site. 

I sent over 1,000 emails to foreign schools that had a Korean language program.

I helped them find Korean friends and build friendships.

With my great passion, I introduced them to Korean culture, history and language.

Through steady progress, this passion made what VANK is now.

spEc
‘E’ stands for empowerment. I pursue the Empowerment of individuals who want to improve life on Earth.

You introduce Korean culture to your foreign friend.  

Then, your friend will talk about Korea to her family and friends.
Soon, it will spread to schools and local communities across the world. 

Through your effort, the 7 billion people of the world will get to know the real Korea.

I want to share my dream and vision with you.

I want to give you the honor of being a diplomat for Korea. 

As of now, 70 thousand Koreans have completed cyber diplomacy education through VANK.

Given the authority and responsibilities of citizen diplomats, they are now promoting Korea to the people of the world.

Their responsibilities go beyond promoting Korea.

They are also leading the effort to make the world a better place.

speC
‘C’ stands for color. I want to change Corea through my own unique Color.

Admission to a prestigious university
Employment at a large corporation
Success in a government employment exam

Away from those typical paths, I have made my own path.

I found great values and potential in Korea’s 5000 years of history.

My dream is to promote Korea through the internet, and impress the world with our values!

I established VANK with my own color, not with great specs.

Now, many countries across the world come to VANK to learn about our promotional know-how. 

VANK members have started seeking their own dreams, other than the typical dreams of working for a large corporation or government.

They are pursuing their dreams to change Korea and the world.

I didn’t let the standard specs decide my future.

I took up the challenges to change Korea and the world.

What specs are you seeking?

Are your specs helping you improve yourself and your country?

VANK is looking for courageous and passionate young Koreans.

With VANK, you will change Korea and the world.

Real specs shouldn’t be English test scores or award history.

Instead, they are your passion and dedication to your dream.

Your passion and efforts will make more people know about Korea.

Through your efforts, the underprivileged children of the world will find their lost dreams.

You will bring ‘hope’ to everyone in the world. 

With us, young Koreans become the hope for the world.

Be true to yourself, and change the world!
Park Gitae, President of VANK

朋友 [pengyou]
ともだち [tomodachi]
Friend [frend]
Freund [froynt]
Shamwari [shamwari]
친구 [chin-gu]

We Koreans want to be friends with people all across the five oceans and six continents.

Land size: 0.07% of the world’s total land area.
Population: 1% of the world’s total population

Our country is so small.
How can we make friends with people all over the world?

Big things start small.
Assume that one Korean will make five foreign friends.

Then, 10 Koreans will be able to promote Korea to 50 foreigners. Later, the 50 foreign friends will talk about Korea to their friends. Korea will no longer be just a small country of 70 million people. If all Koreans become public diplomats, the 7 billion people of the world will become friends of Korea.

Soft Power

Strong military or economic power is not enough to win people’s hearts. Soft power is the ability to gain voluntary agreements through good causes and appeals. VANK suggests the following project to enhance Korea’s soft power. Global Network Building Project: 70 million Koreans befriend the 7 billion people of the world.

A friendship between two people enabled the creation of the Suez Canal, the longest canal in the world. The Suez Canal shortened the sea route from the East to the West by connecting the Mediterranean with the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The canal opened the sea route and allowed people to overcome geographical obstacles. 

Ferdinand de Lesseps, French diplomat 

He gained the full support of his old friend, the King of Egypt. Thanks to his friend’s support, he could overcome all adversity. Their friendship led to the construction of the Suez Canal that connects the East and the West. Likewise, young Koreans want to open paths to the peaceful future by building global friendships.

With Korean public diplomats, Korea’s soft power is ever-growing.
Korean public diplomats are here. We want to show you the charm of Korea.

This is a part of VANK’s public diplomacy project to build global friendships and introduce Korea.
The goal of this project is to reach out to “YOU”!!
Our public diplomats are here to become your friends.

The Oath of Public diplomats

“We swear that we will commit ourselves to building friendships with the 7 billion people of the world and promoting Korea to our best ability”

Responsibilities of Public diplomats

1. You have full authority and responsibility to engage in public diplomacy and establish a ‘friendship agreement’ with foreign friends.

You will try to understand the suffering of your friends’ country from going through colonial rule during the Age of Imperialism. You will listen to the stories of your friends who lost family due to conflict and wars. You will support the future of your friends who lost their dreams due to poverty. Your first responsibility as a public diplomat is to share your friends’ suffering and understand their cultures and traditions.

This is the first stage under the friendship agreement.

2. You have full responsibility to accommodate your friends’ needs during their visit to Korea.

You will help them feel at home so that they will like Korea. 
Regardless of where they are from, approach them with kindness.
You must show a sincere interest in their country.
Most of all, welcome them with a big smile.

“Hello~ Welcome to Korea! I am a member of VANK. I’m interested in your culture and music!”

3. You have full responsibility to begin cultural and language exchanges with your foreign friends to overcome stereotypes about each other.

Show your friends the charm of Korea and the things that you appreciate.
If your friends mention negative aspects of Korea, then respect their opinions.
Talk about those issues, and express your opinions in a mature manner.
Further, you can even discuss other global issues with your friends.

Language and attractions in your friends’ country
Diplomatic relations between Korea and your friends’ country
Other international relationships

Study your friends’ countries and enjoy conversations with your friends. You have responsibility to cooperate with the people of the world to tackle global issues. You will become a global citizen. 4. You have full responsibility to engage in international negotiations to reveal historical distortions and promote accurate Korean history.

Websites
Textbooks
World Maps

Inaccurate information has been spread all over the world. You will have to send messages to concerned publishers and institutions to make corrections. You will have to participate in international negotiations to correct misrepresentations of the East Sea, Dokdo and other historical distortions about Korea.

This is not a simple matter of correcting some information. We will recover our true history and culture that were degraded due to imperialism.  Korea will give hope to other Asian countries that suffered from imperialism.

This is a crucial step to achieving peace in Northeast Asia. With your participation, Korea will no longer be a small country of 70 million people.

When all 70 million Koreans become public diplomats, Korea will become a country of strong diplomacy with the full support of global friends.

VANK encourages our Korean members to become friends with people across the world.
We Korean public diplomats would like to pave paths to peace and make a better world.

Through global friendships, we will also pursue our dreams.

A country that international travelers want to visit
A country that international CEOs want to invest in
A country that everyone in the world wants to live in

Our global friendship will create a better future for Korea. We want to promote Korea as a friend’s country to the people of the world.

As public diplomats, we are here to be your friends.
Let’s build friendships together and make the world a better place.

May 1999 – Built prkorea.com website

Nov 2001 – Established as non-profit organization to introduce Korea to the world

Jan 2002 – Started 9 projects to introduce Korea to the world

April 2002 – Appointed as Children’s Peace Ambassador by Korean National Commission for UNESCO

Nov 2002 – Won presidential award in Promotion of Korea by 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup Council

Dec 2002 – Won presidential award in Correcting Distorted information on Korea by Korean Culture and Information Service  

Dec 2002 – Won Korea Tourism Award by Korea Tourism Organization

Dec 2003 – Won National Assembly Award by National Assembly of Korea

April 2004 – Published a book, ‘Cyber Diplomat, VANK’ with Haneon publishing company.

Dec 2004 – Won Catholic Media Award

April 2005 – Started a project to train public servants, soldiers, teachers and more as public diplomats

April 2005 – Started a project to build social club in elementary, middle and high schools by members of VANK

Oct 2005 – Published a book for leaders of social clubs

Oct 2005 – Won presidential award in Diplomacy and Unification by Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Nov 2005 – Started a project to build human network for overseas Koreans

Dec 2005 – Started Asia Peace Project

Jan 2006 – Started co-operation works with local governmental bodies

Mar 2007 – Became a member of National Image Branding Council

Apr 2007 – Built French, Spanish, German and Arabic websites

Jul 2007 – Started World Changer Project

Nov 2007 – Built Italian, Thai and Indonesian websites

Apr 2008 – Became a Honorary Ambassador of Seoul

May 2008 – Built Gwanggaeto Project to help Koreans who need printed materials about Korea

Sep 2008 – Became a Honorary Ambassador of Jikji, the oldest movable metal type printed book

Oct 2008 – Built National Branding project via web 2.0 technologies

Oct 2008 – Won Special Award by Gyeongsangbukdo provincial governments

Apr 2009 – Built Cyber Dokdo Academy website

Jun 2009 – Won presidential award in Information and Culture by Ministry of Public Administration and Security

Jun 2009 – Won Seoul Tourism Award by Seoul Metropolitan government

Sep 2009 – Built World Changer project website in Korean

Apr 2010 – Won Yi Sun-sin Award by Gyeongsangnamdo provincial government

May 2010 – Won Creative Human Award by Jungang daily news agency

Sep 2010 – Built Global History Diplomatic Academy website

Nov 2010 – Built World Changer project website in English at theworldchanger.net

Mar 2012 – Renewed Korean language website of VANK 

To get to know more about VANK

• Cyber Diplomacy policy
• History
• Public Diplomacy
• Story of VANK

A person crossing a road pointed at the sky
No passerby took the time to look at the sky
Two people looked and pointed at the sky.
Nobody looked at what the two people were pointing.
Three people looked up and pointed at sky
Surprisingly, people stopped walking and stared at the empty sky.
 
October 17th, 2005, Cheonho station
An old man who was getting on the subway got stuck in  the gap.
One man shouted, “Let’s push together!”

However, nobody moved
At that instance, another man shouted, “I’ll help!”
In the middle of the silence, another shouted, “I will help, too!”
Three people started to push the subway
Others who hadn’t said anything started to push the subway
33 tons of subway leaned, and the people saved the old man
 
This is the Law of three that changes the world
This is the story of South Korea that will move the world with the Law of 3
The Japanese government says:
Give up because 97% of the world maps marks East Sea as the Sea of Japan
 
However, young Koreans say:
We are just starting because 3% of maps are marking it as the East Sea
In  2000: 3% of the maps marked East Sea
In 2011: 29% of the maps marked East Sea
 
Their road has been reached, so they cannot go forward
But we are just starting
 
Japanese textbook says

Repeated lies become the truth, so give up

However, young Koreans say
Truth will always be revealed. We are just starting,
They reached the dead end so they cannot  move on
We are just starting

Lies in Japanese textbooks distributed aroundthe world are becoming revealed through passionate  Young Koreans. Great wisdom embedded in Korean history illuminates even under those lies

It is becoming the hope of 21st century world citizens

They tell us
[World history textbooks] China = 30 pages / Japan = 20 pages / Korea = only 1 page
“Foreign students don’t have to opportunity to learn more about Korea’s history.”

However, young Koreans reply:
10,000 Koreans who advocate the Cyber diplomatic organization, VANK are distributing informational Korean textsto classes worldwide
 
They are already at a dead end
This moment is our start. We are starting right at this moment
 
Millions of Korean promotional materials that were delivered to classes around the world by young Koreans. These are used everywhere in the world to learn about Korea
 
They tell us
7,000 Chinese diplomats / 5,000 Japanese diplomats / Korean diplomats, only 2,000
“Give up  promoting public relations”

However, young Koreans say
Ten million Koreans who go abroad every year
They can all become Korean honorary ambassadors. This is just the beginning.
 
They have already reached the end, but it is a new start for us. The Passion of Koreans helped create the Cyber diplomatic organization, VANK, which consists of 70,000 members.  They are building a public diplomatic worldwide network

They talk to world citizens like this:
Korea is a country near Japan and China and is adim country that does not have existence presence.
 
However, young Koreans say proudly. Soon, China and Japan will be known as  ‘Countries near Korea’
Young Asians will call Korea as the country of my proud friend. They have nowhere to go, but we are just starting. Korea is the third in the world to send the most passionate volunteers overseas. Korea is growing to become the country that sends the most volunteers in the world.
 
They say
[2010 National brand ranking] Japan – 6th out of 110 countries / Korea only 44th
National brand lagging will darken Korea’s future.

However, young Koreans say
In 1960s, Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world
It’s great potential made it grow to be the 10th strongest economy in the world in 2007

Korean National Brand starts now
They already reached the end
We are just starting
 
Through the efforts of passionate young Koreans, Korea, after OECD was established in 1961
Changed from a ‘Receiving country’ to a ‘Giving country’
Korea became the first country in the world to record such an economic change

They tell  us
In 2011, Korea ranked 21st out of 34 countries on the list of Pro-social behavior in OECD
Trust level was only 25th out of 30 countries.
There is no way that foreigners will love Korea, one of the unkindest countries in the world. 

However, young Koreans tell them. Korean’s ‘Jeong’ is shared with foreigners who visit Korea
Someday, Korean’s Jeong will touch 60 hundred million world citizens.  They no longer know how to advance, but we just started.  Passionate Koreans lend a hand toward ten million visitors sharing  Jeong of Koreans
 
They tell us
Oil output – 0% / 97% of energy relies on imports
Have only 3% of energy
 
The country’s future is dark. However young Koreans say The Korean peninsula connects the Asian continent and thePacific Ocean
It places on the world’s best geographical strategic point
Starting with a 3% possibility
It is developing to become the most international and talented country
 
They have nowhere to advance. This is our just the beginning.
Through young Korean’s passion Korea grew to become one of the ten countries with strong commerce
 
They say this  Koreans, who inhabit only1% of the world population, cannot change the world.
However, young Koreans  respond the reason why the ocean does not rot is because there is 3% of salinity
That 3% keeps 97% of the ocean waters clean. They cannot go forward because they have reached the end
 

We are just starting. Passionate Koreans only make up 1% of the world population
Poverty spreading worldwide, climatic change, Human rights problems
They are setting the foundation to become  world changers, dealing with universal problems
Koreans will move the hearts of 60 hundred million people worldwide+
 
What does 3% mean to you?
What is that 3% that boost your passion?
And what is the 97% barrierthat blocks your passion
 
The 3% passion that Koreans found
I will change and influence the other 97% that make the world go round. 97%
 
Cyber diplomatic organization, VANK, assembles the 3% of passion that Koreans have
To start the challenge of uniting 60 hundred million people worldwide with the Korean peninsula
 
The Passion of young Koreans today will become the hope of people worldwide.

Let us introduce our URL first for you. Do you know what chingu means in Korean???
It means friend. So, just type chingu.prkorea.com if you want to share your interests with Koreans and international members who love Korea.

To-dos in Friendly Korea Community

First, go to “Find friends” menu and search friends!! 
You can find Korean friends or international members who are interested in Korea from this menu. 
Find friends and share meaningful friendship with them.

@Search Tips@

* If you live in Korea and want to find friends who living near you, 
change residential Area and click “search” button.

* If you want to find friends from specific country, change Nationality list 
and click “search” button.

Second, if you want to introduce yourself to our whole members
go to Friends> Member Story menu and write your story. 
You should answer 4 questions and click “save” button.

Third, find Language Exchange partners who will help you to learn foreign languages 
and also want to learn your native language skill from you. 
Go to “Language Exchange” menu, and click “My profile” on left menu or click “View my profile” button in the middle of webpage. Fill out the form and click “save” button and now you’re ready to do language exchange.

Fourth, take academy course. 
Apply for online based Korean Studies classes which you can learn more about Korean culture, history, society and many things.