| During the discussion with students, Seong-jun Cho spoke about culture and phenomena in popular culture, emphasizing that globally successful works — such as the most popular TV series or major pop culture projects — are highly profitable. However, alongside them, there exists a broad range of smaller initiatives that may be less commercially successful yet remain culturally significant. He noted that contemporary South Korean popular culture — from K-pop performers to Korean dramas — now shapes the country’s global image far more broadly than traditional diplomacy. Speaking about education systems, he pointed out that both Lithuania and South Korea face challenges related to shortages in human resources. Reflecting on his country’s development, he explained that in the 1960s, when South Korea was less developed, the most talented young people often went abroad to study. As the national higher education system grew stronger, more students began choosing to pursue their studies at home. |  |
Students actively participated in the conversation, asking questions about the similarities between Lithuania’s and South Korea’s historical experiences, cultures, and expressions of patriotism, as well as how the societies of both countries perceive their national identities. The discussion also touched on security: Seong-jun Cho highlighted that Lithuania is, in fact, considerably safer than it may appear from the outside, which could serve as an important argument for choosing to study here.
Another question addressed the widespread description of South Korea as a “society of the future” — due to its technological advancement, economic achievements, and the global influence of its popular culture. Seong-jun Cho said he was not entirely certain that one could unequivocally state his country represents the world’s future, yet he expressed strong confidence in the creativity of the younger generation and their ability to find solutions to global challenges.
Following the meeting with students, the guests were given a short tour of the KU campus and introduced to the activities of the KU STEAM Centre. Embassy representatives asked about the practical experiments school pupils can conduct in the center’s laboratories, how activities are organised, and how scientific innovations attract young people. They were particularly interested in the opportunity for pupils to experience real laboratory conditions and technological experiments at school age.
Later, the delegation met with KU Rector Prof. Dr. Artūras Razbadauskas. The meeting was also attended by Prof. Dr. Rima Mickevičienė, Head of the Department of Marine Engineering and institutional EU-CONEXUS coordinator; Kristina Mataitienė, Coordinator for International Student Admissions; and Inga Petrauskienė, Head of the Communications and Marketing Department. The participants discussed the ongoing and intensifying cooperation between Klaipėda University and the Korea Maritime and Ocean University, potential new directions for joint scientific projects and student exchanges, as well as opportunities for collaboration within networks of university hospitals.
The Embassy representatives emphasized that they were impressed by the university’s vibrancy, diverse initiatives, and openness to international cooperation. The KU leadership, in turn, expressed hope that the Embassy of South Korea would become an important facilitator in establishing new academic connections, developing student exchange frameworks, and strengthening long-term partnerships between the academic and research communities of Lithuania and South Korea.
