Japanese Youth Resume Korean School Trips After 3 Years

Ruteru Academy High School Students, Thirty-Seven Visit Korea
"Exchanges Should Expand with Future Generations Playing a Central Role"

School trips to Korea by Japanese youth, which were suspended due to the spread of COVID-19, are set to resume.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 20th that thirty-seven students from Ruteru Gakuen High School in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, will travel around Jeonju and Seoul for a 4-night, 5-day trip from the 21st to the 25th. Choi Suji, a youth aide, and the 2030 youth advisory group 'Dreamers' will participate in a welcoming event held at Incheon International Airport to support the exchange. School trips to Korea by Japanese youth had been ongoing since 1972 but were completely suspended in 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19.

Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "Although it is a small start, it marks the beginning of opening a future-oriented Korea-Japan relationship," and emphasized, "To welcome a new era, it is necessary to expand exchange opportunities where the future generation can play a central role." He added, "Korea is the most popular overseas travel destination among Japan's Generation Z due to the influence of K-pop and K-dramas," and stated, "We will draw important momentum in the tourism sector so that the future generations of both countries can foster mutual affection and broaden their understanding."

The students from Ruteru Gakuen High School, who have initiated the resumption, will meet with students from their sister school, Jeonju Sinheung High School, and observe classes. They plan to engage closely by visiting Hanok Village dressed in hanbok. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism noted, "This is significant as it represents a new start where the youth of both countries build friendships amid a groundbreaking turning point in bilateral relations following the Korea-Japan summit on the 16th."

The Ministry plans to diversify educational travel content and promote exchanges between schools to increase interactions. Together with the Japanese travel industry, they will develop and promote school trip programs on topics of high local interest. During summer vacation, they will also invite about 100 Japanese middle and high school educators for a pilot tour.