Yogyakarta, July 9, 2025 – Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada hosted the official opening ceremony of the World Friends Korea PAS Youth Volunteer 2025 program at the Ballroom of the Teaching Industry Learning Center (TILC), SV UGM. This program reflects a continued commitment to strengthening cultural ties between Indonesia and South Korea through the exchange of knowledge, language, and the arts.
The opening ceremony began with a performance of the Bajidor Kahot dance by SV UGM students. More than just entertainment, the traditional dance served as a warm welcome to the Korean volunteers from the “Satu Hati” Team of the Pacific Asia Society (PAS).
In his remarks, the Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, Arts, and Culture Management (DBSMB) at SV UGM, Dr. Nuryuda Irdana, S.P., M.M., H.T.S., C.H.E., emphasized that the program is not merely a student exchange initiative, but a meaningful effort to build a deeper bridge of intercultural understanding between the two countries. “This year, we continue the program as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting cross-cultural learning and strengthening relations between Indonesia and Korea. This is not just a student exchange, it is a way to build deeper understanding of each other’s cultures,” he stated.
Dr. Endang Soelistiyowati, M.Pd., Vice Dean for Cooperation and Alumni at SV UGM, also shared a similar message. She expressed her happiness that the program could take place again after the pandemic. “We’re very glad this program is back after the pandemic. Through this collaboration, we hope students from Indonesia and Korea can learn together and understand each other better. This program reminds us that differences are normal and they can even become a strength to help us build a better world,” she said.
Park Jinho, the supervisor from PAS, also emphasized that this program has become an important foundation for building strong and meaningful cooperation between the people of Indonesia and South Korea through cultural exchange. “This program has a solid foundation for long-term collaboration between Indonesia and Korea. Through cultural exchange and direct interaction, we believe that young people from both countries can develop mutual understanding and form closer relationships. Not just as program participants, but as friends across nations,” he stated.
Throughout the program, Korean volunteers will share knowledge about the Korean language and culture with UGM students through interactive and engaging methods. The learning activities will begin with basic materials, such as self-introduction, common greetings, and everyday Korean conversations. At the intermediate level, participants will explore Korean culture more deeply through various activities, including traditional games, tasting Korean cuisine, and learning about popular culture such as K-pop. In the advanced stage, participants will design a cultural journey map project as a way to apply the knowledge they have gained. In addition, there will be art and sports classes to enrich participants’ experience, including traditional fan-making, Korean games, and basic taekwondo practice.
As a form of two-way exchange, the program also includes sessions on Indonesian culture for the Korean participants. They will be introduced to basic Indonesian languages, including greetings and polite expressions such as “tolong,” “maaf,” and “terima kasih,” as well as an introduction to Javanese language in both ngoko (informal) and krama (formal) levels. The participants will also take part in traditional Indonesian arts classes, such as gamelan and angklung, along with hands-on practice sessions designed to help them experience and understand the richness of local culture more deeply.
To conclude the program, all participants will present a cultural performance that reflects their learning outcomes, collaboration, and the cross cultural understanding they have developed together throughout the program.
Through the World Friends Korea PAS Youth Volunteer 2025 program, SV UGM reaffirms its role in expanding international collaboration and strengthening cultural diplomacy. The program is expected to help shape a young generation that is not only academically competent but also culturally sensitive, tolerant, and equipped with a strong global perspective.