About VPP Busan

From Beatles to R.E.M.: Ambassador Vershbow is a Hit with Busan Students
November 6, 2005

The Ambassador, Mrs. Vershbow, and PAO Don Q. Washington with Students at Busan American Corner

Ambassador Vershbow and Mrs. Vershbow chose Busan (ROK’s second largest city) as their destination for their first official trip outside of Seoul.  In addition to engaging a variety of audiences and opinion leaders, they visited all the major APEC sites.  One highlight of their trip was the informal discussion with Busan high school students at the Busan American Corner.  The students enjoyed peppering the Ambassador and Mrs. Vershbow with a range of questions, from the Six-Party Talks to their favorite foods and music. 

Back to School Event at U.S. Education Fair, Busan American Corner
October 14, 2005

U.S. Education Fair Speakers and Organizers

On October 14, U.S. Embassy Seoul organized a U.S. Education Fair at the Busan American Corner, located in the Busan Metropolitan Simin Municipal Library. To promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange, U.S. Embassy Seoul’s Regional Program Office organized a variety of speakers and programs to inform Korean students, parents, and education officials about the many opportunities to study in the U.S.  In addition to opening remarks by PAO Don Q. Washington, Consul General Michael Kirby gave a presentation on how to get a student visa.  Other speakers included IRC Director Dr. Kim Su Nam, who reviewed study abroad resources available at the IRC. The Fulbright Commission’s Dr. James Larson spoke about its grant programs and recent trends in testing. At the American Corner itself, U.S. Embassy Seoul staff ran English language workshops using Halloween storytelling and board games. U.S. Embassy Seoul’s Senior English Fellow, Thomas Santos, also led a fun and lively workshop with English instructors by introducing them to the latest English teaching methods.  A small book fair also featured American textbooks.

Korean-American filmmaker Grace Lee
March 31, 2005

Grace Lee with High School Students

On March 31, U.S. Embassy Seoul organized a full day of programs in Busan featuring Korean-American filmmaker Grace Lee.  In the morning, she addressed approximately 150 students, parents, teachers, administrators and school board members at Korea’s only specialized high school for filmmaking, on her personal experience as an independent filmmaker, screening clips of her award-winning films.  In the afternoon, Ms. Lee spoke to a group of 15 scholars and students at the Busan American Corner, followed by a discussion with 50 students and faculty at the Film Department of Yongsan University. 

Women's History in the Making at the American Corners Korea
March 11, 2005

DVC at American Corner Busan

The American Corners Korea hosted an open forum on Women’s History month using DVC technology to link guests and a mission speaker in Busan with guests in Daegu and Gwangju with a second mission speaker in Seoul.  "Women Change America," the theme of Women’s History Month 2005, served as the topic for this forum.  A U.S. Embassy officer onsite in Busan led an open discussion on contemporary issues affecting American and Korean women with 50 program participants before segueing into a presentation on the history of the U.S. women’s movement given by another U.S. Embassy officer located in Seoul.

American Corner Busan Celebrates One Year of Promoting U.S. – Korea Understanding
February 23, 2005
 
The American Corner in Busan, South Korea’s first American Corner, celebrated its first anniversary with a ceremony and reception attended by over 100 area VIPs and U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill.  The highlight of the event was Ambassador Hill’s speech focusing on Busan’s development as a global city.  In his remarks, the Ambassador pointed out that although Busan will host the APEC summit in November, the city should use its newfound global prominence to further embrace its international institutions.  Prior to speaking at the anniversary ceremony, the Ambassador posted a message on Embassy Seoul’s electronic message board, Café USA, from the American Corner.