S. Korean delegation visits Xiamen

A cultural delegation led by Jin Hongdou, director of cultural and sports department of S. Korea's Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, visits Xiamen University. [Photo/xmfo.gov.cn]

Jin Hongdou, director of cultural and sports department of S. Korea's Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, led a delegation to Xiamen, Fujian province from April 11 to 12.

The delegation consisted of members from the provincial government and the Jeju Female Family Members Institute.

They visited the female, gender research and training center in Xiamen University (XMU), one of China's top 10 universities, during their stay.

Jiang Yue, deputy director of the XMU center, introduced the center's research fields, achievements and social responsibilities to the delegation.

Lan Daju, XMU's associate professor in anthropology, briefed them on the origin, features and development of the culture of Fujian's Hui'an women, a community of women who fish. They share numerous cultural similarities with Jeju's Haenyeo women.

Haenyeo culture and Fujian's Mazu culture (Mazu is the most influential sea goddess in China) are listed as intangible cultural heritages.

Jin hoped that the Jeju Female Family Members Institute and the XMU center would cooperate in academic research and turn the two entities into a testimony of the good relations between China and South Korea.

He also said that cultural exchanges between Fujian and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province have been conducted since the two provinces signed a cooperation memorandum in 2008.

He hoped that more cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two provinces would be carried out in the near future.

The South Korean delegation also visited the city's Yundang Academy, which is dedicated to promoting cross-Straits exchanges in traditional culture, to admire south Fujian's tea-making techniques and taste its famous teas.

A cultural delegation led by Jin Hongdou, director of cultural and sports department of S. Korea's Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, visits Yundang Academy, which is dedicated to promoting cross-Straits exchanges in traditional culture. [Photo/xmfo.gov.cn]