Korean businesswoman recognized for contributions to Korean language education in HK

By Kim Young-gyo
(ATTN: RECASTS throughout)
HONG KONG, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean businesswoman was honored by a Hong Kong university for her contribution to Korean language education in the Chinese territory, officials at the university said Sunday.
Jeong Do-kyung, managing director of Silver Star Group, has made significant efforts over a decade in laying a foundation for teaching Hong Kong students to speak and write Korean, said Hong Kong Baptist University's School of Continuing Education.



She instructed local students in the university's Korean language course from 1994 through 2004, becoming one of the first Koreans to teach her native language at a college or university in Hong Kong.
The School of Continuing Education recognized her role in paving the way for the phenomenal growth of cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and South Korea.
The "Korean Wave," also known as "Hallyu," has been a key factor in the deepening relationship between South Korea and Hong Kong over the last decade. Hallyu refers to the phenomenon in which South Korean popular culture, ranging from television shows to pop singers, has spread to neighboring countries and beyond.
The lecturer-turned-businesswoman and her husband, Timothy Kim, run Silver Star, a cookware manufacturer that specializes in stainless steel and other kinds of metals. The company, which operates one of the biggest cookware factories in China, exports to all major markets such as the U.S., Canada, Japan and Europe.
Due to its competitive prices and quality products, the company is one of the most successful manufacturers of original cookware.
Jeong said she has continued to support Korean education at Hong Kong Baptist University by donating HK$20,000 (US$2,560).
Hong Kong Baptist University is currently offering Korean courses at various levels in the evening. A Korean workshop for secondary school students is also offered this summer to pique teenagers' interest in learning Korean language. The university is planning to add more cultural activities to the curriculum of the Korean courses at the School of Continuing Education.