Some 300 Korean students due in U.S. for internship: official

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- Hundreds of South Korean students will arrive in
the United States in March in the first exchange internship program agreed
between the two governments last year, the U.S. State Department said Monday.
A total of 300 South Korean students will arrive in the U.S. on March 11 as part
of the WEST (Work, English Study, Travel) program in which Korean university
students will stay in the U.S. for up to 18 months to study English, participate
in internships and travel independently, said Stanley Colvin, deputy assistant
secretary of state for education and cultural exchanges.
Colvin said the U.S. government will accept 1,000 more South Korean students
under the program by the end of the year, adding the students will attend English
language courses before being assigned to marketing, trading, computer
engineering, tourism, information technology and catering businesses and
organizations for internships.
South Korea and the U.S. signed in September a memorandum of understanding for
the exchange of up to 5,000 students annually.
The MOU was a follow-up to the agreement between South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak and the U.S. President George W. Bush made in August to create new
opportunities for young Americans and Koreans to learn about each other's country
by working, studying, and traveling abroad.
The WEST is similar to the Working Holiday Program that South Korea maintains
with Australia and several other countries for youths.
Under the WEST program, participating students are required to "devote at least
450 classroom hours to structured English language training and coursework
focusing on American business practices and business procedures, U.S. corporate
culture, and general office management issues."
The State Department said it expects the program to bolster the Korea-U.S.
alliance by providing students with an opportunity to share their values while
increasing their international understanding.
hdh@yna.co.kr
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