South Korea wants to diversify and multiply business with Brazil

Brazil and South Korea must diversify and multiply their bilateral trade in all sectors of industry, trade, and agribussines, exceeding the current figures from their trade of balance, which are modest compared to the potential of business between the two countries. The statement was made by South Koran Ambassador Jeong Gwan Lee, during the ceremony awarding the winning students of the Second Contest of Essays and Korean Literature in Brasília, held on Thursday evening (Aug 24) at the headquarters of the National Writers' Association—ANE in the original acronym.

The competition was organized by ANE and by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, LTI Korea. Texts by over 3 thousand public school students in the Federal District were sent in as part of the tournament.

Business and culture

The ties between the trades of balance of the two countries, the Korean ambassador argued, can reach much higher levels than the figures observed so far, if the two governments outline policies that, instead of competing between each other, aim for cooperation.

From January to July this year, the trade of balance between the two countries showed a decline in exports compared to the same period last year. Exports to South Korea totaled $1.6 billion, whereas imports reached $3 billion. In the period, Brazil posted a deficit of $1.4 billion in its trade with Korea.

Not just Korea, Brazil would have a lot to gain also—said Jeon Gwan Lee—if the two sides sought “solid, mutual comprehension” aiming at the diversification of bilateral exchange in several sectors.

“To bring these cooperative relations into practice, superficial impressions between the two countries [...] must be taken to a level of more solid mutual comprehension. To meet this goal, the diversification of bilateral trade in several sectors is key, especially in the educational and cultural fields.”

ANE

ANE head Fabio de Sousa Coutinho believes that literature brings people, hearts, and values together. He said that, in addition to Brasília itself, the neighboring cities of Paranoá, São Sebastião and Santa Maria were included in the competition. The decision aimed to collaborate to the cultural enrichment of more students.

“It brings you joy to be able to act as a cultural bridge. We believe that literary beauty has no national barriers. Korea's efforts to make its authors known inspire us to do the same with Brazilian writers—by making their work known here and also seeking partnerships for international projection,” Coutinho said.

Also part of ANE's support for the literary competition was the pedagogic assistance offered to schools. The format chosen for the written production was an essay, Coutinho explained. ANE meets the requirements set by LTI Korea, linked to Korea's Culture Ministry, which not only provided financial support but also monitored all of the stages of the competition. LTI Korea works to make Korean literature well known, and supports translation and publication of Korean literature worldwide.

Writer João Bosco Bezerra Bonfim, a member of ANE's board of directors, backed the competition by advising teachers from schools in the Federal District and showing students how to write an essay.

“We asked students to hand in their texts in manuscript form, as students must in a number of exams throughout their academic lives. We want to enrich the lives of these teenagers,” Coutinho said.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira