Busan is good

Young World Class Leader Na Haeri Brings Busan-Style Online School to Kazakhstan

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Busan Economic Promotion Agency (President Song Bok-cheol) announced that Na Haeri, CEO selected as a Young World Class talent under the “2024 Young World Class Development Program” (CEO of Nanugi World Co., Ltd. and violinist), has achieved meaningful results in Almaty, Kazakhstan, enhancing Busan’s global standing through the City’s active support.

Na Haeri’s self-developed Busan-specialized education program, the “Busan-Style Online School” (education conducted via Zoom), has been selected as part of the official curriculum at Almaty Secondary School No. 45, an integrated elementary–middle–high school. This is regarded as a representative case in which the support provided by the City to young talent has translated into tangible outcomes.

The “Busan-Style Online School” is an online program centered on Busan’s history, culture, and education, distinguished by original content that reflects the City’s unique regional characteristics.

Key Components of the Busan-Style Online School Program

• ●January: Introduction to Busan + Basic Korean

• ●February: History of Busan (Dongnae)

• ●March: Characteristics of a Maritime City (Haeundae, Busan Port, etc.)

• ●April: Everyday Korean Conversation

• ●May: Busan Arts (Busan International Film Festival, etc.)

• ●June: Korean for Travel + Busan Dialect

• ●July: History of Busan (Yeongdo) + Port

• ●August: Busan’s Nature and Leisure

• ●September: Korean Conversation for Hobbies

• ●October: Busan Food Culture

• ●November: Hands-on Busan Arts Experience

• ●December: Review and Presentation of Learning Outcomes

Na Haeri’s activities go beyond simply introducing Busan to overseas audiences through an educational program. By attracting foreign interest through original content, her work is also gaining attention as a potential new model for addressing regional population decline and decreasing school-age populations.

In Almaty, she hosted briefing sessions introducing Busan’s advanced educational infrastructure and living environment, and presented the “Busan-Style Online School” program, helping participating local students broaden their interest in and understanding of Busan.

As education utilizing this program is further expanded, it is expected not only to provide learning opportunities for students but also to become a new point of contact for promoting sustained exchanges between Busan and Almaty.

At the same time, Busan Metropolitan City continues to expand offline-based exchanges with the Almaty region, generating synergy effects in tandem with these private-sector initiatives.

Last August, together with the Busan Global City Foundation, the City invited 26 students from the Almaty Korean Education Center to Busan for a campus tour of eight local universities, enabling them to experience academic programs and dormitory life firsthand.

Through these integrated online and offline efforts, Busan Metropolitan City is further strengthening the foundation for exchanges with Central Asia and creating an environment that can naturally lead to the attraction of international students in the future.

Meanwhile, the Young World Class Development Program, through which Na Haeri was selected as a Young World Class talent, is Busan Metropolitan City’s flagship youth support initiative launched in 2021 to identify high-potential young talent and foster them into global leaders.

Selected participants receive up to KRW 100 million in capacity-building support over three years, along with customized training, mentoring, and opportunities to participate in international events.

To date, a total of 15 individuals have been selected through the program. Alongside Na Haeri, recipients include fashion designer Yoon Seok-woon (2021), entrepreneur Kwon Ki-baek (2022), composer Ahn Hu-yoon (2023), and chef Jeon Ji-seong (2023), all of whom are actively contributing to promoting Busan worldwide in their respective fields.

Na Haeri stated, “Without the City’s support through the Young World Class Development Program, these achievements would not have been possible. As a Young World Class representative of Busan, I will continue diverse activities such as the Almaty project and faithfully fulfill my role as a private-sector ambassador connecting Busan with the world.” She added, “I hope this program will provide new opportunities for challenge and growth for Busan’s young people.”

Kim Gwi-ok, Director General of the City’s Youth–Industry–Academia Bureau, remarked, “Na Haeri’s case demonstrates the results of the City providing young people with not only financial support but also opportunities to build global capabilities and advance onto the world stage. Going forward, through the Young World Class Development Program, we will continue to actively identify and support promising young talent across diverse fields such as arts, science, and future new industries, thereby further strengthening Busan’s future competitiveness.”