'When I eat gundruk, I get a taste like kimchi'

Since July 23, 2007, South Korea has employed more than one lakh Nepalis under the Employment Permit System (EPS). Jagdishwar Pandey of Kantipur's edited part of the conversation with South Korean Ambassador Park Theang about the relations and bilateral interests between Nepal and Korea: When did you come to Nepal for the first time and how did you like the territory of Nepal? ?

I went to Nepal for the first time on May 29, 2023 while taking over my duties. I have been in Nepal for 9 months. I feel that I still have a lot to learn from Nepal. In my experience, Nepal is a country full of diversity. Nepal is full of diversity with Himalayas, mountains and flat plains along with the Himalayas which are more than 8000 meters high. Nepal is the most beautiful and diverse country in the world. Looking at the diversity of Nepal, I think that I will not be able to experience everything here during my tenure.

You have met with Nepalis in connection with daily work and other activities. How did you find the Nepalis?

I had the opportunity to meet many people in Nepal. I found Nepalis to be disciplined, humble and polite. The behavior of Nepali is also similar to that of Koreans. I have met some people who have the same face as me. When the face of the minister I met sometimes and my face met, I even commented that if he walked in Seoul, the capital of Korea, he could not be distinguished as a Korean or a Nepali. I had met some Nepalis before coming to Nepal. There are also Nepali workers in my business.

How did you feel about Nepal's climate?

Nepal's weather seems to be connected with its diversity. It is easier to work in Kathmandu than in Korea. I think Kathmandu is cooler than Korea in summer. Kathmandu is warmer than Korea in winter. Yesterday and today, when I look at newspapers like Kantipur, The Kathmandu Post, I hear news about floods and landslides. Due to lack of rain, the weather is dry. There is international interest in this situation whether it is due to climate change or any other reason.

Have you tasted Nepali food or not? What is your favorite Nepali food?

Nepali food is sweet (answer in Nepali). Nepali food also has the same customs and culture of eating rice as in Korean food. We have kimchi as a 'side dish' in Korea. Sinki is also called Gundruk in Nepal. Eating that gundruk felt like eating kimchi right there. I have two things to say. One I ate Dalbhat very sweetly. And I like the other one. Why did I choose lentil and rice in Korea? Other dishes are served as 'side dishes'. That and eating Nepalese thali food had the same experience. Korea has its own traditional music. Kimchi and tofu are added to our Korean soup. In Korea, my mother used to make masham by hand during festivals. Coming here, it is even sweeter to think that the same kind of masham was made by my mother.

What is your opinion about Nepalese clothing, culture and heritage?

Nepal has a lot of cultural diversity. Looking at the clothes worn in Nepal, it seems that they have expressed the customs. It is very impressive to see young people walking down the street wearing their clothes with pride. Nepal's heritage is rich in diversity and full of beauty. Even though the culture and arts related to Buddhism have gone to different countries from Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Gautama Buddha, it has impressed me more.

Have you celebrated a festival in Nepal? What is your favorite festival?

Even though it is only 9 months since I came to Nepal, I have already experienced many festivals. More than celebrating festivals, I see them as an opportunity to reflect on how people live according to social obligations. In the same way, festivals have played a role to reflect the importance of family. My favorite festival is Tihar.

Do you like to speak Nepali language? Do you know how many languages ​​there are in Nepal?

Nepali is not easy, but I learn Nepali (in Nepali). I have been learning Nepali since last year when I have time. I am also learning because the grammar of our Nepali and Korean languages ​​is similar and the letters are the same. According to the data released in 2021, there are 124 languages ​​in Nepal as I understood and heard. How can they speak and understand so many languages?

Have you heard Nepali songs? Do you have a favorite song like that?

I have been listening to Nepali songs. There are two songs that I like more. I like the song 'Yo Man Ta Mero Nepali Ho'. More important than that is the name of a band, 1974 AD. It also connects us more relevantly. Due to the fact that diplomatic relations between our two countries were established in 1974, the attraction towards this song increased. Similarly, I like another song 'Resham Firiri' equally. Resham Phiri is good in the sense that it is one of the most sung and heard traditional music in Korea. Similarly, Korean tourists who come for trekking also say that they feel peace after listening to this song.

Have you read Nepali literature? Do you have any favorite literature?

I personally cannot study literature in Nepali language. However, I recently read a poem translated into English. I have read the famous Munamdan (the work of great poet Lakshmi Prasad Devkota). I also felt a little namazja. I was touched by the fact that Madan went without Muna asking Madan not to go to Lhasa. I also thought it was meaningful to think that Munamdan, who could clearly convey the importance of family, the relationship between husband and wife, the relationship with mother and the fact that people also need property and what they have to face in life, even though it was short, felt relevant and warm. I read it in English, I think it would have touched me if I could read it in Nepali.

Have you seen a Nepali movie?

has not been given an opportunity till today. But the movie I want to watch is 'Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest'. As far as I know, this is a film based on the life of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. Only last year, this film reached Korea from Nepal. The film also won a special award in Korea. It is thought to be seen because it is associated with the Himalayas. After last October, I am thinking that it will not happen without looking.

How many places in Nepal have you visited and which is your favorite place?

There are many places I have to visit in Nepal. So far, he has visited Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini, Janakpur, Sindhuli, Nagarkot and others. I found all the areas visited beautiful and relevant. Even then, Nagarkot seemed the most beautiful and picturesque. I liked Nagarkot because of the beautiful view of the Himalayas as well as the good hospitality and environment.

More than one lakh Nepalis have gone to work in Korea through EPS. Even now, more than 40,000 Nepalese are working in Korea. How are Nepalis in the eyes of Korean industrialists, businessmen and common people?

Every society cannot be perfect. Every society can have some problems. There is a desire to get a job in Nepal, to have daily meetings with other family members in Nepal. However, due to compulsion, many Nepalis have to work abroad. I think that our Korean government has provided equal wages to natives and foreigners without discrimination. Legally, they are equally protected. Despite that, Nepali workers can sometimes find themselves in a difficult situation. Going abroad as a worker is certainly not easy. They may also have linguistic and cultural barriers. Despite the culture and various other problems, they are performing their responsibilities well. Personally, I want them to be safe, healthy and happy. Even though it seems that Nepalis have gone to earn money, we believe that they will go to Korea to learn skills and will play a role in the economic reform of Nepal by creating jobs back home.

Korea was divided by war from 1950 to 1953. Even then there were political ups and downs. Despite that, Korea was able to make progress economically. Where has Nepal failed?

After the war, we, who went through poverty, gave a lot of importance to education. We moved forward by giving equal importance to entrepreneurship. After that, I think we got a good leadership to run the country. There is also a lot of potential in Nepal. I understand that there is something wrong. I have seen a beautiful future by looking at the investments made by the private sector in the education sector of Nepal. It is my understanding that if the country can use the produced manpower in the development program, it will contribute to the development of the nation. Development of information technology, hydro power, agriculture sector is also indispensable for the development of Nepal and there is also a lot of potential in this.

Hydro power will play a big role in the development of Nepal if it can be properly utilized. Products in the IT sector are used worldwide. Similarly, there is a lot of potential in the agricultural sector. Different types of herbs can be found in Nepal not only for internal consumption. Can have tea, coffee too. Nepal has a brand called Himalaya. If production and branding is done properly in connection with the Himalayas, the agricultural products of Nepal can be sold and distributed everywhere in Europe, America, Japan, Korea.

In which countries did you work before coming to Nepal? What is the difference between other countries and Nepal?

I previously held positions in countries including Switzerland, Germany, America and Egypt. As many countries as I have visited, it is difficult to say that one thing is different between them and Nepal. Despite that, there is more diversity in Nepal than in other countries. There are 124 languages, 142 castes in Nepal. There are terrains from the mountains to the Terai.

Information technology and social media have facilitated the exercise of democratic rights around the world. He has made a strong basis to say that he is not satisfied. People abuse it, make personal defamation, spread provocations more and more. What is the situation of the world environment and Korea regarding this?

There is an understanding that social media is being used more not only in Nepal but all over the world. As IT has evolved, trying to control it is becoming more and more difficult. Even in Korea, online media and social media cannot be controlled and cannot be controlled at all. Politicians have an equally difficult situation, the increasing incidence of rumors against prominent people has created a worrying situation.

Finally, how do you see the Nepali media? How do you find our media more critically?

As soon as I came to Nepal, I had an understanding that whatever was coming from the Nepali media was related to the issue of journalist's freedom. It is very good to see the commitment of the people here to take care of the shortcomings made by the government. I think every media has played an important role in pointing out the shortcomings of the government and giving a positive message to the society. It is something that has also been experienced here, because of the online, it seems that the media that has traditionally made its history has definitely been put in an uncomfortable situation. You may know that while it is running systematically, it should be modified accordingly. I think, if there is a place for themes that can show dreams and possibilities while pointing out the weaknesses of the government, it is my understanding that the people will be happy.