West Briton reporter Katy Young is taking part in a cultural exchange to South Korea – a venture sponsored by Rotary International.

In her third diary home, from an article which first appeared in the West Briton, she describes journalism – Korean-style, and the group’s latest sightseeing.

She said: “I’ve had the chance to visit a Korean weekly newspaper, called The Ichon Newspaper, and met the editor Mr Kim, who was staggered at the age of the West Briton.

“His newspaper, which is printed every Friday, was set up in 1989 and has a total staff of 10, including advertising and editorial.

“A broadsheet, it has just eight pages and sells 5,000 copies a week, making it the second-biggest selling weekly newspaper in Korea.

“Journalism is slightly different out here.

“For a start there is no shorthand and there appears to be no training body. Instead, journalists are recruited through scouts who visit universities to look for appropriate media students.

“There are four main areas of specialisation – education, taxation, police and administration – which, I gather, means Government.

“It was fascinating to see the differences.”

The group learned about the hope for unification between North and South Korea, although propaganda is still an important weapon between the countries, despite attempts to heal the division.

Katy described how South Korea still pipes its music into the north, and in retaliation, the Communist north has built houses in front of an important observation post.

Katy said: “We have also had the chance to visit the 1988 Olympic stadium, which is right in the centre of Seoul. It is quite an awesome sight.”

And she described how the party was stared at, pointed out or whispered about, throughout their visit.

“I think our size is one problem and the face of Nathan – one of the team members – who has a small beard, as facial hair is not common.”

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