HWACHEON, Jan. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – The 2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in South Korea will feature a splash of Ethiopian culture for the second year in a row, as Hwacheon County announced the operation of an Ethiopian promotional pavilion at the festival site on January 10.
At the pavilion, Ethiopian youths adorned in traditional attire are selling coffee brewed in a traditional style using premium beans flown in from Ethiopia. These young people are beneficiaries of Hwacheon County’s scholarship program for descendants of Ethiopian veterans who participated in the Korean War.
Their coffee, affectionately known as ‘Peace Coffee,’ is attracting tourists with its affordable price of only 1,000 won per cup. All proceeds are dedicated to the scholarship program for the veterans’ descendants.
Visitors to the pavilion can also explore the heroic deeds of the Ethiopian military during the Korean War, learn about the county’s scholarship efforts and selection process, and view traditional Ethiopian crafts and artwork.
Ethiopia holds the unique distinction of being the only African country that sent troops to fight in the Korean War. Since 2009, Hwacheon County has been running a scholarship program to help these descendants overcome poverty and pursue new hopes. To date, a total of 420 beneficiaries, including graduates, have received these scholarships.
A notable success story is that of 13 students who enrolled in Myeongseong Medical College, established in 2012 by Myeongseong Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the support of Myeongseong Church in 2004. Ten of these students have achieved their dreams of becoming doctors, with others pursuing careers as university professors and lawyers.
Currently, about 250 Ethiopian scholarship students continue their education with the support of Hwacheon County, local military units, and individual and organizational donors.
Hwacheon County Mayor Choi Moon-soon stated, “We are committed to continuing the scholarship program to help the descendants of the veterans realize their dreams and contribute to the development of their homeland.”
Image credit: Hwacheon County / photonews@koreabizwire.com
