Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center (Director Baek Sook-hee) held a special reading lecture to cultivate insight into society and the world through reading and to broaden perspectives on international development cooperation and global issues. The event drew strong interest.

The center invited lecturer Kim Eun-sil to give the 'Reading to Understand the World' special lecture on the 17th at 6:00 p.m. in Room 609 of the JBNU International Center. The session, organized for the ODA (official development assistance) club 'ODA利, 15th Cohort', was conducted simultaneously online and offline. The lecture was open not only to club members but also to anyone interested in books and reading, attracting a diverse group of participants.

'ODA利' is a club for university students in the Jeonbuk region who are interested in international development cooperation and ODA. It has operated twice a year, in the first and second halves of the year, since 2017. The club name, meaning 'to make the world beneficial (利) through ODA and to become ODA leaders (Leaders) in the Jeonbuk region,' was newly branded in the second half of 2025.

The lecturer, Kim Eun-sil, serves as a reading group instructor at the Seodaemun-gu Lee Jin‑ah Memorial Library. For 18 years she has led reading groups and humanities lectures at public libraries, contributing to the expansion of civic reading culture.

In the lecture, Ms. Kim addressed the theme 'What Is Reading?' She examined the meaning and role of books and emphasized the value of empathy and solidarity formed through collective reading and discussion. She particularly discussed how individual reflection can expand into social solidarity and the values of international cooperation, stressing the necessity of ODA and eliciting strong agreement from participants.

This lecture served as a preparatory session for ODA利's reading and discussion activities. After the lecture, students will read, summarize, and analyze six books related to international development cooperation, including Why Half the World Is Hungry, Silent Spring, and The Power of Geography 2, and share their findings. They will then engage in team discussions to examine global issues in depth, such as poverty, the climate crisis, refugees, and inequality.

Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center Director Baek Sook-hee said, "We hope this provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of international development cooperation and global issues through reading," and added, "We plan to continue operating the club so that students can explore international development cooperation in various ways."