JBNU (President Yang O-bong) sent approximately 1,500 international students to participate in a Sunchang local festival, where they experienced Jeonbuk's traditional culture and cuisine and interacted with the local community. Their participation is expected to increase understanding of and a sense of belonging to the region, and to greatly help establish a foundation for settling in the region and planning their future there after graduation.

JBNU international students enjoyed various cultural experiences and performances at the festival held October 15 to 18 at the Sunchang Traditional Gochujang Folk Village and Fermentation Theme Park. International and exchange students from six universities in the province, including JBNU, Jeonju University, Jeonju Vision University, Wonkwang University, Woosuk University, and Kunsan National University, participated in the cultural activities.

The students took part in programs showcasing Sunchang's jang (fermented paste) culture, including global gochujang-making, jang-fermentation performances, and the Sunchang Gochujang Royal Tribute Procession. Through K-Food experiences such as making traditional tofu, kimchi, and jangajji (pickled vegetables), and by watching local cultural performances, they were able to experience Korean food culture and Jeonbuk's cultural and tourism resources up close.

On the 17th, President Yang O-bong of JBNU also visited the festival site and joined the Sunchang Gochujang Royal Tribute Procession. The joint experience of traditional local culture by the international students and the university president added significance to the exchange between the university and the local community.

This participation is meaningful as a collaboration connecting the university's international student support with the local government's cultural and tourism resources. JBNU provided transportation and travel insurance to support the students' participation in the festival, and Sunchang County provided meal coupons and covered the experience and participation fees to enable them to experience local culture.

JBNU expects that the experience of enjoying local festivals together and interacting with residents will help international students of diverse nationalities adapt to university life and increase their satisfaction. Furthermore, the university plans to continue expanding opportunities for cultural experiences and local exchanges so that the Jeonbuk region is perceived not merely as a place to study but as a place to live and build a future after graduation.

In particular, based on close cooperation with local governments, JBNU expects to broaden opportunities for international students to experience local culture, spread Korean traditional culture abroad, and thereby help attract more international students. 

Cho Hwa-rim, Director of JBNU's Office of International Affairs, said, "Recruiting international students should not end at admission but should continue through adaptation to university life, a sense of belonging to the region, and settlement after graduation. I hope this opportunity to directly experience Sunchang's traditional culture and socialize with local residents will make Jeonbuk feel more familiar to the international students."