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The Korea Foundation (KF) discussed ways to strengthen future cooperation between the two countries at the 22nd Korea-Germany Forum in Dresden, Germany, on Sept. 5-6. The forum, which was held at the Volkswagen car factory under the theme of “Korea-Germany Value-Based Strategic Partnership in Response to Global Challenges,” was attended by former Foreign Minister Park Jin, Korean Ambassador to Germany Lim Sang-beom, and National Assembly members Kim Hee-jung, Kim Hyung-dong and Kim Young-bae. From the German side, Martin Dulig, co-chair of the German-Korean Forum; Frank Hartmann, head of the Asia-Pacific Department at the German Foreign Office; Lars Rohwer, member of the Bundestag; and Till Scheer, CEO of Volkswagen Group Korea. The participants agreed on the need for the two countries to closely and jointly respond to various challenges in the context of geopolitical changes, including the war in Ukraine, the Middle East crisis, and military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. They also assessed that North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, missile launches and arms exports directly threaten peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific but also globally, and expressed concern over the country’s poor human rights situation and economic difficulties. The Korea International Cooperation Service (KOICS) announced on Sept. 6 that it has dispatched 75 members to four countries that are part of the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s “Youth Midterm Volunteer Service Project.” In April, the KOICS won a tender to provide services in two of the five fields of the Youth Midterm Volunteer Service Project through a consortium, including digital (65 people) and disability and human rights (10 people). On Aug. 26, the KOICS dispatched the first batch of volunteers to four countries -- Laos, Cambodia, Rwanda and Tanzania -- after they underwent domestic training and remote overseas online volunteering. The company will conduct digital projects with the Korea Digital Education Association, and disability and human rights projects with Green Teachers. The participants will receive local language education, cultural experiences and safety training organized by the local offices of the KOICS. They will volunteer at local educational institutions and organizations for the disabled from this month through December. “By 2026, we will dispatch three batches of volunteers in the two fields to contribute to promoting friendship and cooperation between Korea and our partner countries,” said a spokesperson for the organization. The KOICS is a nonprofit organization licensed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that works for poverty reduction and sustainable development, and was established in 2016. The 8th Chinese Youth Dream Presentation Festival was held at Shenyang Hanjewon Folk Culture and Industry Park on Aug. 31 with the participation of 15 students selected from ethnic Korean schools in three northeast provinces. Hosted by the My Dream International Foundation and co-organized by the My Dream International Foundation’s China branch, the Liaoning Provincial Korean Literature Society and the Liaoning District Creative Committee of the Yanbian Writers’ Association, the Dream Presentation Festival was aimed at encouraging young people to discover their dreams and find their crisis-defying selves. According to the order of an online lottery, 15 boys and girls shared their innocent dreams. From diplomats to announcers to chefs, the dreams were diverse. Gye Eun-kyung from Shenyang City Korean People’s No. 1 Middle School won the grand prize with “My dream of sparkling like a new star in the sky,” Li Ga-jin from Shenyang City West Tower Korean School won the gold prize with “Cultivating the dream of a chef,” and Han Soo-jin from Shenyang City Korean People’s No. 1 Middle School won the joint silver prize with “A dream of a psychological magician,” along with Li Hwon from Liaoning Dalian Korean School with “A statue in my heart.” Twelve other students received honorable mentions, including “I Dream of Being a Diplomat” by Shim Soo-ah from Shenyang City West Tower Korean Minority School.