S. Korean author to tap on Asian cultural community while traveling with president

SEOUL, May 8 (Yonhap) -- Bestselling South Korean author Hwang Sok-yong said
Friday he will accompany President Lee Myung-bak on his trip to Central Asia next
week to discuss plans for the formation of an "Altaic cultural community" among
Asian countries.
President Lee and the 65-year-old novelist will leave Sunday for a five-day trip
to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Hwang, the creator of several internationally-praised novels including "The
Shadow of Arms" and "The Road to Sampo," has aspired to form an active cultural
community that spans Mongolia, the two Koreas and Central Asia. The author hopes
such a community will also play a role in thawing Seoul's icy relationship with
Pyongyang.
The presidential office welcomed the idea and asked him to take part in the
upcoming trip, Hwang said. He will be meeting various cultural figures in the two
Central Asian countries and plans to hold a forum on the issue back home around
August.
Hwang's plan also falls in line with President Lee's goal to strengthen his
country's ties with the region under a diplomatic campaign called the "New Asia
Initiative." Under the plan, Seoul aims to play a central role in representing
the interest of Asian nations in the international community.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)