Local firm to back U.S. scholar's Korean promotion efforts

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- Netpia, a South Korean Internet address naming
company, said Friday that it has agreed to fund the future studies of a U.S.
scholar known for his efforts to disseminate the Korean language globally.
The company made the agreement with Ross King, a professor at the University of
British Columbia, on Thursday when he paid a visit to its headquarters in Seoul
to get hands-on experience of the company's services, which combine the Korean
language and information technology across the Internet.
Under the arrangement, Netpia will also maintain ongoing ties with the U.S.
university
King, who earned his Ph.D in linguistics at Harvard, also received a reward from
the South Korean Prime Minister in 2002 for his efforts to promote the Korean
language. He has run the Korean Language Village in Bemidji, Minnesota, since
1999 to help people learn about the Korean language.
syeonl@yna.co.kr
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