Anna Komorowska, the first lady of Poland, will visit Hankuk University of Foreign Studies this Thursday to attend a conference on Polish studies.

She will make a congratulatory address at the third International Polish Studies academic conference by the Three East Asian Nations’ Polish Studies Association (SPTK) to promote competition and cooperation among Polish departments in universities in Korea, Japan and China.

Komorowska, who arrives in Korea on Tuesday, will dine with the conference staff on Wednesday and watch a Polish folk dance prepared by the students.

Komorowska also plans to award HUFS professor Jeon Byeong-gwon the Global Artis medal from the Polish government for his work on Polish language, literature and academics.

The SPTK is an association of three universities ― Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies ― which are the only universities in their respective countries to have a Polish language department.

This year’s event is hosted by HUFS and the Polish Embassy in Korea. It also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the university’s Polish department.

Because the Polish department lacked staff and resources, the three countries decided to come together to bolster their program through cooperation among staff and students.

The SPTK and held its first official conference at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 2009, and the second conference at Beijing Foreign Studies University in 2010.

By Sang Youn-joo (sangyj@heraldcorp.com)