On November 26, 2024, Associate Professor Suh-hee Choi invited 15 students from Kyung Hee University in South Korea to Macao University of Tourism. Interacting under the theme of traditional market in Hong Kong, Macao, and South Korea, the lecturers and students from the two universities engage in-depth conversation on the topic.
The event was hosted by Dr. Vicky Chen Zhaoyu, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Postgraduate Programmes, and Ms. Kate Kwan Chi Wo, adjunct faculty of UTM, to provide opportunities for Macao and Korean students to learn and exchange. Dr. Choi was invited to give a guest lecture on traditional market to the year 3 Cultural and Heritage Management Programme students of UTM. She addressed the historical growth of traditional Asian market culture, its social purpose, and cultural worth, as well as the role of market space change in modern cities in light of Korean market cases. Students from the two universities then discussed the cultural similarities and differences between the Chinese and Korean marketplaces, which improved their understanding and cognition of diverse cultures.
A two-day field trip to the markets in Hong Kong and Macao was organized in order to foster a more thorough understanding of traditional market. The student groups from both universities visited Sheung Wan Market, Central Market, Pak Ho Street Market in Sham Shui Po and Mercado Provisório do Mercado Vermelho (also known as Red Market). The Central Market, which is a component of Hong Kong's "Conserving Central" initiative, is an illustration of both architectural conservation and urban development, showing how traditional markets may be incorporated into contemporary life.
In the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Red Market is the only historic structure in the “Art Deco style” that is still used in public markets and is classified as a “building of architectural interest” in Macao. Ms. Kate Kwan was invited to provide a guided tour of the Market to Kyung Hee University students, explaining its architectural style, cultural aspects, and the market’s merits and shortcomings before and after restoration.
Dr. Chen Zhaoyu noted that Hong Kong and Macao's market cultures have rich historical and social significance. She also looked forward to future opportunities for similar international exchanges to strengthen academic collaboration and cross-cultural understanding. Ms. Kwan further confirmed that the market structures and urban element of the Sham Shui Po hawker district were significant representations of the diverse population of Hong Kong's culinary culture.
In addition to supporting Macao’s designation as the “Culture City of East Asia 2025”, this cultural exchange activity fosters Kyung Hee University and UTM’s academic partnership and offers invaluable cultural experiences for the faculty and students of both universities.