Under the Korea Foundation’s Prominent Figures Invitation Program from Africa and Middle East regions, Jordanian senator Hatough-Bouran and Omani senator Al Taie made a visit to the National Assembly Research Service (Chief Kim Man-heum) and had talks with officials from the research service on April 14, 2022.

  The two senators expressed their interests in the Korean National Assembly’s legislative proceedings after having been introduced to the research service’s structure and function. In particular, the senators also made detailed queries about how Korea’s gaming curfew, a shut-down law (the AKA Cinderalla law), ended soon after the National Assembly Research Service issued its “Legislative Impact Analysis Report” in which acute analysis of the said law was included.

  They also empathized with how social networking service can instigate political polarization and populism, thus requiring compensatory measures. In addition, they shared their views and discussed with Korean officials issues of common interest such as overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, and so forth. In particular, Senator Hatough-Bouran of Jordan urged the international community to pay attention to the current status of Jordan, which has been impacted immensely by the Syrian refugee crisis.

  The two senators expressed their gratitude for warm hospitality extended by the National Assembly Research Service. NARS chief Kim Man-heum also expressed his wishes that their visit will serve as an opportunity for the national assemblies of the three countries to further deepen and enhance their ongoing exchanges and cooperation.