The 2nd mutual visit program with the National Assembly Library (NAL) of Korea was held from December 13 to 19, 2004 at the NAL. Two staff members of the NDL, Ms. Mihoko Okamura (Researcher of the Public Administration and Judicial Affairs Division, Research and Legislative Reference Bureau) and Mr. Hiroshi Tsukada (Researcher of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division, Research and Legislative Reference Bureau) visited the NAL for the program. 

The contents of the program were as follows:

In Session I, Mr. Tsukada reported current situation of the legislative research services of the NDL and introduced measures to enhance staff specialization focusing on training methods. Dr. Wan-Sik Hong (Specialist in Public Law of the NAL) reported the present state of legislative information services and the system for ensuring expert staff. After their presentations, participants exchanged questions and answers about differentiation from other similar legislative support institutions and the process of preparatory research of the NDL.

In Session II, Ms. Okamura reported on how the Bureau had dealt with specific copyright issues. Dr. Sei-kee Kwon (Senior Researcher of the NAL) reported on NAL's measures to deal with the issues. After these reports, participants exchanged questions and answers.

In the Open Forum on December 17, Dr. Yoo-Hyang Kim (Research Fellow of the NAL) reported on the current situation of NAL's legislative information services and challenges of the future. After the report, participants had a final discussion on themes from all sessions, such as specific methods of research, problems of legislative service, and differentiation from other legislative support institutions. The forum was lively and brought the program to a successful end. 

 (For more information on the Mutual Visit Program, click here)

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