Talmud Study Now Mandatory in South Korea

This is a fascinating article about Talmud study in South Korea. See
http://muqata.blogspot.com/2011/03/talmud-study-now-mandatory-in-south.html
(A Hebrew article from Ynet is available at http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4046985,00.html)

It seems that the South Koreans are enthralled about Talmud study. It reminds me of the push by Rabbi Yisroel Salanter to have Talmud study be introduced to universities in Europe for thereby its study would be respected for its intellectual challenge. It seems that the South Koreans go beyond this, truly praising the intellectual challenge inherent in Talmud study. The only question I have is where will this take the South Koreans. Could it possibly even result in an increase in South Korean conversions to Judaism?

Rabbi Ben Hecht