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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

Students from Korea and the U.S. Discuss Bilateral Cooperation

On July 5, 2008, 19 university students from Korea and 15 from the U.S. gathered in Washington, D.C. to participate in the first Korea-America Student Conference (KASC), hosted by the International Student Conference (ISC). The ISC is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote mutual understanding and personal friendship through cultural and academic exchange. It has organized a similar Japan-America Student Conference since 1934.
This year, the ISC launched the initial KASC in an effort to promote mutual understanding between students from Korea and the U.S. Of note, the KASC is characterized by the planning and organization of the conference by the students themselves. This year’s program was comprised of discussion sessions at George Washington University, Brown University, University of Tennessee, and UC Berkeley, along with cultural activities.
Based on a theme of “A New Look at the Korea-U.S. Alliance,” the participants shared their knowledge and thoughts on relevant matters through paper presentations and discussion sessions. Each round-table session was organized around a designated subject area, with a focus on such matters as the efforts to become global citizens, the future of North Korea, the role of technology in Korea-U.S. relations, and the peace and security of Northeast Asia. In addition, teams were formed, with students from Korea and the U.S., to assume leadership roles for the roundtable proceedings at each venue.

George Washington University
Awkward smiles were seen when the KASC participants met for the first time for a dinner in Washington, D.C. However, by the next day, personal interaction was more natural, despite the differences in social backgrounds, while finalizing preparations for the opening ceremony and other activities. In fact, the opening ceremony was quite memorable and the highlight of this venue, setting the stage for the subsequent events.
The opening ceremony, which was held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, provided the participants with a unique experience that they might hardly have expected as a student. In my case, I was provided with an opportunity to deliver a welcoming speech, as a representative of the Korean delegation, in front of an audience of distinguished guests, after which everyone enjoyed the chance to socialize with one another. While sharing my views on current affairs with the other participants, I came to reflect on a global way of thinking and assuming our role as leading ps in the future. After getting up at 6 a.m., our group, attired in business suits, embarked on visits to various sites, including the Korean Embassy, U.S. Navy, and Congress, making for a busy but informative schedule. Eager to learn and enjoy new experiences, everyone seemed pleased with the program activities and participants.

Brown University
During the second week, we had some free time while making our way to Brown University, in Rhode Island. Of note, for this venue, the activities included a talent show and evaluation of papers. The talent show, which was highly entertaining, also caused any lingering reservations among the participants to instantly disappear. Notable performances included a U.S. student’s exceptional rendition of a Korean song and a student who recited a poem in three languages, along with a magic show and short skit. It seemed as though the talent of these individuals was a reflection of their passion for life. As a finale, the male students from Korea led everyone in dance, which resulted in hearty laughter and reinforcement of friendship bonds.
Thereafter, everyone spent time putting the final touches on their papers, which were distributed to the participants before the roundtable session, so that the most outstanding papers could be selected for presentation. Even though prepared by students, the quality and depth of the papers were impressive indeed. Moreover, the knowledge and passion of certain individuals served to inspire and encourage the participants. We also managed to fit in a visit to Boston, where we visited Harvard and MIT.



University of Tennessee
We moved on to Tennessee in the south, where we were greeted by hot and humid weather. Here, the group conducted a panel discussion on East Asia’s soft power, along with outdoor activities in the woods. Of note, several renowned professors attended the gathering to address such issues as the cultural endeavors of Korea and the soft power efforts of China. We learned more from the question-and-answer session, and exchanged views on the role of Korea in East Asia and in the United States, and the role of the United States in East Asia.
During the outdoor activities, we acquired firsthand experience about various environmental initiatives in the United States, and the status of our global environment. Although the humid weather was somewhat of an inconvenience for the outside activities, everyone eventually adapted to the surroundings, which served as a unique setting for the discussion of environmental and related matters.

UC Berkeley
Finally, we arrived in San Francisco. During the flight to San Francisco, I had to carefully check the details of the schedule, including an orientation session to be held immediately upon our arrival, since I was in charge of the program at this site. Although still summer, it was cool in San Francisco, again showing me just how large the U.S. really is. The highlight of the program here was the final forum and the election of KASC Executive Committee members for next year’s gathering.
Along with representatives of each round-table session, we were allotted 20 minutes to provide summaries of the previous discussions and make a final presentation. For this, each team met in advance, with the Korean and U.S. students cooperating closely with one another to finalize their presentations. Everybody seemed rather nervous when the final forum got underway, but the presentations were all impressive, successfully winding up the forum program.
Thereafter, there was a clear sense of satisfaction of the fact that we had successfully completed the primary goal of this year’s KASC. Then, we had to elect the Executive Committee members for the second conference in 2009, since the KASC is organized by the students themselves. Prior to the election, we held preliminary meetings to consider the individuals who would be best suited to lead KASC with dedication and passion. On the final day, we elected five Korean and five American students, who will be responsible for organizing an even better KASC next year.
The month-long conference finally came to an end. On the night before we departed for home and our normal life, we conveyed our gratitude, regrets, and personal feelings to one another through tears and letters. The awkwardness at the first meeting had long been forgotten, and everyone wished one another good fortune in the future, like a typical scene of departing family members.
The Korea-America Student Conference in 2008 provided 34 students from Korea and the United States with an occasion to broaden their global awareness, knowledge, and experience. It thus served as a valuable opportunity for these students to contribute to a further strengthening of Korea-U.S. understanding and bilateral relations. The second KASC, slated for July 2009, will be held in Korea, with participation of 50 students, as a larger and more productive conference.

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