A Turning Point in my Life

As I neared the end of my 20s, I was deeply pondering my future. I wanted to work in a field related to my major, and the Korea Foundation soon popped up in my mind. So, I visited the Foundation’s website where I fortunately found a notice inviting applications for internships. Excited by what I saw, I did not hesitate even for a moment to apply for one of the internship posts offered, and within just two weeks I found myself on my way to an interview at the Foundation’s Media and Public Relations Center in Suha-dong, Seoul. As if welcoming me, the sun was shining on the building housing multiple companies and organizations, including the KF Media and Public Relations Center. But my excitement soon turned into nervousness and trepidation as I almost blew my opportunity by arriving late for the interview. The modern building operates several hi-tech elevators, each leading to different sets of floors.

Undeterred, however, I hurriedly found my way to the 19th floor where the Center is located and arrived just in the nick of time for the interview. I was surprised at the large stack of applications on a desk in the interview room because I had thought to myself earlier: “There must surely have been just a few applicants as it’s an unpaid internship. Otherwise, I would have not been selected to come for an interview.” The interview was conducted in a comfortable environment and was followed by a test to evaluate my capabilities. I was then given a practical assignment of handling some of the tasks to be allocated to me if I got hired as an intern. Needless to say, my first cautious steps as a working member of society were full of uncertainty and anxiety. However, I was soon able to shed my unnecessary concerns and nervousness thanks to the kind guidance from the Foundation’s staff.

Doing my Best at Every Moment

My first task was related to a program that offers financial support for the publication of Korea-related books in non-Korean languages. I summarized the applications received in accordance with a specified form so that they could be reviewed by an evaluation committee. At first I found it difficult to write the summary following the specified style that was characterized by simplicity. But I gradually grew accustomed to it due to meticulous editing and encouragement by considerate program managers. I was involved throughout the screening process by sharing opinions after reading the evaluation sheets written by the staff responsible for the program and external evaluators. I also busied myself with making preparations for a committee meeting where the applications were to be reviewed again according to various criteria. The committee members made insightful comments, pointing out what I had missed or mistakenly overlooked, thus broadening my perspective.

I thought things would get easier after the meeting – but even more complicated work was awaiting me! Besides compiling the minutes, I had to follow up on the suggestions made in the meeting, such as looking for more evaluators to examine the applications from a neutral perspective. In particular, it was no easy task to find such examiners in the case of applications aiming at publication in a country like Poland where Korea-themed books are difficult to obtain. The suggestion was made because the small number ofbooks to be published would have a huge impact on Korea’s image there and thus it was necessary to examine their content more closely. It also prompted me to think of myself as a window to Korea, like a book published in a foreign land unfamiliar with the nation. As a Korean residing overseas, I made up my mind to exercise more caution in my words and deeds and writing papers in the future.

Deeper Understanding of the Foundation’s Programs

Having fulfilled my responsibilities regarding the publication support program, I helped promote the Foundation at the Seoul Asia Universities Forum hosted by Seoul National University. Of the displayed items at the KF booth, catalogues written in English drew the most attention from visitors. In particular, those featuring the Silla-era gold crowns, gilt-bronze Maitreya Buddha statues and meditating bodhisattva drew praise and admiration from the heads of foreign universities attending the event. It was a moment when I came to realize again the value of the works conducted by the Foundation to promote Korean culture around the world. Also, I could deepen my understanding of the organization’s other programs while taking care of various activities of the Center, and realized what tremendous efforts the Foundation makes for the publication of Korea-related books and media materials, such as the quarterly magazine Koreana. Now, whenever I see materials published by the Foundation, I also am deeply aware of the precious efforts undertaken in the process.

Having completed two months of internship, I am now back in my school in Germany. One of the hubs for Korean Studies in Europe, Ruhr University Bochum boasts excellent faculty including ProfessorMarion Eggert, covering Korean literature, history, religion and medieval language. The East Asian Studies section of the school’s central library houses a large collection of materials dealing with Korea. In addition, visitors can have access to the Berlin State Library’s virtual library called “CrossAsia” that offers vast research information in the field. To a certain degree, this makes up for the geographical disadvantage of being overseas. But for the Foundation’s generous support, it would have been impossible for researchers here, including myself, to enjoy the benefits we do.

I went back to the school library for the first time in months and picked up a book bearing a KF sticker. It made me smile because it conjured up the image of the Foundation staffer who sat next to me during my internship in Seoul attaching the purple stickers to books to be distributed around the world. The two months of internship offered me valuable opportunities to experience Korean society that I rarely had been offered as a student. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all the staff of the Foundation who taught me so many valuable things during my internship there. In order to repay the generous support I received from the Foundation, I will devote myself fully to my studies to become a successful scholar in Korean Studies.

Cho Sung-yeon, Graduate Student at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany