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My Experience as a Member of the KF ASEAN Culture HouseStudent Press Corps

Written by_Jeon Na-yeong, KF ASEAN Culture House Student Press Corps

My name is Jeon Na-yeong, and I am a member of theKF ASEAN Culture House Student Press Corps. I majored in Thai language and, wanting to know more about ASEAN, I applied to the Student Press Corps of the KF ASEAN Culture House, where I have been active to this day.

Currently, the Culture House’s educational programs include cooking classes, language classes, and special classes. I participated in cooking and language classes and covered their story. In fact, I had been enrolled in the Thai language class before I applied to the Student Press Corps, and I thought it was very effective. I received a number of recommendations from friends who had participated in the cooking class, and when I took the class myself, it was more fun and satisfying than I expected. The most memorable event that I covered was the ASEAN-themed film screening, ASEAN Odyssey, in which four ASEAN-related documentary films were screened from September to October. In Korea, films from ASEAN countries are rarely broadcasted, and documentaries even less often, so these film screenings were a wonderful opportunity for the Korean public to become more familiar with the region. I watched Mother and Tooi and Masato and later enjoyed the following talk, Remaining Japanese(Hikiagesha) and Various Ethnic Identities in Southeast Asia by Lee Won-il, Senior Coordinator of the EBS International Documentary Film Festival. The films and lecture not only taught me a great deal, but also promted me to reflect on the social challenges faced by many ASEAN countries.

During the coverage, I was able to witness firsthand and learn more about the ASEAN Culture House’s activities. Also, as a member of the Student Press Corps and a Thai language major I felt a sense of responsibility to write informative articles and participate in promotional activities. Looking back on my time with the Student Press Corps, I believe that the experience heightened my interest in and understanding of the ASEAN region, and this, as well as my interactions with likeminded students, has provided me with a deep sense of personal growth for which I am truly thankful.