MOVING TO South Korea as an exchange student is no easy feat, as the challenges posed by cultural differences and language barriers can often be intimidating. Yonsei Global is a student organization that helps exchange students settle in, discover Korean culture, and make friends during their time at Yonsei University. The Yonsei Annals interviewed Yonsei Global’s 38th president, Kim Taehyun (Class of ’20, Dept. of Political Science and Int. Studies) and its club members, Yoon Myeong-ji (Class of ’19, Dept. of Psychology) and Choi Jung-won (Class of ’19, UIC, Comparative Lit.& Culture) to learn more about how they actively interact with exchange students.

   Annals: Could you briefly introduce Yonsei Global?

   Kim Taehyun: Yonsei Global is a student organization founded in 2003 under the Office of International Affairs. We prepare activities for Yonsei University students and exchange students to meet up and create great memories together.

   Annals: What is the structure of the organization? How does Yonsei Global work?

   Kim: Yonsei Global is comprised of four departments. Each department prepares programs comprised of multiple activities. The academic department prepares academic programs, such as the “Free Language Class.” The culture department organizes programs with the goal of introducing Korean culture to exchange students. One popular program the department offers is called “One Shot,” where students photograph famous tourist spots. The interaction department prepares sports programs, where students learn to kayak or ice-skate among other activities. Finally, our public relations department promotes Yonsei Global on social networking platforms and our website.

   Annals: What are some activities you have planned for the upcoming semester?

   Kim: We have prepared many activities for the fall semester. Those participating in the “Korea Music and Arts” program will visit the National Museum of Korea. We also prepared an online program called “Korean Movie Night” where we watch movies via zoom. Another program is “Tasty Sinchon” where students are introduced to Korean dishes like Korean barbeque, kal-guk-su, and tteok-bok-ki. In “Yonsei Global Glamping[1],” students get to go glamping at Mt. Bukhan and Paju. This semester we will introduce a new program called “Game Maniac,” in which students visit escape rooms and play board games together.

   Annals: How has the organization overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic?

   Kim: We either canceled or modified our activities to comply with the government preventive measures against COVID-19. Before the pandemic, we would host an in-person orientation to welcome exchange students. Now we use a pre-recorded video clip. We also had to cancel “Global day,” a special event held once a year for which we pick a specific country to be the party’s main theme; students are introduced to that country’s traditional food and attire. While our in-person regular meetings continue, they are limited to four students—two exchange students and two Yonsei Global members. We created new online programs, such as “Korean Movie Night,” but we still try to offer face-to-face activities. Our goal is to conduct all the activities successfully but most importantly, safely.  

   Annals: Is there a program Yonsei Global is particularly proud of?

   Kim: We are particularly proud of our academic department’s “Free Language Class” program. We connect one exchange student with one Yonsei student for them to teach one another their language. The program is open for any Yonsei student to apply and participate!

   Annals: What qualities are you looking for in new candidates?

   Kim: We are not looking for anything special. We only look for a genuine interest in the organization and enthusiasm. Since we interact with exchange students, we are often asked if we require our members to be proficient in English, but that is not the case. Exchange students that come to Yonsei are strongly interested in Korea, and some are even fluent in Korean. Overall, we want our members to be eager to welcome and make friends with exchange students. 

   Annals: What are some of the benefits of being a Yonsei Global member?

   Kim: Members get the special opportunity to interact with people from all around the globe, make friends through fun activities and share their own culture with them. Yonsei Global members are enthusiastic, positive, and make the organization the perfect place to make good friends. We function with a “cell” system; members of the same small group, or cell, are encouraged to interact with one other. We also host the so-called Bap-shong event in which members can freely ask other members for bap-yak[2]. Other fun activities include secret Santa and the buddy system. 

   In addition to this, we get financial support from the Office of International Affairs, which allows our members to participate in fun, and sometimes expensive, activities at no cost! Thanks to Yonsei Global, members take part in activities they would not have otherwise, such as kayaking or indoor climbing.

   Annals: When and why did you decide to join?

   Yoon Myeong-ji: I joined Yonsei Global during the Fall 2020 semester. At that time, my own exchange program was canceled. I was frustrated that I could not see more of the world as an exchange student. I thought joining Yonsei Global would be a great opportunity to meet exchange students and broaden my horizons, perhaps even filling in for my unfulfilled exchange student program.

   Choi Jung-won: I also joined during the Fall 2020 semester. The summer before joining Yonsei Global, I had a part-time job at a quarantine facility. Many exchange students were quarantined there, and as I was positioned at the front desk, I had to attend to their complaints by answering calls. I empathized with them. Working in that facility inspired me to help exchange students create great memories in Korea. That is why I decided to join Yonsei Global.

   Annals: Could you share a special anecdote during your time in the organization?

   Yoon: A little embarrassing anecdote I have is that I met my first boyfriend during my time here. He was an exchange student, and even though we broke up, I think Yonsei Global is a perfect place to get to meet lots of different people.

   Choi: Once, I made a huge mistake when I oversaw “Yonsei Global's E-Sports (YES)” program. All the dates of the YES programs, on brochures and everywhere else, were written wrong. I panicked. But the president consoled me, explaining she had also made a similar mistake and that it was totally fine.

   Annals: Which program would you like to recommend to future new members?

   Yoon: I recommend the “Korea Music and Arts” program, but I might be biased since I was head of the program. I believe Yonsei Global to be a place where exchange students can experience diverse aspects of Korean culture, such as architecture, history, and even K-POP.

   Choi: I would say, the “Game Maniac” program. Escape rooms and other activities are quite expensive, so I think “Game Maniac” is a great way to enjoy them without any cost.

   Annals: How do you recruit new members? Do you have any advice for future applicants?

   Kim: We recruit students at the beginning of each term. The recruitment process is divided into two phases: an application and an interview. Applicants first submit the application, then the selected candidates are scheduled for online interviews. After the interviews, we choose our new members. The best advice I could give is to show your willingness to fully participate and interact with exchange students.

[1] Glamping: A blended word composed of “glamour” and “camping,” it signifies a form of luxurious camping with amenities and comforts

[2] Bap-yak: An activity where upperclassman usually buy underclassman meals