"I will work to establish a meaningful channel of communication between Korea and the United States through a close network with American students."

A female student at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has attracted attention for serving as a U.S. executive committee member of the Korean-American Student Conference (KASC), a cultural and academic exchange program for Korean and American university students.

The student in question is Park Hye-jin (22), a third-year student in the Department of Housing Environmental Design (photo). Ms. Park is the only student from a regional university among the executive committee members, which comprise five Korean and five American students. She is also the only Korean student serving as a U.S.-side committee member, a particularly active and high-profile role.

Because of her fluent English, her active contributions at various meetings, and her rapport with American students, the American participants recruited Ms. Park to serve as a U.S.-side committee member.

The KASC, in which Ms. Park participates, was established in 2007 as a student-run conference modeled on the U.S.-Japan Student Conference (JASC) by the International Student Conference (ISC) founded by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Each year, fifty students—25 Korean and 25 American—travel between Korea and the United States to present diverse student perspectives on major Korea–U.S. issues, including international affairs, education, the economy, the environment, and cultural exchange.

Ms. Park, who began serving on the Korean delegation last July based on her excellent English skills and wide-ranging social activities, will participate this year as a U.S.-side executive committee member. Beginning July 1 for one month, during conferences held at various domestic universities, she will act as a bridge by collecting and recording the opinions of the U.S.-side committee members and sharing them with the Korean committee members.

Ms. Park said she joined the KASC because of her longstanding interest in English and her aspiration to work for international organizations such as the United Nations after graduation.

She stated, "Ever since I was young I harbored a vague dream of working at the United Nations, so I wanted to actively participate in international activities like this to build experience and skills. I hope to work at an organization that promotes trade not only between Korea and the United States but also among European countries, and I plan to intern at the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea."

She added, "The KASC is a valuable opportunity to grow into a global talent representing Korea, so I hope more students from regional universities will participate. Through close communication with American students, I will serve as a messenger to help deepen cooperative ties between Korea and the United States."

Meanwhile, the KASC, now in its sixth year, will be held this year from July 1 for one month at Handong University, Yonsei University, KAIST, Jeju National University, and other campuses, following last year’s events in the United States. This year’s conference will discuss topics such as international development policy based on intergovernmental cooperation, Korea–U.S. encounters through culture and the arts, and the future of Korea–U.S. relations through scientific and technological cooperation.

In particular, against the backdrop of instability on the Korean Peninsula due to inter-Korean tensions, the conference will examine in depth the significance and future of the Korea–U.S. alliance for peace and security, the roles of both countries, and the alliance's impact on Korean Peninsula unification.