Two Mason Korea students are taking the lead in youth activism and peace building efforts in Korea. Yoonseo Cho, a junior majoring in global affairs, and Seung Gyo Kim, a senior majoring in conflict analysis and resolution, presented as panelists at the “2023 Sustainable Peacebuilding Conference” held at the Korean National Assembly earlier this month.
The conference, hosted by the Youth Sustainable Alliance of Korea (YSDA Korea), was held to explore policies and institutional measures for peace, security, and sustainable development on the Korean Peninsula.
Yoonseo Cho currently serves as a secretariat member of the peace building division of YSDA Korea, a youth organization that promotes the well-being and peace of countries and regions, while advocating the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“As a global affairs student with a concentration in environment, I presented on building peaceful environmental security through the joint restoration of the borderless marine ecosystem in the Yellow Sea,” said Cho. “In my conclusion, I emphasized the need for joint cooperation between the two Koreas on the collection and raw materialization of marine waste by establishing a circular economic network of marine waste plastics,” she added.
Seung Gyo Kim, a trained vocalist, also participated in a panel discussion where he proposed a peace movement plan that incorporates the arts.
"We need to revive conflict resolution workshops where young people from the two Koreas, who have not been able to see each other, can gather in a safe space and create art together,” said Kim. "You can build true peace only when you attempt to bring together ordinary citizens in the same space to communicate and cooperate," he added.
February 10, 2023
