Sophomore Hyunwoo Jo represented not only Mason Korea, but the entire nation of Korea, at the 2023 Global Youth Summit this summer.
Hosted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) and organized by the National Council of Youth Organizations in Korea (NCYOK), Jo, a global affairs major, spent a full week in July participating in the program.
"I had the honor of being elected as the Representative of Korean Participants at the kick-off ceremony in June" said Jo, who delivered a speech on the summit’s importance at the Opening Ceremony held the following day. The Vice Minister of MOGEF and the President of NCYOK attended the Ceremony alongside special lecturers.
The Summit, held at the International Youth Center in Seoul, brought together over 130 youth from 47 countries. Participants were divided into groups that worked on subtopics centered on the theme, “Harmony of Global Youths Towards a Sustainable Future.”
Jo’s group tackled issues related to the role of youth in respecting and spreading cultural diversity and values. Teaming up with another group working on the same theme, they produced a recommendation that earned them the “Best Brochure” award.
The summit also included outdoor adventures, including archery, drumming (nanta), pottery, and exploring Seoul landmarks. “I had a blast trying out archery and pottery, and visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul N Tower, and HiKR Ground,” said Jo. “Most of these experiences were fresh to me, even as a local!”
“This was easily one of the best weeks of my life, and I’m thankful to Professor Soyoung Kwon for the recommendation,” said Jo, who also spent the summer working as a full-time intern at Mason Korea’s Office of Admissions & Enrollment while serving as Student Body Government President. “I made some incredible friends throughout the summit who I know will be lifelong colleagues.”
Watch Jo deliver a speech during the summit in this video (47:37).
August 29, 2023
