This spring, Accessible, a Registered Student Organization (RSO) at Mason Korea, continued its mission of promoting inclusive environments—this time, across continents.
Founded in Fall 2024 by Eunchong Yim, a junior global affairs major who now serves as its president, Accessible began as a group of six students raising awareness about accessibility and disability advocacy in South Korea. It has since grown into a platform for real-world impact.
In April, Yim traveled to Murcia, Spain to visit NaviLens—a global leader in assistive technology—and to produce the first Korean-language introduction to the company’s work. NaviLens’ QR code system enables blind and partially sighted individuals to access location-based information with their smartphones, without needing to know the exact placement of the codes. Accessible hopes to help introduce this technology into South Korea’s public spaces.
Based in Songdo, Incheon, Accessible is uniquely positioned to link global innovation with local
needs. This semester, the group began discussions with the Songdo-based National Museum of World Writing Systems—South Korea’s second most visited museum—about a potential collaborative exhibition project to enhance accessibility. The connection emerged from course field trips, such as INTS 245: Visual Culture and Society, and was made possible by the enthusiasm of museum staff.
In a timely coincidence, George Mason University also began testing NaviLens codes on the Fairfax campus. As a result, Yim was connected with a member of the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community. By sharing updates on events related not only to NaviLens but also to VR games and accessible environments more broadly, both campuses are exploring opportunities for future collaboration.
As the group expands its partnerships, Yim will complete a remote internship with the NaviLens team this summer, continuing to bridge student advocacy with practical accessibility solutions.
“I’m excited to learn about the team’s ongoing projects with blind students in America and to gain communication and project management skills,” she said, adding, “Every moment at Mason Korea became one of my greatest strengths—helping me adapt to new environments and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds.”
July 09, 2025