Can you introduce yourself (major, year of graduation) and share a bit about your current role in PR and communications?
Hi. I’m Haseung (Madeline) Joung. I graduated in 2020 with a major in Global Affairs and a minor in Journalism. I currently work as Social Media Manager at the Asia Society, where I manage the organization’s social media presence for its New York Headquarters. I create content, execute strategies to grow our social media platforms supporting our New York activities and programming, and work with staff to promote their activities and expertise on social media.
How did your experiences at Mason Korea influence your career path and prepare you for work in public relations?
Mason Korea has been instrumental in helping me build a strong foundation for my career. It provided multiple opportunities to expand my interests, develop skills, find mentorship, and gain firsthand exposure to the broader communications field.
For instance, working as a Writing Tutor helped me sharpen my own writing skills while supporting fellow students in their projects. Also, serving as Managing Editor for the student newspaper, The Voice, deepened my interest in communications and media.
Mason Korea also opened doors to incredible opportunities, such as: working at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games as a Commentary Control Room Operator, representing Mason Korea as a UN College Leader at the World Federation of United Nations Associations, being a Liaison Officer at the 6th OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy, and working as a content intern for Asian Boss.
What has been one of the most rewarding or challenging projects you’ve worked on in your PR career, and what did you learn from it?
I’ve had many rewarding experiences in my career. But one chapter I’d like to share is my time at the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS). As a Public Relations Officer and Staff Writer, I traveled around South Korea to produce original social media content and write articles that capture the beauty and richness of our nation’s cultural heritage and share this with an international audience. Seeing positive responses from people around the world was motivating and reinforced my passion for storytelling and creating content that promotes Korean culture on a global stage.
What advice would you give to current Mason Korea students who are interested in pursuing careers in PR, communications, or related fields?
Seek out as many experiences as you can. Whether that’s joining a student organization, working as an intern, or volunteering – these opportunities help you build a robust foundation before stepping into your career. Be hungry, diligent, and open to the opportunities that come your way – even the ones that don’t look exactly like what you imagined. You can find formative and meaningful experiences from the most unexpected places!
Looking back, is there a specific class, professor, or experience at Mason Korea that had a big impact on your professional growth?
My time as a Managing Editor for The Voice is one of the first experiences that shaped my interest in communications and media. Collaborating with my peers to publish a newspaper and disseminate our work across online platforms, gave me a window into the communications field. I also learned a lot about leadership and teamwork. I remember, watching the publication expand as a result of our collective effort was incredibly rewarding.
Beyond the professional skills I gained, I’m also deeply grateful to my cohort for their camaraderie, as well as the faculty and staff who guided and supported us. It was one of those experiences that was both professionally formative and fun!