The Mason Korea Debate Society (MKDS) delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Australasian Debating Championship, held in Wollongong, Australia, competing against some of the strongest university debate teams in the region.
Bringing together more than 50 teams from leading institutions across the Australasian debate circuit—including the University of Sydney, the University of Auckland, the Australian National University, Ateneo de Manila University, and many others—the tournament provided a highly competitive platform for university debaters to showcase their analytical thinking, public speaking, and argumentation skills.
Representing Mason Korea, Daegyu Lee, Yesong Oh, and Sumin Song competed as Mason Korea A, debating through eight rigorous preliminary rounds against top teams from across the region. Their exceptional teamwork, critical thinking, and resilience earned them a place in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Finals, where they faced Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.
After an impressive and closely contested final round, Mason Korea A finished as EFL Runner-Up, narrowly falling by a 5–2 decision. Their achievement highlights the team’s ability to compete successfully at one of the region’s most prestigious international debating tournaments.
Adding to the team’s success, Daegyu Lee was named the 8th Best EFL Speaker of the tournament, recognizing his outstanding individual performance throughout the competition.
The Australasian Debating Championship is one of the premier university debating tournaments in the Asia-Pacific region, attracting talented debaters from internationally recognized institutions. MKDS’s success reflects both the society’s continued growth and Mason Korea’s commitment to fostering students’ leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills in a global environment.
Mason Korea congratulates Daegyu Lee, Yesong Oh, and Sumin Song on this remarkable achievement. Their dedication, perseverance, and teamwork have brought pride to the university and further strengthened Mason Korea’s presence on the international debating stage.
As MKDS continues to expand its participation in international competitions, the university looks forward to supporting the society’s future success and celebrating even greater accomplishments in the years ahead.
