I am Eilene Napitupulu from Indonesia, and I am a Global Intern at VANK. I am currently a student at Binus University in Jakarta, majoring in Visual Communication Design with a focus on Creative Advertising.

I began developing my interest in Korea through K-drama and K-pop. I have always loved art and music, and Korean dramas and music are full of both. I came from Indonesia to Korea through AIESEC. AIESEC has a program called Global Volunteer, and in this program, AIESEC in Korea is collaborating with VANK to promote Korean culture, create cross-cultural understanding, and achieve the goal of decent work.

I’m here to deepen my understanding of Korean culture and share it with the world. While Korea is widely recognized for its K-pop, it’s surprising how many people are still unfamiliar with the richness of its culture. Personally, I find Korean culture incredibly fascinating. To promote it globally, I believe it’s essential for me to first gain a deeper understanding myself. Additionally, I’m introducing my own country, Indonesia, to South Korea, fostering a cross-cultural exchange that brings both cultures closer together.

There have been many memorable moments at VANK, but the one that stands out the most for me was meeting the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Kim Dong-yeon. It was an incredible honor to meet him in person and have the opportunity to present him with one of the tumblers I created. He was incredibly welcoming and kind, making the experience even more special. It was not only a privilege to meet him but also an amazing opportunity to explore Gyeonggi-do, particularly the Suwon area.

I realized there was so much about Korean history and culture that I didn’t know, despite having heard a lot about it before. For me, this journey isn’t just about sharing Korean culture with the world—it’s also a learning experience. I was surprised to discover many similarities between Indonesian and Korean cultures, which inspired me to promote these connections in Indonesia. One way I’ve done this is by creating a video highlighting the cultural parallels between Korea and Indonesia, helping to bridge our two cultures even further.

It has been incredibly rewarding to share Indonesian history and culture with a global audience. VANK gave me the opportunity to highlight Jakarta’s history through a video I created, which was shared on Instagram. While many people are familiar with Indonesia’s history, fewer know about Jakarta’s unique past as the capital city. This platform allowed me to promote Jakarta’s rich history to the world, and I’m grateful for the chance to bring greater awareness to it.

Instagram Video

The Petitions I’ve Made

During my internship at VANK, I had the opportunity to write two articles for petitions on both Woollim and Bridge Asia.

During my stay in Korea, I frequently received public safety alerts in Korean. Each time I received one, I made sure to translate it into English, and I quickly realized that these alerts often contained critical information. While translating them was beneficial for me, I realized that many foreigners visiting Korea might not be doing the same, leaving them unaware of important updates they should know about. This experience prompted me to create a petition advocating for public safety alerts to also be provided in English, ensuring that all visitors can stay informed and safe.

Woollim Petition

Bridge Asia Petition

My second petition focuses on the issue of climate change, particularly in relation to the fashion industry. During my time in Korea, I noticed many stores selling trendy clothing, similar to what I’ve seen in Indonesia. However, this raised concerns for me, knowing that much of this clothing comes from the fast fashion industry, which is highly detrimental to the environment. I realized that many people might not be aware of the severe environmental damage caused by fast fashion and its contribution to climate change. This motivated me to create a petition aimed at raising awareness about these issues and advocating for a more sustainable approach to fashion to help protect our planet.

Woollim Climate Change Petition

Bridge Asia Climate Change Petition

During my internship, I also had the opportunity to contribute to designing backgrounds and layouts for social media posts.

Instagram Post

It was a fantastic experience, especially since I also got to introduce aspects of Indonesia’s culture each week during my presentations. I was truly amazed by how everyone at VANK was so interested in the cultures I shared, making the experience even more meaningful.

I’ve learned so much from this internship, and one of the things that has truly impressed me is VANK’s dedication to promoting Korea to the world. It’s become my dream to implement a similar approach in Indonesia. VANK’s work has been incredibly inspiring, and I aspire to do something similar. As a Visual Communication Design student, I want to use my skills and knowledge to achieve in Indonesia what VANK has accomplished for Korea.

To everyone passionate about fostering cultural understanding and pursuing big dreams, take this opportunity as your first step. I guarantee it’s worth it because great achievements always begin with small steps.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to VANK for this incredible experience, which has surpassed my wildest dreams. Being able to contribute meaningfully has been truly fulfilling. Thank you for opening the doors to my big dreams and helping me take the first steps toward achieving them.

Hello!

My name is Safiandra Pasha Samiaji. I am an undergraduate student from Indonesia working here at VANK as a foreign youth researcher. The activity started in early July and is coming to a close at the end of August. As we wrap up the activity, I would like to summarize the things I have done over the past month. But first, I will explain why I chose VANK and how I came to be here in Korea.

Why VANK?

Back in March, I realized that I wanted to do something beneficial for myself and seek a new experience during this year’s summer break. I didn’t want to waste my holiday by just sitting around and doing nothing. Fortunately, my organization, AIESEC, had just launched its summer exchange program. When I saw the VANK program, I knew it was perfect. It offered personal growth and cross-cultural exchange in a new country. I had also developed an interest in Korea and wanted to learn more about its culture and history. I applied immediately, despite being nervous about the interview. A few months later, I received the exciting news that I had been selected. Just a month after that, I was in Korea, beginning my internship at VANK.

What I Did at VANK

Petition: More Public Trash Cans in the City

This petition was created due to a problem that I and many other tourists experienced: the lack of public trash cans throughout the city. Many people are forced to hold onto their trash until they can find a trash bin, which disrupts the sightseeing experience. Additionally, this can contribute to litter, negatively impacting the city’s image. Increasing the number of trash cans, especially in popular tourist areas, would be a great, tourist-friendly solution.

Video about Indonesian Culture: “Ngaben”

I created a video for VANK explaining one of the most fascinating cultures in my hometown of Bali called “Ngaben.” Ngaben is a Javanese Hindu tradition that involves the cremation of a deceased person. It is a significant ritual that holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning for Javanese Hindus. I made this video to share with people here so they can also learn about my home culture, as I am learning about cultures here in Korea as well. It is a great opportunity for cross-cultural exchange. You can check out the video on VANK’s Instagram account.

K-Food Video: Naengmyeon

This is another video I made where I contributed to VANK’s K-food video challenge, which promotes and increases exposure of Korean food around the world. I took this chance to explain one of the most interesting Korean dishes, in my opinion, which is “Naengmyeon” or Korean cold noodles. It’s a very unique dish, and I think the blend of ice and soup works very well in the summer. I’ve never seen anything like this in any other country, which is why I wanted to talk about and share this culinary experience.

Petition: Increase English Books in Public Libraries

This petition highlights the difficulty faced by myself, as well as by foreign visitors and residents in South Korea, due to the lack of English-language books in public libraries. The scarcity of English books not only hinders learning about Korean culture but also detracts from the overall tourist experience. In my opinion, expanding English-language collections in public libraries is crucial to better cater to the needs of a diverse population and promote cultural exchange. It also provides more reasons for tourists to stay in libraries beyond just taking pictures.

Final Thoughts

Working here at VANK has been the best experience—one that I am sure I will never forget. Words can’t fully express my gratitude for everything I’ve gained here at VANK. From the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by everyone. Beyond personal growth, I had the unique opportunity to connect with the people here and share my experiences. It’s truly something that I will always remember. I have become inspired by VANK’s noble mission to preserve and promote Korean culture. I have no doubt that VANK is destined for great success. Thank you for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. I hope we can meet again soon!

The start of my journey with VANK

My name is Michelle, I’m from Colorado, USA and I was a VANK Youth Researcher from September 2023 to June 2024. I attended Korea University for a year to graduate and did my internship at VANK at the same time. When I first came to Korea, I was very nervous about the idea of doing an internship in Korea. I was very worried about whether I would be able to do well as well as about whether or not I would be able to get along with my coworkers. Thanks to the warm welcome I received almost from the moment I arrived, I put those worries to rest and was able to work hard for nine months.

What I did

I’ve gotten to do a lot of different things at VANK, so let me introduce to you what I have done!

• Appearing in contents – I learned a lot about Korea by appearing in contents!

• Writing petitions – When I first came to VANK, I wrote several petitions while I was getting used to VANK and understanding more about it.

• Creating contents – Following petitions, I created a lot of contents.

• Activities outside the office – I visited Ulleungdo, Dokdo, Cheongju Early Printing Museum, King Sejong the Great Memorial Society, Overseas Korean Agency, Hulbert Memorial Society, and attended the Opening Ceremony for the 3rd Global National Heritage Ambassadors.

After completing my internship

Thank you for understanding me, teaching me things I didn’t know, and giving me a lot of opportunities. I feel so lucky to have had such a good relationship with VANK, laughing, crying, eating, and working together. As my youth is coming to an end, I am grateful to have shared these memories, and I will continue to support VANK’s activities in the future!

Question 1: Hello! Could you please introduce yourself?

Hello! My name is Truong Anh, and I’m from Vietnam. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in the Department of International Tourism & Korean-English Interpretation and Translation at Kongju National University.

Question 2: How did you become interested in Korea?

Vietnam and Korea share many commonalities, and I want to help promote international tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries. I have a deep interest in Korea’s tourism and cultural heritage.

Question 3: What is the reason for coming to Korea?

I have always been interested in the tourism field, especially in Korea’s tourism industry. I came to Korea to experience tourism firsthand and learn in detail about related fields.

Question 4: How did you get the internship at VANK?

Last summer (2023), I participated in VANK’s Global Cultural Heritage Ambassador activities, during which I learned more about VANK. The most impressive part was VANK’s identity. I thought it would be great to have an opportunity to work at VANK. I checked the website to see if they were recruiting young researchers and waited for the application period, after which I applied and became an intern.

Question 5: What work are you currently doing as an intern at VANK?

As a young researcher at VANK, I am developing content to propose and promote policies related to Korea’s history, culture, and tourism. I aim to accurately inform the world about cultural heritage and correct misinformation about Korea in foreign media while also providing new information. I am also creating promotional videos about Vietnam and posting them on YouTube and Instagram.

Question 6: Do you have any memorable episodes during your internship?

During my internship at VANK, I had the chance to engage in various good activities. Writing petitions, appearing in music videos, and creating personal project videos… Every task and every moment was very precious and unforgettable.

Question 7: You attended the launch ceremony of the 5th Digital Metaverse Diplomats held in VANK’s metaverse space on January 31, 2024. How did you feel at that time?

There were more people at the Digital Metaverse Diplomats launch ceremony than I expected. My friends actively participated, and I felt that my foreign friends spoke Korean very well. It was great to be able to share my experiences and the work I do as a VANK intern with those friends.

Question 8: What are your plans after completing the VANK internship? And what is your dream?

After finishing the VANK internship, I will return to school. I plan to continue studying hard and actively utilize the knowledge and experience gained as a VANK intern to contribute to various projects. I want to leverage my capabilities developed through the internship while further expanding my knowledge and experience in international tourism and world cultural heritage. I also pursue continuous learning and growth, so I want to build deeper expertise through new opportunities and challenges.

Question 9: What would you say to foreign friends considering applying for an internship at VANK?

“You may not be a diplomat, but you will engage in diplomatic activities.” Communicate freely. Gain new information about international issues. Build new knowledge. Cultivate original ideas. I think working as an intern at VANK, which makes all of this possible, would be a great opportunity.

Question 10: Lastly, what would you like to say to VANK?

There aren’t many opportunities to do this kind of work as an intern abroad, so I feel lucky to have had this great opportunity thanks to VANK. I love VANK’s identity and am proud to be associated with it. Thank you for all your support; I have been able to create wonderful memories. I will continue to cheer for VANK forever!

Question 1: Hello, Tiara! Could you please introduce yourself?

Hello! My name is Tiara, and I was born in Cirebon, a city on the island of Java in Indonesia. I am majoring in English Literature at Islamic State University in Jakarta, and I am currently working as a young researcher at the Cyber Diplomacy Corps, VANK. Nice to meet everyone!

Question 2: How did you become interested in Korea?

In 2016, I started to like Korea while listening to K-pop music, such as BTS. I have a curious personality, so I decided to learn Korean to understand the meanings behind BTS’s songs and studied Korean through a mobile app called Eggbun. I focused on learning Korean for almost two years during high school and wanted to gain more knowledge about Korean history and culture.

Question 3: What is the reason for coming to Korea?

In 2023, while looking for opportunities to fill my vacation time, I heard from a friend that VANK offers (internship) opportunities for people interested in Korean history and culture. Even though I had been interested in Korea for seven years, I only knew about K-pop groups like BTS and didn’t know much about Korean history or culture, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to learn more about Korea.

Question 4: How did you get the internship at VANK?

Two months before the semester break started in 2023, I began looking for another opportunity to fill my vacation time, even though I was actively involved in the AIESEC organization at my university. One of my friends, who was in charge of exchange programs and internships in that organization, told me that VANK was looking for people who wanted to learn about Korean history and culture. I applied for the internship right away.

Question 5: What work are you currently doing as an intern at VANK?

As a young researcher at VANK, I have learned a lot about Korean history and culture. I also wrote petitions targeting individuals who have the power to change the world, including young people.

One of the petitions is titled “Is it certified ‘Halal’? A Call for Accuracy in Food Stall Labels.” It addresses the issue of Korean food stalls arbitrarily labeling their food as ‘halal’ from the perspective of Muslim patrons abroad. In the Islamic culture, there are specific procedures that food must go through to be certified as halal, yet some food stalls in Korea were intentionally using halal certification marks to attract the attention of Muslim patrons. I noticed stalls using halal marks on the street without proper certification and thought this was a problem, so I wrote a petition.

Along with writing petitions, I also participated in the Again Asia project, aimed at introducing Asian history and culture to Korea and the world. I created a video comparing my country Indonesia’s traditional attire, Batik, with Korea’s Hanbok.

Question 6: Do you have any memorable episodes during your internship?

As someone who has never lived abroad, I was initially worried that I would have a very difficult time communicating due to my lack of Korean language skills. However, the staff at VANK welcomed me very kindly. Having encountered news related to discrimination against Muslims, I was concerned as a Muslim patron, but VANK had a family-like atmosphere that made me feel comfortable as if I were at home. I came to think that the differences between Korea and Indonesia are not significant, and I remember being able to try new Korean dishes outside of working hours.

Question 7: You attended the launch ceremony of the 5th Digital Metaverse Diplomats held in VANK’s metaverse space on January 31, 2024. How did you feel at that time?

It was my first time attending an event in the metaverse, and it was such a fun and interesting experience. I felt honored to attend the launch ceremony for VANK’s Digital Metaverse Diplomats.

Question 8: What are your plans after completing the VANK internship? And what is your dream?

After finishing the VANK internship, I will focus on my university life and take on a new marketing role in a campus organization. I will also continue to pursue internships related to marketing and graphic design in Indonesia. I believe the skills and knowledge I acquired while working at VANK will be very beneficial in the future.

During my internship at VANK, I realized that I had been living in a very small world. I still have a lot to learn, and I believe the learning process does not end here. In the future, I want to share stories about how VANK influences young people and strive to help the next generation learn more about themselves.

Question 9: What would you say to foreign friends considering applying for an internship at VANK?

Don’t be afraid to take a step forward. Move forward slowly and embrace every experience as part of the challenge. And don’t give up just because there’s a language barrier. You can communicate using your hands, feet, and body. Take the first step at VANK now!

Question 10: Lastly, what would you like to say to VANK?

I would like to sincerely thank VANK. I feel honored to have been given the opportunity to learn and know more about Korea. I learned not only about Korea as a country but also about its history, people, and the dreams that VANK aims to promote to the world. I also realized that there is much to learn about my country, Indonesia, alongside Korea. Thank you, VANK! I look forward to meeting a VANK that has grown even bigger!