Q. Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Hye-seung Seong, and I have been working as a youth researcher at VANK since September 2024. Through VANK’s outreach activities, I have consistently nurtured my long-standing interests in history, culture, diplomacy, and tourism. Building on this foundation, I am actively involved in various global campaigns and policy advocacy initiatives at VANK.
Currently, my focus is on exploring effective ways to promote Korea’s history and culture to the world, with an emphasis on policy development and global outreach efforts.
Q. Your Projects / Campaigns at VANK?
I am involved in a wide range of projects, from promoting accurate knowledge about Korea’s heritage and history to uncovering hidden values. Notably, I have led campaigns such as the designation of ‘Ahn Chang-ho Day,’ the establishment of ‘Taekkyeon Day,’ and efforts to include Taekkyeon in textbooks and dictionaries. Additionally, I introduced aspects of K-Food enjoyed by independence activists and organized campaigns countering China’s Northeast Project, which distorts cultural heritage.
On the international front, I worked to correct the misrepresentation of the East Sea on the global maritime information website ‘Marine Insight.’ Domestically, I collaborated on efforts to remove the incorrect English name for the Dokdo sea lion from digital materials provided by the National Institute of Biological Resources under the Ministry of Environment. These activities aim to promote and preserve Korea’s identity both at home and abroad.
Q. What aspect of Korean history / culture would you like to tell Korea and the world while being an intern at VANK?
I have a deep interest in preserving the values of Korea that are at risk of disappearing. This includes records that are becoming less accessible to the public, endangered cultural heritage, and natural elements of Korea’s four distinct seasons that are increasingly difficult to enjoy due to global warming and environmental changes.
I am passionate about raising awareness of these fading and endangered aspects of Korean culture and nature. By leveraging global platforms and campaigns, I aim to share the significance of Korea’s heritage with the world and contribute to safeguarding our unique identity for future generations.
Q. What would you like to say to fellow students who are thinking of applying for an internship experience at VANK?
I believe that working as a youth researcher at VANK provides a valuable opportunity to understand and approach the appeal of Korea in a unique way. VANK covers a wide range of topics under the umbrella of promoting Korea, including history, culture, diplomacy, and tourism. If there is a particular area of interest, I recommend deeply contemplating it and exploring it from various perspectives.
Additionally, while some aspects may be challenging to address through traditional policy approaches, I believe it is crucial to discover creative ways to tackle these issues, utilizing VANK’s distinctive approach to activities!
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Hello, everyone! I’m Seong Hye-seung, and from September 2024 to February 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a VANK Youth Researcher!
My journey with VANK began in 2022 as a Digital Cultural Heritage Ambassador, followed by my role as one of the 10th cohort of Youth Public Diplomacy Ambassadors in 2023. Building on these experiences, I took on an even more in-depth and meaningful role as a VANK Youth Researcher in September 2024.
Over the past six months, I planned and executed various projects, engaged with countless individuals, and collaborated on initiatives to promote Korea’s values on both domestic and international stages. Through this experience, I not only deepened my understanding of VANK’s unique approach but also experienced tremendous personal growth.
Now, I’d love to take you through my journey as a VANK Youth Researcher and share the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Independence K-Food Challenge
My first mission at VANK was to draft petitions for ‘Woollim’ and ‘Bridge Asia.’ I posed the question: “In today’s global K-food boom, what kinds of K-foods did independence activists enjoy?” This led to the launch of a petition highlighting the K-foods loved by Korean independence activists. Thanks to VANK’s support, this initiative evolved into a three-month-long global campaign.
This campaign was an extension of VANK’s existing ‘2024 Play K-Food Challenge’ with Sports Donga. My role was to research independence activists’ memoirs and testimonies from their descendants to introduce the foods they cherished.
For the final segment of this campaign, we leveraged AI technology to bring independence activists to life—recreating their faces and voices to vividly convey their deep affection for Korean cuisine. By doing so, we transformed historical records into emotionally engaging narratives that resonated with audiences worldwide.
Honoring Dosan Ahn Chang-ho
Focusing on Dosan Ahn Chang-ho’s philosophy, I spearheaded a campaign to establish Ahn Chang-ho Day. This initiative was complemented by the ‘K-Democracy’ campaign, which highlighted Korea’s democratic development through the lens of Ahn Chang-ho’s values. To further spread awareness, I also organized an Instagram event, encouraging more people to connect with and appreciate his legacy.
Additionally, I had the honor of attending a Dosan Academy lecture with my fellow researchers. During this event, we introduced VANK’s vision of carrying forward Ahn Chang-ho’s spirit. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of his belief that “the people are the true sovereigns,” as well as his efforts to change the negative perceptions of Koreans in American society. His philosophy left a lasting impact on me, reinforcing the significance of my work at VANK.
Promoting Taekkyeon
To globally promote Taekkyeon, Korea’s traditional martial art, VANK collaborated with the Korea Taekkyeon Association and the Korea Taekkyeon Federation to host a seminar. My focus was on increasing domestic awareness of Taekkyeon, ensuring that more people could understand and take pride in this unique martial art.
As part of these efforts, I led campaigns to designate June 1st—the day Taekkyeon was recognized as Korea’s Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 76—as ‘Taekkyeon Day’ and to integrate Taekkyeon into school curriculums. I also worked with the Han Culture Foundation to create two infographic-style card news posts titled “VANK’s Dream for Taekkyeon.” Currently, I’m collaborating with my teammate to finalize a five-part card news series introducing VANK’s Taekkyeon promotional campaigns. Once completed, we plan to widely distribute these materials to enhance public understanding of Taekkyeon’s cultural significance.
Cultural Heritage Advocacy
VANK hosted a global seminar that covered not only Korea’s palaces and royal tombs but also intangible heritage from the Asia-Pacific region. This event provided a valuable platform to promote Korea’s rich cultural heritage on the world stage.
One of the highlights was a seminar with the Korea Heritage Service’s International Heritage Cooperation Division, which is responsible for Korea’s ODA (Official Development Assistance) policies regarding cultural heritage. We discussed strategies for international cultural heritage protection and cooperation. As someone deeply interested in international development, I poured my passion into crafting effective global promotional strategies for Korean heritage.
Additionally, I actively participated in seminars and MOU meetings, proposing innovative ideas to enhance Korea’s cultural heritage outreach. These initiatives brought VANK one step closer to raising global awareness about Korea’s invaluable cultural assets.
Correcting Historical Distortions
I was also actively involved in addressing misinformation about Korea on the international stage. One significant case was on the maritime website Marine Insight, which misrepresented the East Sea by referring to it solely as the Sea of Japan and falsely claiming that both Koreas believed European explorers named the sea in the 19th century.
I took immediate action, sending multiple petitions over two weeks and posting comments on the website’s forum. Beyond simply protesting, I provided historical evidence, old maps, and international resolutions that supported the legitimacy of the East Sea name.
Other initiatives included:
- Petitioning Merriam-Webster and Oxford Dictionary to include ‘Taekkyeon’ in their lexicons.
- Correcting historical distortions on Japanese clothing websites.
- Raising awareness of forced labor sites like Sado Mine and Battleship Island.
Although some campaigns are still in progress, I remain committed to achieving tangible results.
Climate Advocacy
Since my VANK interview, I’ve expressed a strong passion for climate issues. Thankfully, my mentor remembered this, granting me the opportunity to lead impactful climate-related initiatives, including:
- Advocating for climate education as a mandatory school subject.
- Launching campaigns for Energy Conservation Day and World Upcycling Day.
I also participated in Siheung City’s lifelong learning event, “For Me, the Earth is Siheung,” where I presented VANK’s climate initiatives. Additionally, I mentored the 2nd cohort of VANK Climate Ambassadors, guiding young students and youth in becoming environmental advocates. Witnessing their dedication solidified my belief that small actions can drive significant change.
Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Korea
With 2025 marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, VANK initiated seven major projects to commemorate this milestone. I took charge of three key campaigns:
- Honoring 21st-century foreign independence activists.
- Advocating for national sovereignty based on Ahn Chang-ho’s principles.
- Promoting Korea’s food and energy independence.
Additionally, I hosted a Global Promotion Strategy Seminar co-organized with the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency and played a crucial role in designing the official 80th Anniversary of Liberation website.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, my time as a VANK Youth Researcher was filled with invaluable experiences. While there were challenges along the way, I am incredibly proud of the impact we made. Through VANK, I hope Korea continues to lead the world in K-Policy Diplomacy and remains a beacon of cultural and historical awareness! 🌏
Thank you to everyone who supported me on this journey—this is only the beginning!