Q. Please introduce yourself

I am Koo Seung-hyeon, a VANK youth researcher for the second half of 2024.
At VANK, I have been planning digital content to promote Korea’s history and culture and have launched various campaigns based on this work. Furthermore, I create digital content to foster a sense of solidarity around global issues and seek solutions, striving to address the shared challenges faced by the world.
My goal is to widely share Korea’s values with the world through effective content and campaigns tailored to the digital age, contributing to positive change as a global citizen.

Q. Your Projects / Campaigns at VANK?

Taekkyeon Popularization and Globalization Project

We are conducting a campaign to raise national interest in Taekkyeon and leverage the global Hallyu wave to build international support for its adoption as an official Olympic sport. As part of this effort, we launched a global promotional campaign and a separate campaign aimed at having Taekkyeon included as an official sport in the Asian Games. We believe that being featured in the Asian Games would serve as a critical stepping stone for Taekkyeon to eventually debut on the Olympic stage.

VANK has been actively working to promote the history and value of Taekkyeon worldwide and foster its growth into a global sport through ongoing campaigns. This initiative has not been limited to a single campaign but has progressed into a second phase. In this second campaign, we are focusing on key tasks necessary for Taekkyeon to become an official Olympic sport.

The primary objectives of this phase include:

1. Unifying the rules of Taekkyeon competitions to ensure standardization and recognition.
2. Enacting the Taekkyeon Promotion Act, which would provide a legal framework for systematic support and development.

This second campaign builds upon VANK’s longstanding efforts to popularize and globalize Taekkyeon. It highlights the pressing need for sustained and long-term promotional activities to achieve these goals.

Establishing an International Organization for the Repatriation of Looted Cultural Heritage

To foster global awareness and consensus on addressing the issue of looted cultural heritage, we launched the “International Organization for the Repatriation of Looted Cultural Heritage” project. As part of this initiative, I introduced three Korean cultural artifacts designated as national treasures in Japan and authored a petition urging the government to take proactive measures against the illegal export of cultural assets.

While working on this project, I moved beyond simply pointing out the issue and envisioned Korea taking the lead in resolving such problems. The looting of cultural heritage during the imperial era is not confined to any single country but is a global challenge that requires international solidarity.

Historically, nations victimized by imperialism have often sought assistance from advanced countries and the global community. However, as one of the world’s top ten economies, Korea is now uniquely positioned to unite with other victimized countries, sharing the pain of looting and collectively confronting the perpetrator nations.

Korea’s past experiences as a colonized nation provide a distinct advantage in collaborating with other victimized countries. Furthermore, with over 200 million Hallyu fans and its growing international influence, Korea has the potential to bring the issue of looted cultural heritage to the forefront and drive tangible changes.

In this context, I wrote a petition on the Woollim platform, highlighting the need for a Korean-led international organization dedicated to the repatriation of looted cultural heritage. Based on this petition, I spearheaded a campaign to raise awareness about the gravity of this issue and the importance of global solidarity among countries affected by imperialism.

To amplify the message, I created a poster envisioning a future where such an international organization is established, shedding light on the seriousness of cultural heritage looting and emphasizing the need for international collaboration among victimized nations. I also engaged with Hallyu fans, fostering empathy and exploring strategies for collective action among the affected countries.

This project demonstrates Korea’s potential to lead meaningful change on the global stage through collaboration with other victimized nations. Moving forward, I hope Korea will play a central role in fostering international solidarity and presenting viable global solutions for the repatriation of looted cultural heritage.

Q. What aspect of Korean history / culture would you like to tell Korea and the world while being an intern at VANK?

During my internship, I aim to go beyond focusing on a single aspect of Korea’s history and culture, instead striving to share Korea’s diverse facets with the world. I believe that Korean culture, which harmonizes tradition and modernity, as well as intrinsic values and innovation, serves as a universal language for global communication. The true essence of Hallyu lies in allowing Korea’s multifaceted identity to unfold naturally across the world.

Hallyu is more than just K-pop or K-dramas; it encompasses a broad cultural phenomenon, including Korea’s history, cuisine, traditions, and contemporary values. Therefore, I aspire to present Korea’s diverse aspects to the global audience, enabling them to understand and connect with Korea from various perspectives. Through this process, I aim to promote Korea’s authenticity and charm while contributing to the broader foundation of Hallyu.

Accurately conveying the facts about Korea’s history and culture is crucial. In particular, addressing the spread of misinformation and distorted narratives abroad is essential. For example, Japan’s historical distortions and China’s cultural appropriation must be corrected. Recently, neighboring countries have adopted increasingly subtle methods of appropriating Korea’s history and culture.

China, for instance, is using its cultural heritage, such as the Great Wall, to attempt historical distortions. Claims extending the Great Wall to Pyongyang represent a severe misrepresentation of Korea’s history and territory. Similarly, attempts to deny or appropriate Korea’s historical facts, such as the Dokdo and East Sea issues, have caused tensions for years. However, cases like the Great Wall demonstrate a more intricate challenge, as they exploit cultural heritage to distort Korea’s history and territory, making them harder to counteract effectively.

In this context, a more systematic and strategic preemptive response is necessary. Proactively defending Korea’s unique culture and history, correcting distorted information, and accurately conveying Korea’s authenticity and values to the world have become more critical than ever. Resolving these issues of historical and cultural distortion will help the world gain accurate insights into Korea, allowing its true charm to spread naturally and globally.

Q. What would you like to say to fellow students who are thinking of applying for an internship experience at VANK?

Participating as a youth researcher at VANK offers a valuable opportunity to promote Korea’s history and culture worldwide while driving meaningful social change. It provides a hands-on experience where you can plan and execute projects and campaigns from start to finish, making a tangible impact. This work goes beyond personal growth, as it allows you to represent both VANK and Korea in creating significant transformations.

Leading a project demands a high level of responsibility and execution. While these challenges require dedication, they also become invaluable assets for personal development. During my time at VANK, I’ve learned to view issues like historical distortion and cultural appropriation through a new lens. In the past, I might have stopped at anger and criticism when faced with efforts by Japan and China to distort or appropriate our history and culture. Now, I am determined to address these challenges directly, taking proactive steps to protect and promote our heritage.

This shift from a passive to a proactive approach has underscored the importance of safeguarding Korea’s culture and history and sharing them widely with the world. Every day, I recognize how critical it is to take the initiative in this effort.

The experience at VANK is not just an activity but a transformative journey that broadens your perspective and helps you grow as a global citizen. For those passionate about sharing Korea’s values and charm with the world, I wholeheartedly recommend this opportunity.