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!