Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Two from Ohio State U. to represent U.S in S. Korea
By Marc Feher
The Lantern, Ohio State U.
May 28, 2009

Two Ohio State students will represent the U.S. this summer at a conference in South Korea.

Only 25 American and 25 Korean students were selected to attend the second Korea-America Student Conference.

Chris Singer and Micha Hughes will travel throughout South Korea, but will spend much of their time at roundtable discussions and cultural activities in the nation's capital, Seoul, said conference spokesman Ju-young Kim, in an e-mail.

Hughes and Singer will fly to Washington, D.C. on July 12 for an orientation.

They leave for Seoul on July 15 and will live with other students in dormitories for a month.

"I am so proud to represent Ohio State internationally," Singer said.

Singer applied to the program because of his fascination with Korean culture and film. He said his dream would be to meet some of his favorite Korean film directors.

While in South Korea, Singer said he hopes he can persuade some Korean students to attend OSU.

"I want to help people from all over understand that the best students just don't come from the Ivy League schools," he said.

The trip won't be an entirely new experience for Hughes, who attended the conference last year. The senior in Japanese said her last voyage was an experience she will never forget.

"It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit another country," she said.

After a friend persuaded her to take Korean language classes, Hughes said she was hooked on learning the history, politics and language of South Korea.

"My smallest hope is that I will be able to impact just one person's life in a positive way by sharing my own unique perspective and that the same will happen to me," Hughes said.

During the conference, students will discuss U.S.-Korean relations and attend roundtable discussions about environmental policy, national security issues, and medical and technological innovations in South Korea, Kim said.

Singer acknowledged that one of the main points of conversation will likely be North Korea.

Under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, North Korea has been criticized for human rights violations and developing nuclear weapons.

"Something that's important to remember, and easy to forget, is that North Korea is a country with millions of people that live and die under its government," Singer said.

Singers added that North Korea recently faced one of the world's most significant famines in modern history.

Between 1995 and 1997, more than 3 million North Koreans died from starvation, CNN reported.

Although the nation has recovered from the famine, North Korea still relies heavily on countries such as China for aid.

Singer said he has been preparing for his trip by reading Korean books, but more importantly by raising funds - the trip does not come cheap.

The conference cost $3,000 per student, which includes travel, housing, meals and insurance, according to the conference Web site.

For Singer, who is applying for graduate schools, this trip is a once in a lifetime adventure.

"I hope that this conference will provide a place for genuine intellectual exchange across very different communities, and that by participating I can help to create a positive image of America abroad," Singer said.

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