This year, I was honored to receive the 2026 KYHS Achievement Award, which recognizes members who faithfully served as officers of KYHS throughout the year. As an executive officer, I spearheaded multiple high-impact projects, including designing digital campaign posters on topics such as food security and international cooperation that have achieved an online reach of over 25,000 individuals. Additionally, I created and distributed the KYHS merchandise, directly contributing

This year I wrote chapter 7 of MercyKo's 2026 Global Issues Report, titled Multilateralism Under Strain: Institutional Decline, Protectionism, and the Search for a New Global Order. I expected a fairly routine research assignment on the UN and WTO, but it ended up changing how I think about international cooperation. The chapter looks at the criticism facing both institutions, the rise of protectionism, and the growing calls for new frameworks as cooperation weakens. What I k

Last week, I traveled to Hong Kong from September 24th to 28th to spend Chuseok with my family. As a quarter Hong Konger, it felt especially meaningful to visit for the first time and reconnect with a part of my roots I had only ever heard about. One of my favorite moments was hiking up Victoria Peak. Standing above the city, taking in the view and the fresh air, I felt a rush of pride and peace at the same time – the kind you only get when you've earned the view. I also stay

This summer I wrote an essay for the John Locke Essay Competition, and the results just came out! I was shortlisted in the top 17.5% and received a commendation, alongside an invitation to attend the Awards Ceremony and Academic Conference in London. This year, I chose the Q1 from the economics category: Should We Fear a Cashless Society? My answer was no, because we're already living in one. Between tapping my phone to pay and splitting bills on apps, cash barely shows up in

Last Sunday, I performed with my youth orchestra at a benefit concert for the Kyonam Foundation, a South Korean organization that supports individuals with developmental, intellectual, and autistic disabilities through residential, educational, and vocational programs. I play flute in the orchestra, and this concert ended up being one of my favorite performances so far. My favorite piece I played was Epilogue, which is an OST from 태극기 휘날리며 about the tragic brotherhood, deep s

One of the most meaningful experiences I have had over the past few weeks was getting the opportunity to conduct research with Professor Jaeyong Song from Seoul National University. I was asked to help with a research project focused on “How AI is Transforming Industries: South Korea’s Strategies and Corporate Practices.” What began as simple excitement over a familiar interest quickly evolved. The deeper my research went, the more I saw the true weight and complexity of how

This month, I had the chance to visit Shanghai from September 4th to 6th to meet relatives on my dad’s side of the family. It was so special getting to meet everyone and spend time together while exploring the beautiful city!! Visiting the Bund and Nanjing Road was an absolute highlight, capturing the unforgettable, high-octane energy of Shanghai. I’m really grateful for the time I got to spend with my family and for all the fun memories we made together. It was a short trip,

This month I got to do something incredible: film a promotional video for KMECCA, a Korean-American K-pop merchandise company. My parents run the company, and when my mom asked if I'd model for the promo video, I gladly said yes. I’m so glad my mom asked me to film the video because I actually trained as a model at YG Entertainment for four months, so I was already pretty comfortable being in front of a camera. Because of that, stepping onto the KMECCA set didn’t feel as inti

My directors and I recently launched the Business For Youth Interview Project, a series where we interview students, entrepreneurs, creators, and young professionals and showcase their experiences and business advice through short-form videos on Instagram. I’ve noticed that many students are either hesitant to start their own businesses because of the stereotype that young people cannot succeed, or feel lost about where to begin. I believe that hearing advice and learning abo

The 2026 Korean Youth Honor Society Conference was held on August 1, and it was such a great day. Members residing in Korea, the US, and Hong Kong came together, attended incredible lectures, contributed to a current affairs quiz, and joined group discussions on the topic of leadership in the age of AI. I was so honored to be selected for the Conference Award alongside four other members. It was such a meaningful way to end my summer break!

Genuinely, the best 3 days of my life. This summer, my youth orchestra went to The Healing Park for a 3-day summer camp, and it was so memorable. From eating meals with the YISS gang to practicing for 8 hours straight, I already miss it so much. Some of my favorite highlights were the duets I played for the 향상음악회 — "Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart" by AKMU with Rachel, and "Breathe" by Lee Hi with Woosung — along with our late-night talks, playing Impostor, bottle flipping wit

On July 29, 2026, KYHS held our Gyonam Foundation fundraising dinner, and it was a huge success. Between the members, the parents, and our guests, the whole night was a reminder of how much good can happen when a community decides to show up for each other. The evening opened with my flute performance of 사랑하기 때문에 (Because I Love You). I was very nervous about the performance, and it felt like a lot of pressure for the first moment of the night, but it ended up going smoothly,