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

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 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

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to compete in the Korea Business Competition × Hult International Business School alongside five of my teammates — Bria, Olivia, Hanna, Maria, and Elisha. It was definitely one of the most rewarding and unforgettable experiences of my high school career. The competition began on April 17th, 2026, with a preliminary Zoom round consisting of 27 teams. We advanced as one of the top 8 finalists after winning all three rounds, which put

Last September, I was honored to speak at the TEDxDosan Park Youth event. My talk, “My Identity Crisis: How I See Myself Versus How the World Sees Me,” was about the quiet tension between who I feel I am and how I am perceived by others. Growing up across Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cultures, I’ve often felt like I exist in between spaces rather than fully within one. There are moments when these identities feel harmonious, but also times when they seem to pull me in differ

Beginning in early July of 2025, I started working on one of the most meaningful personal projects I have taken on: writing my own book. As someone of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese descent, my multicultural background has greatly shaped my understanding and interpretation of what culture actually means. With this interest of mine, I spent the next several months researching and drafting ideas. And after a long journey of writing, revising, and reflecting, I’m proud to share t

This third trimester, I proposed and led a middle school after-school activity called Young Entrepreneurs Club. Through weekly lessons, activities, and discussions, Philip (my co-leader) and I introduced middle school students to the foundations of business and entrepreneurship, and towards the end, it culminated in the students building and presenting their own business pitch. Although we only met a total of nine times, I was amazed by how much we were able to accomplish! T

It is an honor to announce that, after months of preparation and hard work, we have officially concluded the LEAD: AI x Business Online Youth Program. After connecting with She Wires Words, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, through my organization, Business For Youth, I was able to bring together a team of 6 high school students to turn a mere vision to life. By combining Business For Youth’s mission of making business education more accessible with She Wires Words’ focus o