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2 STAFF
STAFF PAGE ADVISER MS. CAROLYN BROWN LAYOUT JAY CHUNG JEANNE HAN EUGENE KIM JOSHULYNE PARK MILTON YOON
REPORTERS CELINE HWANG JEESEOB JUNG RACHAEL LEE ASHLEY KIM SANGWON KIM BONA KOO HELEN SONG CHUNGHO SUH YASMIN YOON
GRAPHICS JULIE CHUNG CHRIS LEE LINDA PARK EUNA SUN WINSTON YOO
LAYOUT EDITOR- JASMINE PARK GRAPHICS EDITOR- AMY CHOI MANAGING EDITOR- JONATHAN YUN ASSISTANT EDITOR- ELIZABETH SONG
EDITORS-IN-CHIEFEUNICE LEE & SEAN KIM
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
COLUMNS
Delegation: Bobchad Delegates: Sean Kim and Eunice Lee Committee: Press Question of: SEOMUN 2011
The Seoulite
Honored to serve delegates, advisers,
administrative staff and other participants as the daily press throughout the three-day conference,
Asking delegates to engage in productive debate to provide solutions to global issues, Welcoming all to enjoy the pre-issue of The Seoulite
Eunice Lee
Looking forward to a fruitful debate in all forums, 1.Urges all to pick up an issue of The Seoulite every morning in their committees, 2.Asks all to cooperate with members of the press and respond to interviewers, 3.Hopes delegates are both informed and entertained by the stories in each issue, 4.Suggests that delegates and chairs look for their photos and names in the paper, 5.Encourages that delegates, chairs and advisers provide constructive feedback for each other as well as the press,
6.Wishes all delegates good luck in their committees, and
7.Promises to produce high-quality issues over the next three days.
Sean Kim
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4 POINT of INTEREST SG and DSG reflect on
prior MUN experiences BY YASMIN YOON Hee Jae Choi, Secretary General (SG), and Jenny Jang, Deputy Secretary General (DSG), were in eighth grade when high school MUN officers first introduced them toMUN. “Perfection” was what came into mind as Jenny admired their confidence and fluency while speaking; now, she and Hee Jae are the leaders of SEOMUN XIV. “I can still remember the whole scene very clearly,” said Jenny. “They looked very professional in my young eyes.” Jenny was not the only one who was inspired by veteran MUN members. “I was captivated by their eloquence, confidence, style, and above all, their depth of knowledge on a wide array of international issues.” said Hee Jae. “I hoped that one day,
I’d be able to become well- ing experiences I have had versed on global issues.” throughout my MUN career.” Both Jenny Nevertheand Hee Jae less, as ofhave gained ficers of this much from year’s contheir MUN ference, Hee experience, Jae and Jenny including not must shoulonly current der a large events in poliworkload, tics and forwhich they eign relations, have found but also interchallenging personal and at times. communica“Other tion skills. than be“ Through ing the SG, MUN, I have I am also a COURTESY OF DAVID KIM come to know student, a an officer who is a mentor and school news reporter, an anxa source of inspiration for me, ious college applicant, and even to this day,” said Jenny. a friend,” said Hee Jae. “So I “To collaborate with her has try to manage my time in the been one of the most amaz- most efficient way possible by
setting up a to-do list and prioritizing my tasks.” According to Jenny, the support staff were critical to the success in preparations for the conference. “Keeping track of everything has not been easy,” said Jenny. ”However, our school advisors, Hee Jae, and Tech/ Design Team and the Administrative Team have all been very helpful in constantly reminding me of my tasks and things to provide update on.” The SG and DSG both wished delegates a fruitful debate and regretted that this was their last year of high school MUN. “I really want the delegates to find their experience at SEOMUN XIV fulfilling,” said Jenny. “and return home feeling that their time has been well spent.”
NEW DELEGATES HAVE MIXED EXPECTATIONS BY CELINE HWANG Over ten first-time MUN delegates will attend the threeday SEOMUN conference at Coex from Nov. 3 to Nov. 5. First-time delegates like Chunghwa Suh, delegate of Chad in Special Conference (SPC) are looking forward to SEOMUN, but are also anxious about having to make speeches in front of large audiences. “I am definitely nervous about attending SEOMUN since even sharing resolutions within a committee can be intimidating,” said Chunghwa. I expect there to be many delegates from other schools, which makes me worried about remaining confident in front of them. However, it is important for MUN delegates to have good public speaking skills so that others will take
FOR THEIR MUN CONFENFERENCE
them seriously. Although I’m nervous about the conference now, I think when I look back at it [after the conferences are over], it will have been helpful to me.” Elizabeth Huh, delegate of Côte d’Ivoire in General Assembly 2, also feels nerve-racking about making speeches in front of a large crowd of delegates. She expects SEOMUN to be an advantageous chance for her to work on developing her public speaking skills. “Since SEOMUN will be the first MUN conference I have ever been to, I have high expectations about it,” said Elizabeth Huh. “I expect it to be serious, since delegates will be dressed in formal attire and will debate about world issues. Overall I think the experience
will be enjoyable because I can work on my public speaking skills, which is key for an MUN delegate.” Brian Lee, delegate of Côte d’Ivoire in General Assembly 1 also feels uneasy yet excited about SEOMUN because he feels as if it will be a new and challenging experience for him. Brian expects to gain more experience with public speaking by learning from other delegates. “Although I am nervous, I feel excited about attending SEOMUN,” said Brian. “I think it is a great opportunity for students to discuss world wide issues that may affect us in the future. From participating in this conference, I want to learn about my weaknesses in public speaking so that
I can improve and become more confident with making speeches.” Yeeun Chun, chair of Special Conference agrees that it is important for delegates to speak up when making speeches and to keep up with current events. “I recommend that [firsttime delegates] read the news everyday,” said Yeeun. Although they don’t have to know the exact issue [that is going on], they should at least know which country is related to certain issues. Delegates should also speak confidently because 80% of MUN is about being confident so that you can push forth with background knowledge.”
POINT of INTEREST
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TakE a chill pill before the podium BY JEESEOB JUNG
According to the United States Department of Communication, glossophobia— the fear of public speaking— surpasses necrophobia, the fear of death. At this year’s MUN conference, hundreds of delegates will have to muster up their courage and speak in front of a large audience. Public speaking is a common fear among new delegates who have never been to SEOMUN. These nerves felt by new delegates are often called “jitters,” “shivers,” or even “the crawlies” and according to the formerly stated department, are easily treatable. However, some are uncertain about how to calm their nerves before taking the stage. “I’m not a very good speaker to begin with, so naturally I’m nervous about looking at hundreds of people and say-
ing anything,” said David Ahn, delegate of Ghana in Special Conference. “I’m surprised I got in at all because stuttering is my second nature.” On the other hand, others already have a clear idea as to how to stop the trembling and
tion can easily cause dizziness or confusion, and it is best to avoid drinks that will increase the sugar flow. There are also other ways that a delegate can soothe a nervous brain, which can easily be used by other delegates. “ Wr i t i n g down all the major points that I will say on paper before I go onstage always helps me feel a little more -DAVID AHN, DELEGATE OF GHANA IN SPECIAL ASSEMBLY confident,” said Younghwan Sim, teeth chattering. One common delegate of USA in General way delegates can calm them- Assembly One. selves down is by drinking a David Carbonell, a clinical bottle of water instead of soft psychologist specializing in drinks or caffeine-filled bev- anxiety disorders, advised that erages. According to Anxiety people get comfortable with Secrets, an advising website public speaking through pracfor public speaking, dehydra- tice, which controls the nerves
I’m not a very good speaker to begin with, so naturally I’m nervous about looking at hundreds of people and saying anything
WHAT DRIVES YOU
BY BONA KOO Foot tapping and finger drumming; these are just a few habits that annoy delegates during the conferences. While many of these are minor and do not necessarily disturb the debates, some are major pet peeves for delegates and chairs. “My pet peeve during conferences is when chairs favor their own school during MUN conferences,” said Kelly Cho, delegate of Former Republic of Macedonia in General Assembly 1 (GA1). “No matter how high I hold up my placard, they usually call on delegates from their own school.” But once delegates do get called to take the floor, many of them do not use the opportunity to their advantage. Many delegates feel nervous when talking to a large audi-
and enhances speaking skills. Carbonell encourages a certain technique called “thought stopping,” which requires one to “wander” or distract the mind before taking the stage. This resists thoughts of “failure and disaster” and instead focuses the brain on other topics. Some believe that these panicky moments are simply a common feeling shared by all delegates before going up onstage. “I think we all tend to be nervous at times like these, but when we go up on stage we get a little more confident with what we say,” Chunghwa Suh, delegate of the Republic of Chad in Special Conference. “After all, I don’t think anybody will go to SEOMUN unprepared.”
MAD?
ence, so their delivery is not sufficient; they tend to talk about unnecessary subjects to pass time. “I cannot stand delegates who ramble on, repeat information that they already stated, use unnecessary vocabulary words and do not know what they are talking about,” said Caroline Kim, delegate of Cote D’Ivoire in Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). “It would be helpful if they were concise and did not try to make their speeches longer than they have to be.” Some delegates use such unfamiliar vocabulary words in their speeches to appear intelligent and to impress others, while their resolutions are shallow. These supposedly “colorful” words also bring
PHOTO BY JULIE CHUNG
about confusion or misinterpretation. “I do not like delegates who make lengthy POIs [Points of Information] when the actual statement or question is short,” said Eugene Yang, delegate of Guatemala in ECOSOC. “It puzzles me and I get uneasy when I am at the podium.” Just as certain behaviors
annoy delegates, chairs also get bothered by their own pet peeves, but in a slightly different manner. “Honestly, I feel bad when I have to force delegates to participate during conferences,” said Yeeun Chun, Chair of SPC. “However, it does get on my nerves when the room is silent even though I ask if anyone wishes to take the floor. Sometimes, delegates need to speak up on their own.” By learning more about MUN pet peeves, delegates and chairs can work together to match each other’s needs for better conferences in the future.
6 FOCUS
Cyber
Warfare October[ Cybersecurity Awareness Month] America's National
BY SANGWON KIM
As the digital world develops and changes, so do methods of violence and crime. One of the most prevalent modern developments is cybercrime, which has become a major problem throughout the world today. According to government security expert Richard A. Clarke in his book Cyber War, cyber warfare is defined as actions by a nation-state to penetrate another nation’s computers or networks to damage or disruption. I n M a y 2 0 1 0 , t h e Pe n t a g o n set up the US Cyber C ommand (USCYBERCOM), a sub-division of the United States Strategic Command, which is part of the Department of Defense. It is currently located in Fort Meade, Maryland and led by General Keith B. Alexander. Barack Obama presented a proclamation with USCYBERCOM on Oct.. 3,
and officially named this month the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. “It sets an agenda for partnering with other nations and better defines how we can ensure the secure, free flow of information and promote universal rights, privac y and prosperity,” said President Obama in the proclamation he delivered on Oct. 3. Wit h t h e r api d e volut i on of te chnolog y in t he mo der n era, such computer-based storage and information transfer have made the digital world a target for hackers. Not only do hackers target private information, but other countries also use cyber warfare as a method to take information and use it against another country that they oppose. “I think President Obama is more focusing on cybernetic defense for the country rather than on a personal level, but he is not ignoring the effects
on personal sectors either,” said Yerin Kim, delegate of Argentina in the Economic and Social Council. President Obama proclaimed this October as the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month for these two reasons, but to some it seemed like a fight for national security. “We must now harness that spirit of innovation to develop the next generation of accessible, secure technologies to build a safer, more prosperous future for all Americans,” said President Obama. Traditionally, technology has been seen as a double-edged sword, as it has both benefited and been used against society. Constant struggles between security and hacking will be inevitable even in the future; and thus perhaps people—especially delegates—should place more importance on the government’s attempts to strengthen Internet technology.
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cyberCrimefind solutions sparks debate to
increase in number of
BY HELEN SONG Hundreds of millions of people around the globe use the internet d ai ly, and a c c ord i ng to Har r i s Interactive Report, the average net user spends at least 13 hours online per week. However, with all of this internet usage comes issues with regards to cybercrime, a topic debated upon by many committees this year. Cybercrime refers to any criminal activity that involves a computer or the Internet. Offenses can include incidences such as software privacy, fraud, theft, child pornography and hacking. This issue of c ybercrime has become one of the most important t o p i c s at t h i s y e a r ’s S E OM U N conference, with the Special C onference (SPC) and G eneral Ass e mbly 1 ( G A 1 ) c om m itte e s deb at ing res olut ions regarding cybercrime. It is a topic that has not garnered much attention before, but it has recently become relevant as hacking scandals have increased and
the security of online accounts has become a larger issue. “The number of people that use the Internet is rising rapidly every day and so is the number of cybercrimes,” said Angela Son, delegate of Argentina in Special Conference. “A resolution should be made to benefit the many victims that will only increase if no one takes action.”
“It can range from anything between
software privacy to fraud, theft, child pornography, hacking and others.” - Angela Son, delegate of Argentina from Special Conference
MUN delegates have also been trying to address these problems in their resolutions. Proposals include m e t h o d s s u c h a s r a i s i n g m ore awareness of the problem around the world and getting the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), an agency task force that comprises the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National White Collar Crime Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, involved.
“In many cases, minor cybercrimes can actually be prevented with the right kinds of network security a n d s i m p l e p r e c a u t i o n ,” s a i d Younghwan Sim, delegate of USA in GA 1. “Raising awareness may seem like a simple solution, but it’s actually an important measure to get people to understand the weight of cybercrimes.” The actual UN has also taken up the problem of cybercrime, as it is an activity that crosses international borders, often involving various countries. These kinds of crimes are cyber warfare, and many are attempting to make it possible for cybercrime to be punished through the International Criminal Court, a UN court that persecutes individuals. For example, according to South Korean intelligence, North Korean cyber attacks against South Korea have increased to as many as 15,000 per day. The North Korean electronic military has also grown to more than 30,000 cyber warfare specialists, training 100 to 110 new hackers every year.
GRAPHIC BY LINDA PARK AND EUNA SUN GRAPHIC BY LINDA PARK
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8 POINT of INTEREST Delegates seek ways to combat BY ELIZABETH SONG
Z Z
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sleepiness
PHOTO BY EUNA SUN
It is not difficult to see students begin to lose concentration in the middle of a lecture at school, as they make desperate attempts to keep their eyes open and escape the notice of their teacher. This problem, however, is not only applicable to students in school—delegates must also battle sleepiness every year at SEOMUN. “Some delegates fall asleep simply because the issue and speaker do not interest them,” said Edward Park, delegate of USA in Advisory Panel.
BY RACHAEL LEE SEOMUN, BEIMUN and THIMUN are the three main conferences for MUN delegates all over the world. Delegates have their personal favorites and preferences when it comes to attending international conferences. Only days before the SEOMUN conference, MUN members get busy, preparing for the upcoming conference as well as deciding which international conference to attend. New members worry over the tryouts and returning members reminisce about their past experiences. The BEIMUN trip allowed MUN members to form a more sophisticated view of their world and appreciate
“Sometimes, the room is too hot to keep delegates awake.” While a few delegates doze off, others try to resist their temptation to sleep so that they can pay attention to the debates. “I had problems trying to stay awake during conferences,” said Kevin Han, advocate of International Court of Justice (ICJ). “I coped with this fatigue and sleepiness by visiting the bathroom and taking a walk at times when I feel I’m going to go to sleep.”
Another popular solution among sleepy delegates is caffeinated drinks—according to Yeeun Chun, Special Conference chair, delegates buy up to five cans of coffee to keep their eyes open. Many also rely on “forbidden” iPods, iPads and other technological devices, entertaining themselves during the debates. A few choose to pass notes to their friends to relieve their boredom. As a veteran MUN debater, Justin Lee, International Court of Justice judge, reflects on
his past experiences and proposes a solution to reduce the amount of sleeping during conferences. “To prevent delegates from falling asleep, chairs should take the time during breaks to get to know the delegates and make some jokes,” said Justin. “Hopefully this will not only keep the delegates awake but also help them become closer with the chairs and remember MUN as a fun experience.”
landscape rather than at a mob of people. Experiencing a different culture first-hand, such as walking in the streets of the Netherlands and shopping in malls, made me realize how different it was from Seoul.” Other reasons for preference came out of the delegates’ willingness to experience different debating atmospheres. “THIMUN is a very large international conference, and it’s exciting to meet different people from all over the world,” said Yerin Kim, delegate of Argentina in ECOSOC. “I wanted to try something new.” Students go on these international trips and miss out on classes for a reason. Some lessons simply can-
not be taught in classrooms. “I learned that people around the world actually have similar ideas in solving problems, so collaborating in a large group to form a resolution is much more effective and efficient,” said Jisoo. Overall, delegates held a positive outlook on international MUN conferences. Being able to travel abroad to open up their perspective, many chose this experience as efficacious. “The benefit of being an MUN member is not only gaining a wider perspective of the world, but also learning how to agree on an effective solution,” said Kevin Chun.
Which way to different, coexisting cultures. “I enjoyed experiencing the culture of Beijing during the trip,” said Jisoo Kim, delegate of Turkey in Human Rights Council (HRC). “We were able to try Peking duck and other Chinese food at our night outings after the conference.” Many BEIMUN delegates enjoyed the culture and national attractions during their stay. Similar remarks popped up relating to other conferences, such as THIMUN. “The complete serenity and the open space made me feel at ease,” said Kevin Chun, delegate of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in General Assembly 2. “I actually had the time to look at the
GO?
getting to know
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9
Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro
BY ELIZABETH SONG Since a majority of SEO MUN delegates are from South Korea, many already know Ban Ki-moon, the current Secretary General (SG) of the United Nations (UN). News of his promotion in 2007 was a popular topic of discussion and a source of pride for South Korea. On the other hand, information about the Deputy Secretary General (DSG) is not considered “common knowledge,” even though he or she deserves more attention for fulfilling such vital roles. Here is a brief biography on Asha-Rose Migiro, the current DSG: Before Asha-Rose Migiro of Tanzania took office as DSG on Feb. 1, 2001, she was largely involved in
politics. In fact, she was the first woman in Tanzania to serve as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ever since its independence in 1961. . W h i l e she served as Foreign M i n i s t e r, Dr. Migiro worked to attain peace, security and development in the Great Lakes Region in Africa. As Chair of the Council of Ministers’ meetings of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, she collaborated with other political leaders and even-
tually brought about a Pact on Security, Stability and Development. Ratified by the 11 states of the International Conference of the
SG BAN REGARDS HER AS A RESPECTABLE LEADER WITH AMPLE EXPERIENCE IN SOCIOECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. Great Lakes Region, the pact was formed to promote the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees and protect them from sexual violence. Her contributions to the betterment of society did
not end there. As Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Committee, Dr. Migiro supported national elections in Zambia and Madagascar and pushed for the establishment of UN Women, whose primary goals focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women. Impressed by her participation in many political campaigns, SG Ban regards her as a respectable leader with ample experience in socio-economic affairs and development issues. Clearly, Dr. Migiro is a woman whose accomplishments should be lauded, instead of going unnoticed by student MUN delegates.
BY JONATHAN YUN
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN JAPAN RESTARTS FOR FIRST TIME AFTER TSUNAMI DISASTER
All hell broke loose when a series of events wiped out Japan on March 11: a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, powerful tsunami waves and a nuclear meltdown. Although the ongoing Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster has devastated the nation, new hope is emerging, as a Japanese power company reactivated its nuclear power plant this week for the first time since the calamity. According to Cable News Network (CNN), Kyushu Electric Power Co. started to generate electricity using its No. 4 reactor at the Genkai nuclear plant in southwestern Japan after winning approvals from the local government on Nov. 1. “It seems rather dangerous for Japan to reopen one of its
nuclear reactors even though able for any nuclear plant to the situation is still looking be restarted before proper grim,” said Jason Huh, delegate safety checks or consultation of USA in Security Council. with the public is conducted,” “However, [the restarting of the nuclear power plant] seems as if it is the right step as long as the Japanese Jason Huh, delegate of USA in Security Council government is able to regulate their security systems prop- said Junichi Sato, Greenpeace erly.” Japan’s executive director in While the reopening of the Bloomberg, a business newsnuclear reactor has received magazine. widespread praise, nuclear In the mean time, Andrew safety critics have criticized Eom, delegate of Japan in such actions. Six Party Talks, is evaluating “In the aftermath of the whether the Japanese governGreat East Japan earthquake ment made the correct choice and triple meltdown at Fuku- by reopening the power plants. shima Daiichi, it is unthink“The situation is complicat-
EL MUNDO
“It seems rather dangerous for Japan to reopen one of its reactors when the situation is still looking grim.”
ed right now,” said Andrew. “It is difficult to assess our actions as of now. It is right to say that [the nuclear power plant] restarted too early, but I believe that Japan’s safety is able to prevent any further accidents from occurring.” Japanese government officials stated that it may possibly take up to 30 years for the four damaged reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi power plant located in Fukushima, northeast of Tokyo, to fully deactivate, halting the release of nuclear waste. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is the largest nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine. The catastrophe has led to a nationwide shutdown of all nuclear reactors.
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ACROSS 1. An African country with the motto, “Unity and Faith, Peace Progress.” 4. The main character’s homeland in the movie Borat. 5. A country that preserves Angkor Wat 6. Holds the oldest nation-state in Europe 7. The 7,000,000,000th baby was born in _________ 8. Chicharito’s home couuntry 9. This country’s capital was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
DOWN 2. The country’s name means land of trees 3. Won the most World Cups in the world 7. Homeland of a soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo
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