november 7, 2014
issue 2 volume xvi
seoulite
SEOULITE Meet the staff
meet the Staff Editors-in-chief Celine Hwang & Yasmin Yoon
Layout artists Sang Ho Lee Alan Huh Joonhee Han
Sarah Doh Suyoung Yang
Reporters William Son Sarah Kim Alice Lee Julie Song
Marie Park Justin Chang Angie Kim Alice Kang
photographers Jane Lee Kelly Kim Brian M. Kim Brian S. Kim Andrew Lee
Christopher Lee Dongwoo Lee David Choe Esther Hwang
Co-graphics editors Yeni Cho Hollis Hwang
Layout Editor Hyewon Kim
assistant layout editor Alice Rhim
Managing editor Jean Cho
assistant editor Christine Seo
Copy editors Joyce Kim Yeaji Park
02 SEOULITE ISSUE 2 VOLUME XVI
Layout alice rhim
SEOULITE columns
faux news
More channels cover Ebola disease to spread awareness by jean cho
For the first time ever, Ebola poses a legitimate threat to humankind. The disease has become extremely pervasive in the United States with around three people contracting the disease. As the number of infected people increase gradually with every passing day, many Americans have revealed their concerns that the toll might eventually match up to the 4,818 deaths
reported in five African countries. “Each and every life of an American citizen is precious,” said Mary Johnson, housewife in the Tallahassee County of Florida. “I didn’t know that the disease actually existed until it came to America because I mean, there are so many different diseases you can catch in Africa. Just in case though, I’ve been taking prevention
measures such as moving my children’s schools to a private school located in Switzerland.” After the death rate caused by the Ebola virus in the United States rose by exactly 1 count, media coverage increased by 400% with more than 750 channels broadcasting hourly updates on the disease’s rampant spread into the American continent.
“It is important that we do not compromise our journalistic integrity,” said Alexander Iliot, head of the Home Decor channel. “We definitely are not participating in any lowbrow fear mongering movements and we do not want to make people unnecessarily worried. However, you never know what might happen – we might all be wiped out tomorrow.” SL
Blast From the Past: mid-term elections by Christine Seo With the election of the first black senator in the South since Reconstruction in 1877 and more women in Congress than ever before, the 2014 midterm elections, which occurred halfway through the Obama’s second term, has been a topic of great interest. Determining all 435 seats of the House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 Senate seats, the elections once again resulted in a divided government, a term used to describe a situation in which the presidential party loses control of one or both chambers of Congress. This election was no different from many previous ones, as the Democratic Party lost many seats to the Republicans, resulting in issues of partisanship.
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There seems to be a pattern regarding mid-term elections in the United States, as the presidential party almost always loses a significant number of seats in Congress. The Six-Year Itch is the idea that since the 1930s, the presidential party has always lost Congress seats. In other words, if a Democrat is the head of state, the Democratic Party loses positions in Congress, as is the case with the 2014 mid-term elections. There have only ever been three exceptions to this trend: during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s term in 1938, Bill Clinton’s in 1998 and George W. Bush’s in 2002. The mid-term elections are important because they determine the productivity of the president and the Congress. The 113th Congress, ironically an unlucky number, does not
have bright skies ahead, as political analysts predict that the Republican-controlled Congress will not support many of President Obama’s proposals. If Obama wishes to leave behind any legacies of his term, he may have a hard time because of partisan gridlock, the idea that parties are so entrenched in their positions that they are not willing to compromise. This year’s elections have also highlighted the reputation of ineffectiveness the Congress has received. According to a survey by Gallup, only seven percent of American citizens have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in Congress, setting a record low. This is a three percent decrease from the results of 2013 and a 35 percent decrease from those
of 1973, underscoring the effect extreme partisanship both parties have shown. These statistics are not just random numbers, however; they reflect the current situation of the legislative body. According to the Pew Research Center, the current Congress is set to become the least productive in almost seven decades. Based on data since 1995, Congress has passed 60 percent of its laws by this point in time, on average. Following this trend, the current Congress will have passed only approximately 275 laws, the fewest since World War II. Based on these statistics, it has become obvious that it is more necessary than ever for both parties to be willing to cooperate, given the current condition of the American economy. SL
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SEOULITE point of interest
Launching Seomun XVII by Alice lee
Once the delegates filed into the auditorium, three booming taps on the microphone marked the start of the conference. After greeting this year’s MUN delegates to the SEOMUN XVII conference, Albert Kim, Secretary General, began the opening ceremony as he invited Courtney Caldwell, MUN adviser, to the podium. “I have never been as proud of my students as I am of the chairs on the stage right now,” Ms. Caldwell said. “I feel grateful for all of the delegates and how they are eager to learn about the world and understand deep global complexity. I think all delegates should keep in mind that struggling to come up with resolutions is inevitable and will be frustrating from time to time.” Following Ms. Caldwell’s speech commending the chairs, members of the Sec-
retariat welcomed all attendees of the SEOMUN conference, including delegates, chairs, advisers and administrative staff members. Daniel Choi and Yoo Jeong Lee, Directors of Information and Technology, brought up the issue of technology and connected it to the theme of the conference, ‘fostering transparency.’ “If we’re being generous, we coordinate all of the technological and online aspects of the conference, such as the projectors, printers, and the SEOMUN website,” Daniel said. “However, technology plays a greater role in modern day and age, for many key international issues are now centered on the issue of technological ethics and rights. For example, in the US, net neutrality is a hot topic of debate—with many discussing the morals of Internet fast lanes and corporate interests when it comes to online actions.”
As the opening ceremony came to a close, guest speaker Young Jin Choi, the former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Cote d’Ivore, gave a presentation on his personal experience as a diplomat. Mr. Choi emphasized the difference between winning and winning fairly, and the importance of the latter in present-day society. “While I was in Cote d’Ivore, I learned that transparen-
cy and justice are key elements to becoming a honorable UN delegate,” Mr. Choi said. “The incumbent president refused to recognize the results of the election, where the people elected a different president, clearly violating the freedom of the citizens. As a UN delegate, I assisted the current president of Cote d’Ivore win the election. Now, I would like you guys to always remember that one can only win with fairness.” SL
photo by brian m. kim
MUN inspires delegates to actively follow world issues by alice kang When Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, was a high school student, he met President John F. Kennedy on a trip to San Francisco, and decided “to become a diplomat.” Likewise, delegates may utilize their MUN experiences to not only pursue careers in international relations but also contribute to world peace. From engaging in debates about political issues, individuals can gain awareness of international issues. This heightened interest in current events has prompted delegates such as Kenneth Yim,
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delegate of Republic of Korea in Security Council, to consider working for the UN. “When I first started MUN last year as a freshman, I was hesitant and scared, but later learned about the importance of dealing with political problems,” Kenneth said. “I want to consider working for the UN because people always talk about changing the world and the most realistic and viable way to do so is to participate in global conferences.” Rather than working in the UN, delegates such as Irene Myo, delegate of Mali in Economic and Social Coun-
cil, hope to contribute to the global community by focusing specifically on the affairs and problems affecting her own country. “MUN has helped me become more aware of global issues around the world and motivates me to want to solve similar issues in my country,” Irene said. Though I do not have much desire to work in the UN in the future, I do want to work in my country’s government and bring change to the world.” Even delegates who do not necessarily wish to pursue political or diplomatic careers, plan to maintain their knowl-
edge of global issues. Inhae Hong, delegate of Australia in Human Rights Council 2, emphasized her interest in such issues, which has stayed with her all throughout her MUN career. “Debating about world issues is a commitment I make in order to make the world a better place, rather than focusing solely on local issues,” Inhae said. “Though I personally think [participating in] the UN [would be] too large of a responsibility for me, my interest in world issues will not lessen just because I decide not work in the UN.” SL
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SEOULITE point of interest
project munway by yeaji park
Eva hong: President, HRC 2
Anisha Kandira: delegate of South Africa, SC
Harry si thu: delegate of Laos, Ga 2
“Today I wore a classy and conservative outfit because I wanted to have a professional aura as chair of the Human Rights Council. I also added gold jewelry and shoes to counter the mundane formal attire that seems to be the norm here. MUN is a chance for people to show a different side of themselves and the attire is a way to show this uniqueness.”
“It is my first MUN conference and I wanted to dress formally but stand out. At the same time, I decided not to show too much skin by wearing a knee length dress. I saw my dress at Zara and I felt the need to buy it. I think that clothes are important because they represent the atmosphere and the seriousness of the issues being discussed.”
“I thought that everybody would wear a tie to the MUN Conference so I wanted to be a bit different by wearing a bowtie. It was just something that I thought would make me unique. I think formal apparel is important because it makes one look much more professional and well-prepared for conferences.”
photos by jane lee
Inexperienced delegates resolve initial problems by sarah Kim Evaluating resolutions, responding to points of information and offering suggestions are three of the many tasks that delegates have to juggle over the three-day conference. Such duties are even more difficult for first-time delegates to fulfill, and they may face many obstacles in their efforts to do so. For delegates such as Erica Choi, delegate of India in Human Rights Council 2, the opening speech was the first time she was required to speak in front of an unfamiliar audience. “I was so nervous during my opening speech because I was one of the last delegates to speak,” Erica said. “I was astonished to see how good the other, more experienced delegates were at expressing their thoughts, which made
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me even more anxious.” For other delegates, this MUN conference was also full of surprises that were not necessarily pleasant. According to Claudia Choi, delegate of Indonesia in Human Rights Council 1, lack of background knowledge about MUN can pose several hindrances during discussions. “I was expecting the more experienced delegates to have welcoming attitudes to allow less experienced delegates to speak up confidently,” Claudia said. “But because the skilled delegates kept talking nonstop, I found it difficult to fit into the discussion to convey my ideas. Because discussions can be quite overwhelming, it was not easy to vocalize my opinion. ” Though delegates encountered difficulties related to
their lack of experience during the first day of the conference, support and cooperation from the chairs helped them overcome various obstacles. “Because it is my first time attending an MUN conference, I did not know all the rules regarding main-submission,” said Daniel Yi, delegate of the Republic of Korea in General
Assembly 2. “It was hard for me to convince everyone to get them to support me. However, because I was able to get a lot of help and assistance from the chairs while adjusting to the environment and rules of MUN, I was able to overcome this complication. and comfortably express my opinion during debates.” SL
photo by David Choe
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SEOULITE committee
HRC 1 lobbies for fruitful debate By william son
HRC 2 prepares for debate on mega sporting events BY william son
photo by Jane lee Focusing on measures to assist endangered people in the current Gaza-Israel conflict, Human Rights Council 1 (HRC1) spent its time discussing ways to improve conditions of the citizens. This issue, which is concerned with the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organization, puts many lives at risk. Israel’s blockade around Gaza, citizens has prevented citizens from accessing the aid and other necessities that have been sent to them by foreign nations and organizations. “The issue in the Gaza-Israel area is exacerbating exponentially and needs to be solved immediately,” said Saachin Sivakumar, delegate of Somalia. “I believe it is the biggest humanitarian issue of the decade, and if it is not tackled and resolved quickly in the following years, an even worse violation of human rights will occur.” Realizing that tackling the Gaza-Israel conflict will require great effort, delegates of HRC1 collaborated to present resolutions for the upcoming debates by lobbying. Humanitarian organizations such as International Committee of the Red Cross were mentioned in delegates’ discussions because the organiza-
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tion’s aid is essential to setting up hospitals. “Taking on a more neutral stance, we are planning on simply providing basic necessary aid for the immediate survival of the Palestinian refugees including medical aid and education programs in refugee camps,” said Hyong Kim, delegate of USA. “In order to improve conditions for refugees, we should call for all available humanitarian organizations to act immediately.” Because citizens are in need of medical aid and basic necessities, increasing safety and providing refuge to them are of utmost importance. Although delegates shared conflicting opinions and ideas, Joanne Na, delegate of the Republic of Korea, shared confidence in drafting a solid resolution. “I can already tell that this year’s conference will be interesting because we have already seen a great diversity of opinions and innovative resolutions,” said Joanne Na, delegate of Republic of Korea. “We haven’t come up with a conclusive resolution on this issue yet and I know it will take time to write one that satisfies everyone but I am confident that we will be able to do so during the remaining days of the conference.” SL
photo by Jane lee This year, Human Rights Council 2 (HRC 2) will focus on three different issues, one of which regards the abuse of human rights during mega sporting events. As the committee’s debating session started, delegates expressed their concerns about the impact of human rights issues on numerous hosting nations such as Brazil, where nearly 170,000 individuals were forcefully evicted from their homes with no prior alert by the government. To deal with the implications of these mega-sporting events, delegates of HRC 2 attempted to resolve the government’s lack of transparency in dealing with citizens and reasonable working conditions. “Mega sporting events are breaching many individuals’ human rights, such as those of the civilians living in the areas of the newly constructed arenas and those of the construction workers,” said Michael Hein, delegate of Mexico. “Major changes are necessary in order to prevent the forceful evictions and illegal child labor that occur. Also, the dire working conditions and exploitation of laborers is a factor that calls for further reform.” To create more effective resolutions, delegates in HRC 2 discussed the consequences of
mega sporting events in two different groups. To combat this issue, delegates such as Cheng Foo, delegate of Italy, suggested the implementation of stricter government regulation. “Government intervention is necessary in order to solve this issue of the abuse of human rights,” Cheng Foo said. “ There are many upcoming events such as the Russian Olympics and if we do not resolve this issue in the upcoming years, conditions will only exacerbate. Therefore, government intervention is imperative so that reform measures such as appropriate housing is provided for the workers.” However, other delegates, such as Aaron Hedrick, delegate of Japan, believed government intervention was not an appropriate solution, due to the retributions that could occur. “I strongly believe that government intervention may worsen the situation because the people might not view the government’s attempt to provide aid as a helping hand,” Aaron said. “Government intervention can be misperceived by the public and further stress the public, which could lead to further uprisings from the citizens and ultimately a more complicated catastrophe.” SL
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SEOULITE committee
GA 1 and 2 create proposals to combat issues By justin chang
Delegates of General Assembly 1 (GA 1) debated on international security, government transparency in South Sudan, and the fundamental rights of Pakistani people to tackle terrorism. With these issues at hand, Ryan Jang, delegate of France, proposed the enhancement of telecommunications regarding international security. Ryan addressed cyber attacks and cyber warfare, which may potentially be destructive in the near future, by suggesting the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in developed nations. His proposal addressed the need to adapt a standard of behavior in cyberspace and advance ICTs in Less Economically Developed Nations (LEDCs). “I support the Delegate of
France’s proposal as it addresses all of the problems in the issue at hand,” said Kang In Park, delegate of Estonia. “With the use of ICTs in developed nations, I believe many of the current problems will be solved. I have no objections to the Delegate of France as we have the same stance.” In General Assembly 2 (GA 2), Daniel Yi, delegate of the Republic of Korea proposed to alleviate the misappropriation of financial aid to LEDCs by targeting corruption. Suggesting instate regulations in the corrupt governments of LEDCS, Daniel attempted to increase transparency. “To tackle corruption in some LEDCs, there needs to be a program by civil services and joint support for anti-corruption strategies from donors in order to ensure that
these funds be used responsibly,” said Victor Kang, delegate of France. “I don’t want the donor’s financial aid to be wasted and I want LEDCs to use these funds wisely to help poorer nations develop.” According to Raj Shah, delegate of South Africa, government transparency within financial aid is important because funds are not effectively allotted.
“Donors should know what the recipients are doing with the money.,” Raj said. “I disagree with pressure sanctions towards corrupt LEDCs since they disrupt the allocation of funds. Ceasing financial aid to these corrupt LEDCs is bad because this creates fights and non-negotiable acting, which may lead to the further corruption of an already corrupt government.” SL
photo by Brian m. kim
ECOSOC proposes several approaches to women’s rights by alice lee
photo by Kelly kim Preparing for upcoming debates regarding women’s rights and the role of women in Africa and the Middle East, delegates of Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) discussed different methods of combating the key issue. According to Sokjun Hong, delegate of Brazil, gender inequality is a significant subject that all delegates should speak out against. “Although gender inequality appears to be gradually improving in developed countries, most people do not re-
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alize that the gap is actually increasing in most developing countries, where women’s rights are constantly violated, atrocious ways” Sokjun said. “In order to mend this gap, all nations should encourage its citizens to advocate for women’s rights.” Another proponent of women’s rights, Clare Kwon, delegate of Sudan, stated that nations must strive not only to raise awareness about the issue but also to educate young girls in developing countries. “Key to lifting up the status
of women is raising awareness about female-centered punishments like genital mutilation in developed countries like Africa and the Middle East,” Clare said. “Although such abuse may be a result of culture and social norms, all delegates should get together to enforce women’s rights. Hopefully, raising awareness of such horrid exploitations, while educating the women to stand up for themselves, will contribute to improving the obstacle.” On the other hand, rather than focusing on specific ways to tackle the discrimination of women, Helen Jeon, delegate of Afghanistan, noted the sensitive nature of the topic. In Afghanistan, because issues related to gender are linked
with the dominant religion, women’s rights are difficult to address. “Tackling this topic is extremely controversial for my country, because the degradation of women in our society is part of the Muslim beliefs,” Helen said. “Despite what my country believes, I would emphasize on how Afghanistan should separate the fundamental rights of women from Islam. As most delegates should be aware, religion can be used as a powerful weapon, which may define the causes of gender inequality.” Though delegates had varying perspectives on ways to approach women’s rights, they shared the common goal of searching for the best course of action. SL
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SEOULITE focus
Delegates reveal skepticism toward Scotland’s independence
For a significant amount of time, Scotland has wanted independence from Britain. Leading up to the current situation, there have been various home rule movements accompanied by both first and second devolution referendums. The Scottish powers experienced a watershed victory in 1967, when the Scottish National Party (SNP) won a seat in Parliament with the representation of Winnie Ewing. This positive progression continued in the years following 1979, when the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly was established and the 1989 Claim of Right was implemented. Currently, Scotland stands defiant and confident. The leader of SNP, Nicola Sturgeon, has even declared, “Scotland becoming independent is a question of when, not if.” However, some delegates believe that this “when” will not come at all. “Personally, I feel that the fight for Scottish independence is close to over,” said Clara Yoon, Assistant President of General Assembly 1. “In the 2014 September referendum, more than half the voters voted against the separation between Scotland and England. The movement is lessening in momentum, and I think the referendum was a clear sign that
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by joyce Kim independence will not happen any time soon.” It is clear that a large portion of the Scottish population is against Scottish separation, as 44.7 percent of an 80 percent voter turn-
out voted against the movement. In fact, MUN delegates have expressed skepticism towards imminent separation, some even saying that the split should not be attempted at all. “Scotland is made up of the
most leftist political faction in the United Kingdom,” said Junwon Park, President of the International Court of Justice. “If they split, this means that certain political parties will gain lots of power, and they will ultimately become the political majority in Scotland. Therefore, this would produce biased politics in both England and Scotland.” The negative sentiment regarding Scottish independence lasted to impact not only political but also economic repercussions. Oil tycoons have voiced opposition against the independence movement, especially amid the recent oil found in the North Sea. In order to continue their profitable trade, major oil companies hope to maintain the capacity and integrity of the United Kingdom. “Scotland has to understand that if they want economic development, being together is better than being separate,” said Albert Kim, Secretary General. “The Scottish government has to remember that many bank corporations have threatened to leave the country if the Scottish gain independence because they know that Scotland alone will not provide for a competitive and lucrative market.” SL
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SEOULITE focus
HONG KONG PROTESTORS CALL FOR ACTION by Marie Park Hong Kong, a former British colony that is currently part of China, has enjoyed a different political system from that of China
with a “one country, two systems” mindset until July 1, 1997. Since then, China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) has proposed a new electoral voting reform in order to create a 1200-member committee that chooses three members for citizens’ election, instead of civil nominations. Enraged by this proposition, the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholars led a protest outside the government building, which was promptly followed by a civil disobedience campaign called Occupy Central with Love and Peace. Despite the strict police intervention, the number of protestors rose exponentially over a couple of days. “The Hong Kong protests haven’t affected me directly, but show the nature of youths in society,” said Jungho Daniel Choi, Director of Information and Technology. “I believe the youth holds a large influence in society due to its distinct characteristic of audacity and its more open mindsets which contrast Layout Hyewon Kim
to those of older people, who are usually more heavily embedded in the status quo and tend to favor tradition.” Protests in the past have made a difference in various societies. As a former colony of Britain, the United States also experienced a similar situation regarding the lack of representation in the British parliament. Through public dissent, the young country was able to achieve representation first and then, freedom. “Protests should be used as outlets to express concern because they have proven to be successful in changing the society in the past,” Jungho said. “Though I believe they are effective and beneficial in improving the status quo, they should never become violent. Violence complicates the original matter more and also results in injuries and deaths of innocent individuals. As
long as individuals do not resort to violence, I think that most government problems can be solved through cooperation between civilians and the government.” Citizens of Hong Kong are willing to compensate disturbances in their personal lifestyles in hopes of achieving democracy. For instance, Justin Chan, delegate of Colombia from Human Rights Council 1, can sympathize with the picketers and hopes others will take on their example. “The consequences of protests, such as implementation of traffic blocks and the shutting down of businesses, have affected the everyday lives of the people,” Justin said. “The way the government is dealing with the protests seems to be provoking more hostile responses. The use of tear gas and the exertion of excessive force are unnecessary. Such protests should serve as an impetus for other countries around the world that are suffering similar problems of oppression and limitation. Though these countries may not exactly replicate the style or cause of the protests that are currently in Hong Kong, the impact of the Hong Kong protests will be felt worldwide because it teaches us all to question the government when needed.” SL
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SEOULITE committee
SPC emphasizes specificity of resolution By ALICE KANG
Gathered in a circular formation, delegates from Special Conference discussed various ways to ensure the accountability of UN officials and employees. Delegates also suggested various ways to eliminate corruption in the UN and addressed each aspect of the resolution at hand despite the vastness of the agenda. “Our resolution focuses on regulation and minimizing corruption,” said Jenny Phyo, delegate of Democratic Republic of Korea. “In the position of the DPRK, we do not have particularly good relations with the UN but I think having explicit measures to ensure the reliability of UN officials will eventually lead to friendly relationships between the organization and my na-
tion.” The resolution emphasized the possible consequences of wrongful conduct regarding peacekeeping crimes, sexual assaults and fraudulent activities among UN officials. With hopes of strengthening the proposed solutions, the delegates attempted to establish clear, straightforward policies. “Through our zero-tolerance policy, we are trying to establish a system that will allow nations to track down exactly who broke a law during operation, “ said Henry Zhong, delegate of Iran. “Our first subclause focuses on setting the definition of what is a crime and what is not, while the other clauses focus on specific measures of punishment such as a holding a trial to make the officials accountable for their
photo by David Choe actions. ” According to Angela Yoon, Assistant President of Special Conference, as a result of their work ethic and passion, delegates were able to create a comprehensive, detailed resolution with well-developed causes and reach consensus quickly. “I think the delegates are
working really well together,” Angela said. “As soon as I walked into the room, they naturally formed groups and started talking to each other right away. I have not seen many distractions and can clearly see that all groups are engaged in insightful discussion and are working consistently.” SL
AP exchanges views on chinese ethnic groups BY SARAH KIM
photo by BRIAN M. KIM In China, there are 55 underrepresented minority groups other than the Hans, most of which are concentrated in the Xinjiang region. One of these minorities, the Uyghurs, has been oppressed by the state’s domineering crackdown and retaliation for numerous years. In this year’s Advisory Panel (AP), advisors discussed this issue, which is one of the three other topics that will be debated on dur-
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ing the conference regarding China and its problems, and proposed clauses that would address such ethnic problems within the country. “There has to be better communication between the central government and the specific regions that are populated by these minorities,” said Anastasia T, the advisor of the United States of America (USA). “To facilitate such efficient communication, I
believe we should enforce a triangular conference that occurs three times a year, with representatives from both the government and the regions consisted of these minorities.” According to Minji Suh, advisor of the Republic of Korea, Anastasia’s clause was able to generate support from the other advisors due to the elaborate and precise details that were provided within it. “The proposal of a triangular conference mentioned by the advisor of the USA is both efficient and effective, as it guarantees direct discussion between members of the government and the minority groups,” Minji said. “It makes sure that the most recent and important ideas are negotiated by and informed to both in-
volved bodies, which is absolutely necessary to have a fair negotiation.” Most advisors, including Jongwhee Jeon, advisor of Indonesia, generally agreed on the importance of the Chinese government’s involvement in issues regarding minorities. The immediate need for reform outweighed the negatives of the clause, which included potential problems such as government exploitation and misuse of power. “I think we can propose an international treaty incorporating the clauses we agreed on so far, the triangular conference being one of them,” Jongwhee said. “This will create obligations that China will have to follow, and it will not be able to escape its responsibilities.” SL
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SEOULITE committee
SPT discusses possible threats of DPRK BY MARIE PARK
As the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) exercises a strict communist government, the isolated nation limits trade with other countries, especially those in the west. As the success or failure of the Korean Peninsula Trade Corridor is crucial to countries all around the world, delegates of the Six Party Talks (SPT) focused on finding methods to improve the global trade economy. “Because DPRK has nuclear power, which poses a threat to everyone, it would be helpful to try to open the country up to trade and create possible alliances,” said Alyssa Choi, delegate of USA. “However, for now, the best we can do is to ally with Russia and China, which are currently allies of DPRK.” According to Neo Choi, delegate of Japan, certain coun-
tries should develop stronger defenses against such missile threats in order to demilitarize further missile activity. In addition to discussing such benefits of self-defense, delegates also worked to negotiate a permanent peace treaty for the two Koreas. “Though the issue is most relevant for the Korean peninsula, it is as significant to other countries, as North Korean threats put world peace in danger,” said Natalie Kim, delegate of USA. “The situation is especially uncomfortable for USA because there are US troops deployed in South Korea. Because the DPRK vehemently opposes the presence of western countries like us, the tension must lessen before we try to arrange any sort of agreement with North Korea.” Based on DPRK’s history of
dispute with other countries, some, such as Jerry Kim, delegate of Russia, found the prospect of forming an alliance with North Korea impractical. Friction among the countries also hindered the process of reaching a compromise. “Considering that our countries are conflicting as of now,
I personally disagree with the more idealistic propositions,” Jerry said. “China has the greatest chance of forming an alliance with DPRK due to their common stance against the US and their geographical proximity but we’ll have to see what happens in the next few days.” SL
PHOTO BY KELLY KIM
SC delegates suggest ways to achieve peace in Iraq BY JULIE SONG
PHOTO BY JANE LEE Human rights concerns have escalated as the Shia-dominated forces have begun to target the Sunni minority while air strikes have killed civilians and caused national discord. To combat violence and stabilize conditions in Iraq, delegates of Security Council (SC) separated to discuss each other’s resolutions on the issue. “The clauses proposed in the joint statement focus on
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border control and supervision in Iraq,” said Aiswarya Nagasubramony, delegate of the United States of America (USA). “This would result in a reduction of illegal transfers. Another clause focuses on the idea of a more representative political body, which would alleviate oppression suffered by the minority. Although ambitious, this clause takes the overall efficiency of this resolution to another level.”
Furthermore, delegates discussed the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s attack on Mosul and the battle over the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which led to the loss of human lives and money. Though the delegate of USA hoped to mitigate the consequences of these events with his resolution, other delegates noticed the need for more international action and regulations. “The proposal is a good approach,” said Sabin Kim, delegate of Iraq. “However, Iraq cannot do anything until the international community funds the entire program. Although we want the support of USA, strict regulations are fundamentally necessary so the forces do not go too far as to taking control of the nation.”
According to Hok Yin Kong, delegate of India, social implications and traditional values must also be taken into consideration when discussing this issue. As delegates continued to discuss Al-Qaeda offshoot and its Sunni insurgency, chairs were glad to see all delegates passionately participating in lobbying. “I’m excited to see all 15 delegates participate in lobbying,” said Janet Lee, Deputy Assistant President. “In terms of format, I cannot skip over the veto process exclusive to the Security Council. Sometimes, [when nations veto stances], they receive a certain degree of animosity since they may delay or create a shift in the debate. As the nations have different stances, I am expecting many amendments” SL
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SEOULITE committee
Environmental Commission analyzes solar radiation management By YEAJI PARK Solar radiation management is a new geo-engineering technology that deflects sunlight and reduces green house emissions from the surface of the Earth. The delegates in Environmental Commission discussed this very topic and separated into two groups, one supporting and one against the new technology. Due to its cheap price and effective short-term effects, nations such as Mexico and Togo expressed support for the system and its potential to prevent further environmental degradation. “Green house gas emissions are increasing on a global scale and are detrimental to our health, which is one of the prime reasons for why we support solar radiation management,” said Zin Shwe War,
delegate of Mexico. “Due to the problems we face in Mexico such as limited fresh water and decreasing air quality, I am looking forward to passing this resolution and gaining support from developed countries that we have been trading with for a long time, such as the United States.” On the other hand, other countries that do not support this system showed concern about the long-term effects and the possible financial and economic problems that could rise from its implementation. One especially controversial point was the use of sulfate aerosol spray, which is beneficial for drawing away the sunlight but is said to have unknown long-term effects. “Island nations, like my country, are vulnerable because of environmental prob-
photo by David Choe lems, such as rising sea levels,” said Keerti Palanisamy, delegate of the Solomon Islands. “Solar radiation management can force us to relocate and depend on other countries if we lose the ability to sustain ourselves. Because there is not enough research done, if something goes wrong, island nations such as the Solomon Islands will be the first to be affected.” According to Seung Ho Oh, President of the Environmen-
tal Commission, this issue was selected in order to reflect the rising problem of global warming in modern society. “It is a huge problem that umbrellas other issues so it is necessary that we take a specific approach,” Seung Ho said. “It is not that we don’t [support solar radiation management], but we want to inform the delegates that there are other ways to combat global issue other than typical carbon management systems.” SL
Icj Judges debate on independence of Kosovo By angie Kim The International Court of Justice (ICJ), which debates previously resolved UN issues, initiated the first debate on the unilateral independence of Kosovo. Located in the central Balkan Peninsula, Kosovo is a subject of controversy, as Russia considers its declaration of independence illegal. In order to resolve this issue, Judges worked on ranking the documents based on authenticity and importance. “I personally support the independence of Kosovo because I strongly believe that it is a violation of basic human rights for Kosovo to be a non-autonomous nation,” said Judge Nathan Cheung. “Because 90 percent of the Albanians in Kosovo sought independence, denying Kosovo’s independence would also
12SEOULITE ISSUE 2 VOLUME XVI
be denying 90 percent of the country’s majority rights.” Following a speech by High Judge Dustin Yoon, judges presented their various perspectives and proposed several cases, such as previous UN resolutions (Security Council Resolution 1244) and America’s Declaration of Independence, that further intensified the debate. Many judges emphasized the legality of Kosovo’s independence and the potential consequences of retracting Kosovo’s independence. “As this debate is about whether Kosovo can rightfully claim independence from Serbia, the documents that either supported the nation’s independence or opposed it helped the process of legalizing and supporting Kosovo’s identity as an autonomous state,” said
ICJ Judge May Lee. “Without proper evidence, this debate would not have gone as well as it did.” Although official debate did not begin yet, judges still managed to express their thoughts regarding the issue. Most of the Judges supported the independence of Kosovo, but were not able to reach a conclusion yet. “The topic of the documents varied greatly, since each judge focused on different aspects of the issue,” said Jeongmin Cho, Deputy Assistant President. “Some focused on the constitution of Serbia, while others referred to the Declaration of Independence. Debating on the documents separated the majority, which supported Kosovo’s independence, from the dissenting side, which opposed Kosovo’s independence.
Separating these two parties will result in a final conclusion about whether Kosovo should gain independence or not.” SL
photo by brian s. kim Layout Hyewon Kim
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entertainment 1.
Conference crossword
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Joonhee’s new to Earth, please help him figure out what’s going on in 2014.
ACROSS DOWN 3. name of un peacekeeping troops? 1. CURRENT SECretarY GENERAL OF THE UN 6. group that authorizes the un peace 2. INSTITUTION OF UN that dicusses some of keeping missions THE WORLD’S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS 8. location of seomun xvii 4. COUNTRY WITH THE HIGHEST GDP 9. institution that carries out the day5. CITY THE UN was CREATED IN to-day procedures of the un 7. ONE OF THE COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA 12. current prime minister of japan THAT DOESN’T BORDER BRAZIL 13. country with the least population in 10. COUNTRY WITH THE MOST LAKES IN THE the world WORLD 11. HOST SCHOOL OF SEOMUN Layout Hyewon Kim
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ALan’s New language alien alan is trying to talk to you. try to figure out the words he’s saying.
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plus 1. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
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Layout Hyewon Kim
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Can you finish the sentences?
1. noun 7. thing 2. adjective 8. place 3. place 9. -ing verb 4. place 10. -ing verb 5. thing 11. adjective 6. verb 12. exclamation One day during the MUN conference, Joonhee walked in with a 1._______. He was looking for Alan because he felt 2._______. Joonhee couldn’t find Alan in the 3._______ , so he went to the 4.________ instead. All of a sudden, Joonhee saw a 5.________. He was about to 6._________ the 7._________, but he decided to go back and look for Alan. Little did he know, Alan was at 8.____________. Alan was in the middle of 9.__________, when Joonhee walked in. Joonhee was shocked when he saw Alan 10._________. Joonhee said, “There you are!” Alan, very 11.________, ran away screaming 12._______.
Free food coupon
finish the two activities on page 13 and 14 for free food. come to the seoulite room to receive your reward. Layout Hyewon Kim
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etiluoes