November 5-7, 2009
SEOMUN XII
12th Annual Seoul Model United Nations
NOVEMBER 5-7, 2009
Welcome from the advisors Dear participants and advisors, On behalf of the Seoul International School MUN advisors and student leaders, welcome to the twelfth annual Seoul Model United Nations Conference! We feel privileged to continue this tradition and have eagerly anticipated this event. On November 20, 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 2009 as the International Year of Reconciliation. In line with this resolution, the theme for SEOMUN XII is Reconciliation, with an added emphasis on the reconciliation and repatriation of peoples in conflict areas. We have an inspiring list of issues up for debate, some of which include: -Assisting refugees and victims in post-conflict African countries with an emphasis on education and healthcare. -Minimizing social dislocation in Asian cities undergoing dramatic economic growth. -Ensuring the humane treatment of North Korean refugees. -Curtailing the proliferation of biological armaments and promoting a multilateral agreement concerning biological weapons. -Resettling refugees through various means including voluntary repatriation. We are happy to be hosting an event which allows participants to grapple with pressing issues, propose resolutions, take part in purposeful debate and hopefully arrive at workable solutions. Last year’s inaugural Advisory Panel was an excellent addition to the conference, and we are pleased to continue this forum. This year’s discussion of the Question of New Economic Partnership for African Development is an important and timely feature of this year’s theme. SEOMUN XII is an opportunity to consider carefully the plight of populations unable to meet their own social, political, economic, and environmental needs. We hope that actively engaging in a constructive dialogue will give you a chance to examine your sphere of influence and the ways in which the choices made by individuals and governments are shaping the world every day. Opening our minds to the crises of others not only widens our knowledge base of the world around us, but also allows us to use this knowledge in order to find ways to effectively help the people living in conflict zones. Thanks to each of you for all the effort you have put in to making this conference productive and successful. We hope it will be a memorable experience for you and wish you the very best in your respective forums.
Jessica Krueger Angela Erickson Thomas Craig Adam Erickson Organizing Advisors Seoul International School
Welcome from the Secretary-General Greetings delegates, student officers, advisers, administrative staff and guests, It is my profound honor to serve as the Secretary-General of Seoul Model United Nations XII. My name is Stephanie Char, and I am a senior attending Seoul International School (SIS); I have participated in MUN as a delegate and student officer at SEOMUN and The Hague International MUN since my freshman year. After serving as Deputy Assistant President and then President of the Security Council for SEOMUN X and XI, I was appointed as Secretary General. Indeed, SEOMUN has a long history, beginning before many of us high school students had entered school. What was once a one day debate held in libraries of schools such as SIS has expanded to become a three day conference with participants from countries all over Asia. But the quantity is not the most striking characteristic of SEOMUN: rather, the wider scope of issues, greater diversity and inclusion of special committees are what have contributed to making SEOMUN unique. While SEOMUN includes many of the core committees, such as the General Assembly and the Security Council, it also offers new opportunities for more flexible debate in the Six Party Talks, Advisory Panel and International Court of Justice. No matter which committee you are participating in, however, the theme for this year’s conference—reconciliation—is applicable, whether among countries, cultures, the economy and the environment, or rivals. The onus is on all delegates to facilitate such reconciliation, in line with the United Nations General Assembly’s decision to make 2009 the official year of reconciliation. Besides carrying through with the formal procedures of the United Nations, I urge all delegates to participate actively, think critically and act as effective leaders and team members to build positive, long lasting relationships with others. The purpose of MUN conferences is not simply about the vote or the final resolutions; the process is as important as the end result. I wish you all the best of luck over the next few days in achieving your full potential, and welcome once again to SEOMUN XII.
Stephanie Char Secretary-General of SEOMUN XII
Welcome from the Deputy Secretary-Generals Dear delegates, I remember being utterly confused and scared at my first MUN meeting. Upperclassmen relentlessly attacked the resolution I had written for nights, and Chairs made biting remarks about the flaws in my speech. I stumbled and learned how to survive MUN through trial and error, but I wish someone had held my hand and guided me. I vowed to change the demoralizing hierarchical system when I was appointed as the DSG. Having climbed my way up the ladder, I finally have the power to remove it; but I can only accomplish this with your help. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and fill the gap that currently lies between you and those around you- that’s reconciliation. We should all be grateful to have gained so much from MUN, but it’s time we give back to it by reviving the lost meaning of equality which lies in its core. Kristin Kim Deputy Secretary-General of SEOMUN XII
Dear delegates, To be frank, I never expected to come this far. I started out my career with little ambition and a short speech for my first MUN tryout in my freshman year. I still didn’t know what MUN was really about and I was more glad to find out that my friends were in my committee than about actually getting into MUN. Then I went to the first meeting. Senior delegates came to show us a quick example of a typical debate and at that moment, I knew I had made the right decision. I couldn’t wait for Tuesdays and Thursdays when we had our MUN meetings because they were exciting: it was so different from what I did in all my classes. Where in the world can you actually represent nations and debate big issues in a professional setting? MUN was a unique experience not offered anywhere else, and I enjoyed every moment of it. So more than half a year ago, I became the Deputy Secretary-General in the hopes that the experience and the joy I had are experienced by not just by me, but by everyone who participates in SEOMUN XII and MUN at large. It is therefore my sincerest wish that you walk away from SEOMUN with an experience like no other. Seungho Yang Deputy Secretary-General of SEOMUN XII
This year’s issues General Assembly 1. Addressing religious strife in Southwest Asia 2. Curtailing the proliferation of biological armaments and promoting a multilateral agreement concerning biological weapons 3. Stimulating economic development in the context of foreign direct investment and globalization Human Rights Council 1. Preventing torture and other inhumane treatment in North America, the Caribbean and South America 2. Promoting gender-neutral solutions to the issue of climate change 3. Resettling refugees through means including voluntary repatriation Special Conference on Good Governance 1. Achieving fair and democratic national elections and reducing official manipulation 2. Ensuring government accountability in balancing development and the environment 3. Improving fiscal transparency, especially in developing countries Economic and Social Council 1. Fostering collaboration for the research and distribution of alternative energy resources 2. Minimizing social dislocation in Asian cities undergoing dramatic economic growth 3. Promoting rural electrification and education Six Party Talks 1. Alleviating North Korea’s food shortages and assisting economic development 2. Determining consequences for noncompliance with international protocol 3. Ensuring the humane treatment of North Korean refugees 4. Promoting consensus on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections in North Korea Security Council 1. The situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan 2. The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question 3. The situation in the Xinjiang region Advisory Panel on the Question of New Partnership for African Development 1. Assisting refugees and victims in post-conflict African countries with an emphasis on education and healthcare 2. Effectively coordinating NEPAD, the African Union and the Regional Economic Committees of Africa 3. Reducing the impact of the global economic crisis on international assistance for and investments in NEPAD 4. Revamping NEPAD’s role in bringing security to post-conflict African countries to enhance sustainable development International Court of Justice Georgia v. Russian Federation: the Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Schedule* November 5, 2009 (Thursday) Day 1 GA, ECOSOC SPC, HR 9:00-10:00 Opening ceremony 10:00-11:30 Lobbying 11:30-12:15 Lunch Lobbying 12:15-1:00 1:00-4:30 4:30
Lobbying
Lunch Lobbying
6PT
ICJ
SC
AP
Committees in session Lunch Committees in session Committees Lunch in session Committees in session
All delegates dismissed Approval Panel for vetting closes at 4 p.m.
November 6, 2009 (Friday) Day 2 GA, SPC HR, ECOSOC 6PT ICJ SC AP 9:00-9:50 Opening Opening Committees in session speeches speeches 9:50-10:30 Debate 10:30 to Debate Lunch Lunch 11:30-12:20 — HR and AP 11:45-12:35 — GA and SC 12:00-12:50 — ECOSOC and 6PT 12:15-1:05 — SPC and ICJ Lunch to Debate Committees in session 4:30 4:30 All delegates dismissed November 7, 2009 (Saturday) Day 3 All committees 12:00-4:00 Committees in session 4:00-4:15 Delegates move to General Assembly 4:15-5:00 Closing Ceremony at General Assembly *The schedule is subject to change
Venue
2nd floor (Asem Hall Meeting Rooms) 206
203B
204
205
203A
209
201
210
208A
211
208B
203A: Human Rights Council (Saturday) 203B: ECOSOC (Saturday)
208A: Advisory Panel 208B: International Court of Justice
204: Security Council 205: Six Party Talks
209: Advisors’ room 210: Seoulite
1st floor (Grand Ballroom) 101
102
103
101: Human Rights Council (Friday) 102: ECOSOC (Friday)
104
105
104: General Assembly 105: Special Conference
At Seoul International School (SIS) Auditorium: General Assembly Multipurpose Room: Special Conference Library: ECOSOC D132: Six Party Talks HS Computer Lab: Approval Panel
B012: Advisory Panel B021: Human Rights Council B022: International Court of Justice B023: Security Council
About our keynote speaker Mr. Patrick Joseph Linehan (54) is a native of Boston and a graduate of Arizona State University (BA - Political Science & Russian 1974) and the University of Wisconsin (MA - Political Science 1977). In 1979-1980 he was a Fulbright Fellow to Finland. In 1984 he entered the Foreign Service and specialized in public diplomacy. He is now a member of the Career Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor. He has represented the United States overseas on assignments in Helsinki-Finland, Christchurch-New Zealand, Seoul-Korea, in Yokohama, Sapporo and Tokyo in Japan, in Brasilia, Brazil and in Ottawa, Canada. His most recent assignments have been as Embassy Spokesman in Seoul (1996-1999) and in Tokyo (1999-2003), Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil, and Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. He speaks Japanese, Korean and Portuguese. He assumed his duties as Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on June 15, 2007.
About Seoulite Seoulite, a professional scholastic newspaper, has been covering the activities of delegates and student officers at SEOMUN for almost as long as SEOMUN itself has been run. Delegates will receive daily copies of Seoulite created by a staff of 25 students led by Editors in Chief Patricia Kim and Jennifer Sun, seniors at Seoul International School.
About administrative staff SEOMUN would not be able to function properly if it were not for the members of the administrative staff who volunteer to contribute to the conference during their free time. The administrative staff this year will be coordinated by Tiffany Kim, Administrative President.
Welcome from the Presidents Dear delegates of the General Assembly, My name is Nina Yun and I am a junior attending Seoul International School. It is my honor to serve as the President of General Assembly for this year’s SEOMUN conference. This conference marks my sixth MUN conference and third SEOMUN conference. I was first introduced to Model United Nations in 8th grade by my school’s Middle SChool MUN program, and was able to attend my first MUN conference the following year. My first conference was a truly eye opening experience that helped me understand the importance of MUN. I was so captivated by my first conference that I was inspired to be engaged more actively in the program. Becoming a chair in my sophomore year helped me to further expand my knowledge on global issues. Having lived in and visited several places around the world, I truly believe in the importance of globalization. Likewise, MUN is extremely important as it helps promote a global partnership among not only nations, but students as well; it allows students from all around the world to come together and meet new people. MUN teaches students that issues can be resolved with diplomatic, cooperative solutions, instead of violence and force. In addition, MUN is truly unique in that it allows students to learn more about their world and find ways to better the place we live in. MUN is much more than a series of debates: it is a chance for students to take action and become truly unique global citizens. As Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” I hope that for this conference we will all be able to work together and have a successful SEOMUN. President of General Assembly Nina Yun with Assistant President Olive Jung and Deputy Assistant Presidents Choah Kim and Yoonsuk Choi
Dear delegates of the Special Conference, My name is Jessica Yun and I have the honor of serving as the President of the Special Conference on the Development of Good Governance and Transparency for SEOMUN XII. I am a senior attending Korea International School. This marks my fourth year at SEOMUN and as a participant of MUN. Never have I failed to lose sight in the value of this experience. Personally, MUN has allowed me to sharply adjust the lens through which I see our world. It has allowed me to study in detail what problems our world faces, and more importantly, how to solve them. I believe that the opportunity in itself is incredibly empowering to delegates, and it is largely why we must value this experience. With that said, I am delighted to partake in this experience with you all. Delegates may be wondering: how am I going to enjoy this conference? Quite simply, SEOMUN will be what you make it. It is in each delegate’s initiative to reconcile differences and develop steps for action. If you do not know where to begin, start by discussing with your fellow delegates the issue at hand. From there, delegates can easily jump into brainstorming innovative solutions, work-
ing as a group and debating with fellow delegates. This conference has a lot to offer: pertinent issues, a helpful officer team, accommodating administrative staff and supportive advisors. It is now your turn to make a difference here, so make it dynamic! Whether you are in the Special Conference or not, I respect every one of you for coming to participate in SEOMUN XII and I hope you truly do make the best of it. President of Special Conference Jessica Yun with Assistant President Seline Jung and Deputy Assistant Presidents Jacob Jeong and Sharon Kim
Dear delegates of the Human Rights Council, My name is Grace Ann Chua and it is my honor and privilege to serve you as your President for the Human Rights Committee at this year’s SEOMUN conference. I am currently a junior at the British International School in Vietnam. I have participated in MUN conferences since I was in the 7th grade and have taken part in two MYMUN conferences—main submitting in them both. I have also since participated in two SEOMUN conferences, serving as a chair in the Human Rights committee last year. This past February, I served as the Deputy Secretary General of the inaugural session of Saigon Model United Nations Conference (SAIMUN) that I co-initiated. MUN has always been an enjoyable part of my high school life. Through MUN conferences, we are exposed to current issues, learn about conflict resolution, develop research skills and eventually become better public speakers. It’s exciting how we may enter the conference as strangers to each other, but leave the conference as friends, having gained valuable knowledge and experience along the way. SEOMUN XII will be my third and last SEOMUN conference. I will strive to be an understanding and fair chair and I look forward to an enthusiastic debate. I encourage all delegates to speak and take full advantage of this opportunity given to you and make this conference rewarding and worthwhile. President of Human Rights Council Grace Chua with Assistant President Vivian Lee and Deputy Assistant Presidents Irene Cha and Kevin Kim
Dear delegates of the Economic and Social Council, Welcome! I am Oh Sangmin, a junior at Daewon Foreign Language High School and I will be the President of ECOSOC for this year’s SEOMUN. My first encounter with Model United Nations was during my 9th grade and since then, I have participated in memorable foreign conferences such as THIMUN Singapore and BosMUN as well as domestic ones such as MUNOS and KHSMUN. Now, I help run the school MUN club as President of the Daewon MUN club. To share my personal experience: it is fine to be nervous at first. Speaking in
front of a lot of people is not easy, but you will get accustomed to it. But a point I want to make is to not let how you speak limit what you speak. Focus on content, do a lot of research and you will be fine in SEOMUN, one of the top quality conferences in Korea. President of Economic and Social Council Sangmin Oh with Assistant President Yuri Han and Deputy Assistant Presidents Hanna Kim and Richard Kim
Dear delegates of the Security Council, Welcome to the twelfth annual SEOMUN Conference! My name is Suzie Kil, a senior attending Seoul Foreign School, and I am privileged to serve as the president of the Security Council. In a short summary of my past MUN experiences, I have attended three BEIMUN conferences, one KMUN conference and this will be my fourth SEOMUN conference. What excites me the most about each MUN conference does not encompass the mere notion that we, high school students, are given the opportunity to simulate the events of the actual United Nations. It is rather the fact that we, representatives of member states, are provided with the chance to voice a genuine concern for the issues of the global community that I believe is the very essence of Model United Nations. It is my hope that the word “model” will not hinder participants from perpetuating an active debate. My hope for this and every MUN conference is that participants will approach each moment of debate with a sense of obligation and duty…with a mindset that this is no different from the actual deal. Once we step into the conference room, it is imperative for us to abandon the idea that we are simply high school students but instead be immersed in the notion that we are members of the global community taking an initiative to address international issues. On that note, I would like to, once again, welcome everyone to the twelfth annual SEOMUN. And I look forward to working with the members of the Security Council this coming conference! President of Security Council Suzie Kil with Assistant President Mike Bock and Deputy Assistant President Herbert Chun
Dear delegates of the Six Party Talks, Welcome to the Six Party Talks committee! My name is Jane Woo and I am a junior attending Korea International School. Last year, I had the honor of serving as the Deputy Assistant President for the Six Party Talks, and this year I am thrilled to be serving as the President for this committee. Though I have served as a chair and a delegate in a variety of forums including Special Conference, ECOSOC and even Youth Assembly, I found that Six Party Talks is undoubtedly one of the most memorable and unique committees I have ever been in. As always, I sincerely hope that this committee will have productive dis-
cussions and stimulating debates—I do not want delegates walking away from SEOMUN 2009 thinking that the past three days of debate in SPT were a waste. I have complete faith that the delegates of the Six Party Talks committee will do extensive research on the issues, formulate plausible action papers of high quality and constructively debate upon these action papers with the utmost respect for one another. But my hopes are not limited to just the professional aspects of the conference. Over the three days of discussion, collaboration and debate, I hope that delegates and chairs will be able to forge new friendships and have good times together so that the Six Party Talks of SEOMUN 2009 will be as outstanding and enjoyable to this year’s delegates as it was for me. President of Six Party Talks Jane Woo with Assistant President Mike Yang and Deputy Assistant President Christine Pak
Dear delegates of the International Court of Justice, Hello SEOMUN participants and fellow members of the International Court of Justice! My name is Annie Lee, and I am a senior at Yongsan International School of Seoul. I am thrilled to be serving as the President of the International Court of Justice this year at SEOMUN. Even though this will be my fifth conference in which I participate in the ICJ, I am every bit as excited now as I was five years ago. Two years ago, I signed up for the ICJ as a timid sophomore who had no idea what she was getting herself into. That timid sophomore soon discovered that the ICJ was the best decision she made in her MUN career. As this will be the second time I lead the ICJ, I hope to make it even more enjoyable and productive than it was last year. The ICJ may be one of the most challenging committees to be a part of, but as a result, it is also one of the most rewarding committees. The hard work of the advocates, the friendly cooperation between the judges and the intense witness examinations all come together to create an amazing experience for anyone involved. I wish the best of luck to all who decide to step into the world of the International Court of Justice. President of International Court of Justice Annie Lee with Assistant Presidents Jenn Kim and Janice Yoon and Registrar Sunwoo Lee
Dear delegates of the Advisory Panel, I am Raymond Ha and I will be serving as the Co-President of the Advisory Panel at SEOMUN XII. I am currently a senior at Seoul International School, and I have been involved in Model United Nations since my freshman year, when I was a delegate in the General Assembly at this very conference. I have participated in every SEOMUN ever since, and have also attended THIMUN three times as a delegate. This will be my first time participating in Model United Nations as a student officer. I participated in the Inaugural Session of the Advisory Panel at last year’s SEOMUN conference. It is my hope that this year’s session will further contrib-
ute towards establishing the Advisory Panel an integral part of the conference. The Advisory Panel allows a small group of dedicated advisors to focus their passion and interest on one particular issue. This allows participants to understand and debate critical issues in depth. It is important to recognize that every single issue, whether debated by students in Seoul or by diplomats in New York, requires a comprehensive understanding and an equally specific solution. While not every participant will pursue a career in diplomacy, every participant will have to be a responsible member of humanity. I sincerely believe that the Advisory Panel, and the conference as a whole, will prove to be a valuable experience in allowing participants to recognize and communicate the urgency and complexity of the issues that humanity faces. There cannot be awareness without understanding; there cannot be any action without awareness. I look forward to a meaningful and fruitful conference in November. Co-President of Advisory Panel Raymond Ha
Dear delegates of the Advisory Panel, My name is En-Chi Wang, and I am currently a senior attending Seoul Foreign School. I am privileged and delighted to serve all honorable advisors as a president of Advisory Panel along with my co-President, Raymond Ha. It seems like it was only a few days ago since I received a welcoming letter from the SEOMUN XII Executive Board. As I am writing the same welcoming letter to all advisors and delegates of SEOMUN XII right now, I find it difficult to express my joy at welcoming all of you in just a couple of sentences. My first MUN experiences all started out from SEOMUN: served as an administrative staff in SEOMUN VIII, passed the resolution that I first main-submitted in SEOMUN X, and officially chaired in a large conference in SEOMUN XI. But unfortunately, SEOMUN XII will mark the end of my SEOMUN experience before I end high school. Through this conference, I wish you all have the same experiences that MUN offered me in the past couple of years in becoming a successful delegate. If you have any trouble during preparation, please do not hesitate to contact me by either emailing me (mz.enchiii@gmail.com) or adding me on MSN (angelwang1507@hotmail.com). It would be a great pleasure to help. And finally, as the President of Advisory Panel, I would like to give a warm welcome to all delegates to SEOMUN XII once again. I also hope that this conference would allow the world to step forward in alleviating the issues that have been concerning many nations for many years. Co-President of Advisory Panel Enchi Wang with Assistant Presidents Jongwook Bae and Peter Kay
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