layout by Amy Cha
Seniors embark on a field trip to Gwanghwamun
difficult. But I do look forward to it, and I hope seniors look forward to it too. Steven has put so much work into this—I hope it goes well.”
The idea was originally proposed by Steven Kim ’24, the former president of the HSSC. This proposal was made in consideration of the current seniors having experienced a reduced number of gradewide activities due to COVID-19. Initial location plans included Lotte World, Caribbean Bay, and Everland, but after HS Principal Gray Macklin’s suggestion that the seniors should experience more of Korea before heading off to college, the final decision came down to Gwanghwamun—a Korean cultural hub with a rich 630-year history.
well as touring Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Cheonggyecheon stream, which some visited. Though the planned cruise was unfortunately canceled, many found other ways to have fun with their peers. One activity that a group chose was riding bikes around a path nearby, which many deemed the most enjoyable event during the trip. They were then dropped off at the Gwangjang Market, one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in Korea with over 5,000 shops.
Although certain difficulties arose due to this being the first time a senior field trip was organized, many were happy that they got a day off. Not only were they able to experience Korea’s culture possibly for the last time, but they were also able to spend that time with their friends.
On April 9, all senior students traveled to Gwanghwamun for a grade-wide field trip. This trip was a new event planned by senior members of the HSSC and HSSC adviser Matthew Halter. The trip was intended to allow the seniors to cherish their last days not only in school but also with many of their peers—who would soon be dispersed across the world after graduation.
“The trip is a new thing so it’s a challenge to get off the ground,” Mr. Halter said. “This is the first time so we’ll see how this goes. Finding what to do that would be worthwhile for the seniors while balancing their freedom was quite
“I took the initiative to organize this trip because, particularly due to the pandemic, our grade missed out on field trips,” Steven said. “I chose Gwanghwamun because I am confident that many seniors, as well as others in our high school, may not typically be interested in visiting Korean cultural landmarks with significant historical value… Therefore, I wanted to take all the seniors to this location so they could at least have a memory of the sites in Korea before they leave for America this fall.”
After arriving at Gwanghwamun at 9 a.m., the seniors were given free time to explore. Gwanhwamun is famous for its historic sites, including statues of King Sejong and admiral Yi Sun-sin, as
HSSC holds second Casino Night
On March 22, the High School Student Council (HSSC) hosted Casino Night, an event where students played various casino games to take a break from their stressful tests. After initially hosting this event two years ago on Apr. 1, 2022, and receiving positive feedback, the council chose to organize the event again. To make this iteration of the event more successful than its predecessor, the council started planning immediately after winter break.
“Casino Night was an event that required the most planning as we had to plan for decorations, refreshments, stations, and prizes,” Ellen Ryu ’25, HSSC Treasurer, said. “Every section required a lot of logistics, making HSSC members communicate consistently in and out of the council. Though the complexity of the event made the planning process difficult, we wanted to add value to students’ school life through the various memories made during the event so that they could reminisce the memories in the future.”
To follow the central theme, stage lights, balloons, and party curtains were used to decorate TG1 and emulate an actual casino. Energetic songs were also played throughout the event by Tigers On Air to ensure the mood was always enthusiastic and vibrant. Students enjoyed fun games such as Blackjack, Uno, Roulette, and Mario Kart, while D$Q and Blue Note performed a variety of songs and dances to entertain the students.
Casino Night games and prizes were modified from past years to attract a wider audience to the event. Students attended the event for various reasons, from winning prizes that included an iPad and Marshall speaker, to hanging out with friends, and determining who the best Brawler was through the Brawl Stars tournament.
“I mainly attended the event, because I signed up for the Brawl Stars tournament,” Yoonwoo Lee ’26, Brawl Stars tournament champion, said. “The best part of the event would definitely be the tournament, and I am sure a lot of people would agree with that. It was a really unique and fun experience that I think should be hosted again in the future.”
Though over 150 people signed up for the event, which was more participants than its previous iteration, a bit over 100 students showed up. Many students did not attend on the day even after signing up, with some citing disappointment with the variety of games and lack of event promotion.
“People thought that Casino Night would be boring, because when I asked all of my friends why they didn’t want to come, they all pretty much said that the event itself seemed to be boring,” Leah Kim ’27, HSSC Public Relations, said. “We could have promoted this from very early on, and described the events and games in a fun way, instead of just listing them. People who didn’t really have their friends attending or didn’t
“It was pretty enjoyable,” Tobias Choi ’24, said. “I think Steven did a very good job in planning it. I was looking forward to the cruise but we were unable to ride it. That was a slight disappointment but besides that, the rest of the trip was good. Riding the four-wheel bicycle with my friends was the most enjoyable. We also turned on songs in the middle and sang along. I had to drive the entire bicycle with four people so that was pretty tiring, but at least I got to skip leg day.”
By: Eric Kim Junior, Copy editor
have anyone to play games with couldn’t participate, not because they didn’t want to, but because they just couldn’t find themselves joining a random group.”
Many attendees were happy with the new prizes and games that enhanced the event. Compared to two years ago, some students thought that Casino Night turned out to be an even more successful event as students were able to strengthen relationships between grade levels by participating in enjoyable activities.
“I attended this event because of the special prizes that the HSSC provides and also because of the fun environment it brings with gambling,” Alex Cho ’25, two-time participant, said. “It really felt identical to the one two years ago as it was the same location and the same formation which really made this event really enjoyable. I would definitely do this event again.”
By: Yeonjae Kim Sophomore, reporter
Photo by Yeonjae Kim (10)
Photo by John Kim (12)
Peter Pan: SIS’s first ES musical
SIS students have enjoyed plays and musicals throughout the years, from the comedic lines in “The Addams Family” performed by HS students to the colorful costumes in the MS production of “Crazytown.” Instead of such original plot-centric performances
SIS
though, the first ES musical, held on March 21, provided a novel experience of musicality and artistic nature to the audience.
“Although we have seen many middle school and high school plays, this elementary school one was especially memorable,”
Haven Cha ’26, interested in many art forms, said. “I think the directors intended to incorporate more bright aspects of the story than usual to fit the cast, and it fit well with the performances they gave.”
The musical was a reenactment of “Peter Pan,” actualized by a harmony of flashy lights, jolly music, and bouncy choreography. With an elaborately painted setup, members of the audience, consisting mostly of proud parents and onlooking siblings, were shocked by the quality presented by the younger students. Many were entranced when a small girl in a dress was led into the sky by Peter Pan, as well as when Tinkerbell flew around the stage with wings that lit up. Even the minor characters and background roles had elaborate costumes full of colors and sparkles, capturing the magical aspect of the story.
Despite their young age, the students amazed the audience with near-perfect memorization of the script and vibrant expressions of emotion. Many audience members also commented on the exceptional singing, as the show continuously launched into songs and complex harmonies. Training this musical aspect took up much of the actors’ time, as elementary students had to coordinate their acting, singing, and dancing.
hosts AISA girls soccer tournament
From April 12-13, SIS hosted the AISA girls soccer tournament, which was attended by a wide range of international schools in Asia including KIS, KISJ, Yokohama International School, Senri and Osaka International School, and Kaohsiung International School. At the end of the two days, Yokohama International School (YIS) placed first while SIS placed fourth winning the Fair Play award.
“The tournament was such an exciting and amazing experience, and I think I will remember it for the rest of my life,” Jimin Son ’26, varsity girls soccer player, said. “Our team played very well, and seeing my team taking penalty kicks at the end of tied games was very heartwarming. This season was so great and I believe that our team bonded even more due to the AISA tournament.”
The first day of the event took place on a Friday, the day after all of the players from different schools had arrived, which allowed students to watch and cheer for the soccer games scheduled during the day. Elementary students were also seen cheering on the SIS students with handmade posters, providing the SIS players with some more positive energy. During the match, Seojin Park ’24 showed a great performance, scoring two goals during the entire tournament. Another star player was Grace Choi ’25, who showed great teamwork throughout the tournament.
“I was able to make many special mem-
ories with my team members and coaches during AISA,” Grace Choi ’25, Varsity girls soccer captain, said. “Throughout the AISA games, we improved our team as we were able to notice our strengths and weaknesses by having multiple games each day. Also, since we were all mostly tired by the number of games we were playing, we supported each other, which helped build a stronger team bond. Winning the Fair Play award was an obvious result, as we players truly respected and cheered for other schools.
After the final match between YIS and KIS, a banquet was held in order to celebrate the hard work the players had put into the AISA games. An award ceremony was also held, during whichplayers were rewarded with medals and patches. Seojin, Juniper Sperry ’27, and Seohyun Park ’25, were given all-tournament AISA patches along with the team-wide acceptance of the Fair Play award.
“I thought this year’s AISA was very fun and memorable,” Seojin said. “It was very fun playing with my teammates and meeting new people from different countries, especially our home stays. I thought that our penalty victory against KISJ was very memorable, and I was able to score two goals during the tournament!”
Beyond SIS’s hosting of the competition, this year’s AISA tournament was also made special due to the return of the homestay
“I saw a lot of smaller kids practicing even in the hallways and between periods,” Dyne Kim ’26, avid theater viewer, said. “The performance itself clearly reflected all of that effort put in from time to time, as sometimes they were in the drama room too. I doubt that even I, a high schooler, can replicate that level of singing, dancing, and acting, and that just shows how much they tried to put on a good show.”
Another aspect of creating the fantastical experience was the production of the theatrical set by the backstage crew and staff. The props especially were of high quality, from full-on pirate ships to hand-crafted houses.
“It was rushed at the end so I think it really took a lot of volunteers, and as a result a lot of parents and staff members came together,” Amber Watkins, elementary school art teacher and prop creator, said. “So in the end, it was a lot of working together. In terms of the actual performance, I think it went well. Hopefully next time we have more time to indulge in the props, but it was a great first performance!”
By: Jian Hong Sophomore, reporter
program. Though this AISA tradition had been replaced by hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, several SIS athletes provided their homes for foreign athletes to stay in while they competed. Though there were not enough volunteers to host all 64 students, many students expressed excitement and satisfaction over being able to contribute to this long-standing AISA tradition.
“I enjoyed doing homestay and it was pretty fun hanging out with the homestay
Theater enthusiasts travel to Vietnam
From March 13-19, four high school students and drama teacher Iain Cowieson flew to Ho Chi Minh City to attend a drama festival hosted by the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA). The ISTA festival is an annual three-day event in which students attend workshops run by theater professionals, collaborate with students from other Asian schools, and view professional drama pieces, guiding them through the process of theater production.
“I decided to go because it was my first opportunity to go [to] a drama festival where I can meet drama kids from other international schools outside of Korea as well,” Rachel Jeong ’24 said.
“I was happy to learn new things from new people, and I was satisfied that all students from different backgrounds were able to get along together.”
This iteration of the ISTA fair was held at South Saigon International School (SSIS). SSIS chose the theme of “Confluences,” focus-
ing on the importance of water as a conjoining force—a motif consistently reflected in the vast majority of the experiences provided during the event.
As students arrived at SSIS on March 15, they were told a traditional Vietnamese folk tale that conveyed the struggles of a community to minimize the harms of floods and storms that were common in the region. Then, they rode a riverboat through the heart of Ho Chi Minh, which showed how the water connected the diverse people throughout hundreds of kilometers despite the contrast between the rich and poor, and the traditional and modern. After disembarking, the group spent the afternoon at a village located on a river delta.
In the following three days, the SIS drama group collaborated with other school students to create their own story based on the folk tale they were told. Though rushed, it was successful.
“The performance that we performed was
the most memorable,” Alyssa Lee ’24 said. “Because we worked on it for only four days, I don’t think it was amazing—but compared to the limited time and effort we spent on it, it was still ok, and I thought it was a good experience overall, meeting new people and collaborating with them. It was definitely something new, and practicing the concepts that we learned during the trip made it impactful.”
All of these experiences ultimately culminated in two theater productions. The first was a water puppet show, a traditional form of Vietnamese art, that explored various short narratives about love, power, and daily struggles. This piece was played by six musicians and a narrator, as well as various human and animal puppets that five skilled puppeteers manipulated. The second production was the A O Show, performed at the Saigon Opera House. The performance consisted of fastpaced acrobatics, stunt work, and clowning, which jointly told a story about Vietnamese
for a
days,”
up for
and I was also able to choose who I wanted to
I chose someone I had met during basketball AISA, and someone I was already was friends with from SOIS. I enjoyed doing homestay, and I look forward to signing up again when SIS hosts AISA.”
By: Chloe Kim Sophomore, reporter
people who live around the Saigon River.
This year was the first time SIS attended the ISTA drama festival. The trip gave participants valuable insight into Vietnamese culture and exemplified numerous universal themes. This trip was one to cherish for the students and Mr. Cowieson, who had nothing but positive comments about the xperience.
“The HS Drama trip was a great success,” Mr. Cowieson said. “[We] had a great time and bonded well… [with] other schools attending the ISTA festival. Overall, the trip was very smooth and our SIS students were great ambassadors…, demonstrating our Tiger Values, as they worked creatively and collaboratively with the ISTA professional artists. I was really pleased with how the trip turned out. I am definitely planning to repeat the HS Drama trip next school year!”
By: Eric Kim Junior, Copy editor
kids
few
Julie Koh (10), homestay host, said. “I signed
homestay,
host.
Photo by Sophia Cha (12)
Photo by Kristina Kang (11)
Ministry of Culture revises ticket scalping laws
On March 22, the South Korean Ministry of Culture revised a law banning the use of macro tools to buy tickets. The revision is one of many pieces of legislation aimed at combating widespread ticket scalping in the country.
With the ticket resale industry in South Korea projected to reach $1.71 billion in 2024, many often find themselves purchasing scalped tickets at twice the regular price. According to the Record Label Industry Association of Korea, 50 to 70 percent of the tickets for sold-out performances go to scalpers, leaving ordinary customers unable to compete with automatic programs that purchase tickets in seconds.
“I find this revision to be a
much needed change in the legal system,” David Lee ’27, regular concertgoer, said. “One time I had to buy a basketball game ticket online for twice the price because it was all sold out when I arrived; a quarter of the seats were empty. By limiting macro tools in ticket acquisition, we’ll definitely be able to crack down on the ticket reselling industry that plagued concerts for quite some time.”
The revision of the Public Performance Act specifies that no one shall illegally buy tickets for performances using computer programming tools for automated repetitive inputs, otherwise known as macro programs, for the purpose of reselling them.
SCOTUS debates censoring social media
Following the Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that government officials should remain severed from social media companies last September, the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is currently examining the constitutionality of that decision in a case named Murthy v. Missouri. While conservative states claim that government intervention in social media posts invariably violates the First Amendment, President Joe Biden’s Administration has argued that the government is entitled to the bully pulpit—the right to express views and be listened to.
“I think that it’s justified for the conservatives to claim that it is their freedom of speech,” Yates Park ’25, political science enthusiast, said. “Because whatever the anti-vaxxers say those that want to get vaccinated will do so. Also, there is a lot of information of medical [professionals] saying that people should get vaccinated so if there is information for both sides of the problem, it’s up to the public to decide.”
The plaintiffs in this lawsuit are Missouri, Louisiana, and five anti-vaccinators who were removed from various internet platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and X. In response to the bully pulpit argument, the plaintiffs claim that the right should not be a “pulpit to bully.” Jenin Younes, a representative of the individual plaintiffs, argues that the government’s actions, though merely an influence, violate First Amendment rights. Mainly, he claims that the government is using social media companies as proxies to censor free speech and that the alleged influence is closer to coercion, as the government is effectively pressuring companies with their power.
However, Biden’s Administration has publicly denied the accusations, arguing they have not forced the companies to take a certain course of action—their calls and messages with social media platforms reportedly only amount to suggestions.
With those found guilty of violations being subject to one year in prison or a $7,500 fine, the new policy aims to deter ticket scalping activities and safeguard fair access to musical and cultural events.
“This change will definitely increase the chances of me being able to get a seat at a concert,” Justin Rim ’27, scalped ticket purchaser, said. “I think the government decided to implement this change because it acknowledges the widespread frustration among us citizens. Most of us had to buy tickets triple the price just to attend the concert. Overall, this is a much-needed change as now we’re able to acquire the tickets and have a fair chance at
attending.”
Since March 2, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has been working alongside the cybercrime division of the Korean National Police Agency to operate a website dedicated to reports related to illegal ticket sales. The website allows users to report acts of illegal ticket reselling online or via phone.
“I find ticket scalping to be an illegitimate business,” Minsung Choi ’27, ticket resale critic, said. “Cultural events such as baseball games in Korea are meant for fans, not capitalistic business trying to make money off of our passion. The one advantage ticket scalpers had over regular
customers were the macro tools they used to instantly buy up all the seats. With stringent regulation eliminating that advantage, I see no path for the ticket scalping industry.”
By penalizing the usage of macro tools in the purchasing of tickets, the Korean Cultural Ministry aims to restore order in the distribution system of culture and sports fields. This regulation ensures that fans have a better chance of acquiring tickets and face value and greatly curbs ticket scalping, making participating in concerts more equitable and accessible.
BY: Carson Park Sophomore, reporter
Deadly terrorist attack in Moscow leaves questions for Putin to answer
Furthermore, the administration raised the question of the government’s role. They claimed that the government must protect its citizens, which trumps concerns of potential freedom of speech violations—especially during a public health crisis.
“I always used to consider myself to [prioritize] freedom over security when it came to restricting free speech,” Chris Bracciano, US History teacher, said. “But these days, with the internet and the kind of free speech we are now talking about, I think restriction is necessary. Yes, it is your freedom of speech, but if they are outright lies with real risks like anti-vaxxing, you do need regulation.”
After a two-hour preliminary hearing in the SCOTUS on March 18, a majority of justices announced their sympathy with the administration. Their primary argument revolved around precedents of the government restricting free speech to protect others’ right to safety. A key example was the censorship of doxing, the practice of maliciously releasing the personal information of others.
Six justices including Amy Coney Barrett voiced their opinions that the government should be the mediator of different rights. She argued that when these different freedoms conflict, the government must restrict one.
However, three other justices, such as Justice Samuel Alito, agreed with the plaintiffs, believing that the “constant pestering of Facebook and… other platforms” was a form of coercion.
While the verdict is expected to be released in the summer, many expect government influence over social media to continue. As the tug of war between individual freedoms and national security continues, this case may conclude once and for all the extent to which governments can intervene.
BY: Eric Kim Junior, Copy editor
Crocus
Moscow, as more than 6,000 fans entered the concert venue of Russian rock band Piknik on March 22. The Islamic State (ISIS) assailants stormed the concert hall armed with assault rifles and machine guns, shooting at the masses for more than an hour. They then moved to surrounding facilities like shopping malls, continuously shooting and setting buildings on fire through explosives. Since the attack, more than 143 deaths and 140 injuries have been reported, making it one of the largest terrorist attacks ever in Europe.
“I think we were all surprised to some extent, but I wouldn’t say I was shocked,” James Kowalski, politics enthusiast, said. “I think it’s an important reminder that Islamic extremism comes in many forms and is ongoing. It’s very complicated, and thinking of Islamic extremists as one big group blinds us to the fact that they comprise many different factions, each with different goals and enemies.”
Before the attack, the United States embassy in Moscow, as well as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), had warned Russia of a terrorist threat from ISIS. Moscow took neither of the concerns seriously, with Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, calling the warnings “blackmail.”
Shortly after the incident, ISIS released a statement through its Amaq News Agency, taking responsibility for the attack.
Given their previous terrorist records, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan branch of ISIS, has been suspected of carrying out the attack.
Terrorist attacks have been a longstanding principle of ISIS extremist philosophy, as it is not only a way for them to attack their enemies but also mobilize their forces and attract new supporters. Additionally, Russia and ISIS have not been on peaceful terms, as Russia previously helped the insurgency in Syria, hurting Sunni Muslim civilians in the process.
Following the attack, Russian authorities charged four suspects who were shooters at the site. Putin denounced the incident as a “barbaric terrorist attack” in a televised broadcast the next day. He also suggested that the United States and Ukraine were somehow involved, saying that “[the attack] was prepared by both radical Islamists themselves and, naturally, facilitated by Western special services.” Currently, the US and Ukraine have both denied any involvement.
“I don’t believe anyone believes the spin,” Tim Gardes, politic enthusiast, said. “It’s like a
formula almost, blaming Ukraine for anything. I don’t think the rough treatment is going to stop anybody in future as often those kinds of people are suicide bombers, so they’re not going to be around to get caught.”
The attack has negatively impacted Putin’s diplomacy; critics noted weaknesses in Putin’s government after learning that he had ignored warnings from internal Russian intelligence, who had also been aware of the threat beforehand. Additionally, Russia’s inability to stop the attack was also called into question, as the terrorists were able to freely shoot at the public and even leave the site uninterrupted without any involvement from Russian police or military.
“If Russia follows what happened in the American playbook, like what happened when America was attacked, it changed the whole world,” Steve Nave, politics enthusiast, said. “It could change everything. It could have severe repercussions, as we’ve seen it cause America to go to war, so it’s up to whether Putin tries to find out which country was harbouring the terrorists or go after that country.”
BY: Carey Kim Sophomore, reporter
Gunshots echoed across
Concert Hall,
US Senate moves to ban TikTok
On March 13, the US Senate passed a bill that would effectively ban TikTok in the nation if ratified by President Joe Biden. TikTok is a widely popular social media platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. This proposal stems from concerns over data privacy, national security, and the potential for foreign influence— highlighting the growing tensions between ensuring digital freedom and protecting national interests.
“I heard a little bit about the US banning TikTok, but I honestly don’t think that it’s that big of an issue because it’s only happening in the US,” Sungjoon Hur ’27, private content creator on TikTok, said. “As long as the app doesn’t get banned in Korea, I’m honestly fine, but it would be annoying for people if they have to use a VPN every time they want to use TikTok in America.”
Criticism of TikTok and ByteDance has been mounting since February 2023, when the White House banned the app from government devices. Allegations arose that the app was being used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to collect sensitive information from American users and influence them. To address these concerns, US lawmakers have proposed the aforementioned bill
to create the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, an organization that would be able to ban foreign digital platforms like TikTok. The move is not without international precedent, as India banned TikTok under the claim of national security in 2020.
“America’s a country really focused on freedom, so I feel like banning TikTok could honestly be a violation of [citizens’] rights,” Dana Chung ’25, TikTok user, “TikTok is used by a lot of Americans and people to share their diverse opinions and artforms, so it feels kind of wrong for the U.S. government to get rid of their ability to do that on such a popular platform.”
The reaction to the proposed ban has been mixed. Many TikTok users, digital rights activists, and some technology companies have voiced opposition, arguing that the ban infringes on free speech and innovation. They stress the platform’s role in providing a space for creative expression and its importance as a marketing tool for influencers and businesses. Furthermore, opponents resonated with TikTok’s chief executive Shou Chew’s claim that there is a lack of evidence of the CCP using TikTok as a proxy for influence.
“The US government trying to
ban TikTok has been all across my social media feed for the past three weeks now,” Joseph Kang ’27, avid TikTok user, said. “It’s honestly really funny to watch the news on what’s going on with that because there are memes going around of these old US Senators asking the CEO of TikTok why he supports the Chinese government spying on Americans, and seeing the CEO try to respond is hilarious because the Senators keep on ignoring what he’s saying and just assume that he’s friends with Xi Jinping.”
Experts believe that the TikTok controversy is just one aspect of the broader geopolitical competition between China and the US. This tension has been reflected in various other domains, from trade to technology. In response to US actions, experts say China may consider retaliatory measures, such as imposing tariffs on US goods or banning American platforms and products.
As policymakers weigh the benefits and drawbacks of such a ban, the outcome will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications, not just for American TikTok users, but potentially for global social media users at large.
BY: Jason Lee Junior, Copy Editor
Sephora Korea shuts down
On March 20, Sephora announced that it would be closing all its services in South Korea starting May 6, including their physical stores, website, and mobile app. The customer service team will still operate until mid-August so that customers can access returns and refunds.
“I was pretty surprised to hear that Sephora is shutting down,” Lina Hwang ’24, frequent purchaser of cosmetics, said. “It’s pretty tragic that the only source of beauty products we have now is going to be Olive Young. I think the range of products that we have would be much wider if we had
both, so it’s quite unfortunate. ” Sephora first launched its Korean branch in 2019 in collaboration with the Parnas Mall. However, the company’s plan to establish 14 offline stores in Korea by 2022 was abruptly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. By the time the pandemic was over, despite the Parnas Mall branch exceeding revenue quotas, the demand and so-called “hype” for the brand among consumers had already died out. Today, the company only has five offline stores in Korea.
“At first I was really devastated, “ Elena Kim ’24, self-proclaimed Sephora lover, said. “But the more I think about it, I think for the Korean beauty standard and the Korean consumers, the prices are pretty expensive. Also, the makeup products that they offer have a very different style, and most of the products that Koreans want are in Olive Young for a cheaper price.”
& LIFESTYLE
MLB Series opens in Seoul
“Homerun!” More than 14,000 spectators in the Gocheok Sky Dome roared as the LA Dodgers hit the first home run in their unofficial exhibition game against South Korea’s Kiwoom Heroes on March 17. This game was the first of four games the Dodgers would play in Seoul. The second exhibition game occurred between the South Korean national team and the Dodgers.
Following the exhibition games was the Major League Baseball (MLB) Seoul Series opener game on March 20 between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, which the Dodgers won 5-2. On the 21st, in their second game, the Padres won 15-11.
“I knew it would be hard for the Korean teams to win against the MLB teams,” Minseo Kim ’25, baseball enthusiast, said.
“But during the game between Team Korea and the Padres, their score differences weren’t that big so I was surprised and I appreciated all the efforts that players put into the game. It was a really interesting game to watch.”
The MLB Seoul Series is part of the MLB World Tour, an effort to bring MLB baseball across the globe to foreign audiences. The tour will continue to Mexico City, London, and the Dominican Republic. The Seoul Series is the first international host venue since 2019 following the COVID-19 pandemic and is also the first MLB game played in Seoul.
Of the many players, the fan-favorite Shohei Ohtani received exceptional attention. Shohei Ohtani has peaked in interest following his recent debut for the Dodgers, for whom he signed a 10-year contract for a record-breaking $700 million. Within the MLB opening game, Ohtani delivered two hits and a run batted in (RBI), the number of times a batter
This prominence of Olive Young was a significant contributing factor Sephora’s lackluster performance. Olive Young has over 1,300 offline stores in Korea, and takes up approximately 90 percent of the Korean cosmetics market share. With Olive Young’s chokehold on the industry, Sephora faced heavy financial losses, with a 17.6 billion won deficit in 2022.
“I think the biggest [appeal] for Olive Young is the coupons that they hand out,” Hailie Lee, frequent customer of Olive Young, said. “They are very famous for giving out free coupons for people. That plays a big role in my purchases. Also I’m more familiar with the brand. This is my 11th year in South Korea and I’m exposed to more local brands here. Now that I’ve realized that it’s just as good, in a way I think I’m supporting Korean companies.”
Similarly, Sephora has had varying levels of success in Asian mar-
has made it possible for their team to score.
“As Ohtani is a living legend, Korean baseball fans, including me, were beyond thrilled to hear the news of Ohtani participating,” Julie Lee ‘26, baseball enthusiast, said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t think he lived up to his fullest potential and performed his best, but I believe the real meaning lies in the fact that Ohtani started his big season in Korea. The very first game after his record-breaking contract with LA Dodgers happened right here in Korea. I’m just so happy that I got to witness this unforgettable moment.”
Another well-received player was Kim Ha-Seong, an infielder for the Padres. As a Korean who became the first Asian-born infielder to win the Golden Glove, Kim has gained massive popularity among Koreans. Kim also delivered an RBI.
The Seoul Series was a massive success, with the game tickets selling out eight minutes after its release. Coupang Play, an official partner that streamed the event, also experienced a surge of 169 percent in viewership due to their streaming of the Seoul Series. Lines of people spilled out of the MLB Superstore to buy merchandise and support their teams.
“When I first heard about the event, I felt both surprised and proud,” Seohyun Kim ’25, baseball enthusiast, said. “As a big fan of baseball, having the MLB opening games in Korea is very meaningful for both fans and KBO players. Especially, I felt very proud when Ha Seong Kim, a Padres player who used to play in the Korea Baseball Organization, greeted his Korean fans.”
BY:
kets. After entering China in 2005, Sephora opened over 315 stores, ranking second in the nation’s cosmetics industry. However, Sephora closed all of its shops in Japan in 2001 due to a lack of consumer interest.
Sephora has also recently faced struggles even with its American competitors. Ulta Beauty recently announced their initiative to launch into the Mexican market by 2025, in a joint venture with Groupo Axo, a Mexican multi-brand fashion and beauty company. With the two companies consistently battling for market shares in the US, Sephora will likely also have to focus on expanding their Mexican market to account for Ulta’s initiatives— reducing their ability to concentrate on new countries.
BY:
Yoon Choi Junior, Copy Editor
Carey Kim SophomorE, rEportEr
Tweens’ best buddy: TikTok
By CHLOE KIM (10)
As the number of social media users continues to increase, many young children under the required age of 13 have also begun signing up for “trendy” apps such as TikTok and Instagram. Both of these platforms allow users to share and watch short-form media. With their meticulously crafted algorithms that cater to users’ individual interests, such platforms have become the perfect medium for the spread of microtrends—short-lived trends that gain a high amount of attention in a short period of time.
For example, a recent microtrend included the consumption of viral cosmetic products from brands such as The Ordinary, Drunk Elephant, Rare Beauty, Sol de Janeiro, and more. These microtrends came to the TikTok community’s attention so rapidly because influencers such as Katie Fang and Alex Earl started creating Get Ready With Me (GRWM) videos that garnered mass interest. Consequently, many users began purchasing such products, including young children who consider these influencers role models.
As these microtrends reached the feeds of young children, they also turned to shopping in stores such as Sephora to get their hands on the hottest products. Hopping onto the GRWM trend, children started creating their own videos, while using products harmful to their skin such as retinol, hyaluronic acids, and chemical exfoliators. Many dermatologists duetted these GRWM videos explaining the harms of exposing young children
to chemicals that early. The exponential growth of the number of children using Sephora products led to another microtrend called ‘Sephora Kids,’ where older users would jokingly rant about ten-yearolds in Sephora, and upload videos of them spotting young children shopping at Sephora. Their mixing and ruining of the tester products eventually led to yet another microtrend that aimed to ban children from entering the store.
Such microtrends’ popularity among Generation Alpha can also be attributed to child influencers like Penelope Disick and North West, children of the famous Kardashians. As young children are exposed to GRWM videos from these child influencers, it is no surprise that they feel the need to own certain products to fit in and be ‘trendy.’
One parent on TikTok posted about her reasonable purchase of a “fake” Stanley cup from Walmart instead of buying the actual 40-dollar cup for her child. However, after going to school with the ‘fake’ cup, her friends made sure to let her know that it was not an actual Stanley and that she was not trendy. These situations display the pressure put on children at school to keep up with microtrends for trendiness and popularity.
Before these trends and the rise of social media, most children were found wearing colorful clothing with childish graphics, such as unicorns and sequins. However, now, children have also been keeping up with the latest fashion trends, shopping in stores such as Brandy Melville
and Lululemon for the most fashionable items. This has resulted in children being spotted wearing Lululemon from head to toe, resulting in comments comparing the differences between trends they thought were cool when they were children and those currently considered ‘in.’
“During my childhood, I used to play with toys that entertained me such as Pokemon Cards, fidget spinners, slime, and Minecraft,” Winston Chen ’26, Gen Z-er, said. “I think the difference between my generation and GenAlpha is how much influence social media is able to have. These days, when I watch TikTok, I see many videos of really young kids wearing showy clothing and lots of makeup. I also see many videos of children doing GRWMs going extremely viral, causing even more children to follow these trend. These videos make me feel worried for the next generation, and makes me realize the impacts and problems of social media.”
With such social pressures at school and on social media, children are almost forced to follow microtrends to avoid social ostracization.
Companies’ best buddy: TikTok
By JIAN HONG(10)
Uggs, coquette ribbons, and nurse-loved water bottles. These are just a few recent examples of the most popular microtrends, taking social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok by storm. The “trendiness” has entranced customers, feeding into brands like Stanley, Owala, and Bubble, allowing them and countless other corporations to profit from the increasing customer demand. Coupled with the recent tendency to buy based on online influences, .
Specifically, these trends have cut into customers’ buying tendencies. Many people have turned to online entertainment rather than active outside activities: the increasing number of online personas from micro mini-skirt indulgers, to climate activists obsessed with romanticism, attest to such trends. The rise of sustainability has led to the glamorization of sustainable products like reusable water bottles to the point where they are bought as collectibles, defeating the original purpose. The obsession over skincare and acne control has led to the birth of “Sephora kids,” who over-purchase products that are unnecessary for young skin.
Microtrends have not only become a key aspect of the economy since COVID-19, but they have also been propelled by the influential role of social media. This industry, where millions work as content creators, has become a global phenomenon worth $250 billion. The power of microtrends on these platforms is undeniable, shaping not
just consumer behavior, but also the way the public perceives and interacts with brands.
“At first, I didn’t really understand what microtrends were, because it just seemed like influencers sharing their daily products and lifestyles,” Esther Park ’26, TikTok user, said. “But clearly as time passed, these products weren’t just posts. They were advertisements and capitalism disguised as normal everyday content, and people, including a lot of my friends, hopped onto the trends.”
Advertisements historically have included TV commercials, billboard posters, app advertisements, and so forth. However, these methods have been abandoned in recent years: billboards are left empty in many countries, and younger generations watch TV less than in previous years. People nowadays do not use such conventional platforms, which is why brands have evolved their advertisement techniques, moving onto social media platforms.
It has become increasingly easy for companies to advertise due to a change in how influencers work. Influencers in the past have promoted their music, lifestyle, and clothes. However, with smaller-scale influencers taking control of the platform, much mass-produced, short-form content focused on product promotion has increased, allowing easier access for companies to advertise despite having little funds.
There is a downside to such microtrends, especially from the perspective of smaller companies that rely more on online marketing. CEOs of media companies like Amy Still say that considering the fleeting nature of microtrends and factoring in the time it takes to develop a campaign to fit it, it is “very difficult” for companies to see significant advantages from opting into these trends on platforms like TikTok.
Despite many knowing about the nature of microtrends and how fast they die, people still opt into them, allowing for continued success. Stanley water bottle users have now moved on to Owala, and even that may end soon when the public’s interest moves on in a few weeks.
At the core of this issue is a larger problem of modern-day consumerism, where many people replace genuine self-care and relaxation with splurges and instant purchases. Microtrends have fueled this even further, providing people with an excuse to buy more products under the guise that it is a trend—much to the benefit of fast-adapting companies.
Consumers eat up microtrends to fill their need to spend: companies are expected to provide them with a continuous supply, and whether it is unsustainable in the long run is something only time will tell.
Sarah Hay: Teacher by day, knight by night
ES Principal Sarah Hay has been featured in radio shows, magazines, BBC articles, and in books for her jousting career—a sport where players duel each other with lances while horseback riding. From interviews and competitions in various countries including Finland, Belgium, and the US, Ms. Hay currently stands as the world champion in jousting. What’s more impressive is that Ms. Hay’s career only began in 2008.
“I’ve been a very successful jouster,” Ms. Hay said.
“I was once contacted by some people in America who wanted to do a radio interview. And another time I was in Russia and I was contacted by the BBC and so I was able to go into a BBC studio in Moscow. Other times I just do it over the phone from wherever I am in the world. And then other interviews I do are for magazines, in France, Poland, Australia, and Canada. I was also con -
tacted by another lady who was doing a children’s book about sports women from around the world. And so she contacted me and asked if I could be in the book. Yeah, I get lots of requests.”
Part of Ms. Hay’s success can be attributed to her proficiency in horseback riding and her competitive opportunities across the world— jousting, as Ms. Hay explains, has a lot of components to them, apart from the traditional duel.
“The horse has to feel comfortable with you. You have to be comfortable and safe with the lance. You have to be able to ride against riders who you haven’t ridden against before. I mean, I’m a woman. I’m competing against men and in some countries, I’m jousting against men who are very much bigger than me. And so I have to be able to take hard hits from big guys. And the fact that I can take it makes me a successful jouster in
a male-oriented sport. The other thing is you have to be able to manage your own emotions very well. In order to be a really good jouster, I make sure I try to stay very calm for the sake of the horse.”
However, apart from more traditional aspects that many would expect in jousting, more niche areas exist as well: foot archery, calligraphy, and even proficiency with swords. In a competition, these are all ways for the jouster to show their talents aside from the traditional fight, and the requirements vary between the competition types.
“I went to this historical tournament once in Belgium. And in a historical tournament, a knight’s value is more than just smashing your lance on another person’s shield. You also have to show your musical ability and your archery ability and your skills with other weapons. So another part of the competition was calligraphy.
And then I had to do foot archery.”
In jousting however, the outfit and the symbolism that each knight has is very important. Ms. Hay’s knight motto, for instance, is to “Live and ride with courage, passion, and integrity.” She also has her own distinct gowns, medieval armors, and heraldry.
“We have our heraldry which announces who we are. So, there’s only one person in the world who has that heraldry. I have two sets of heraldry. So in medieval times, a golden wing lioness represented courageous vigilance. So the red, white and blue I chose to create my heraldry because it’s the colors of a champion in Australia. For my other heraldry, I’m not the only person in the world to have that heraldry because it was based on the effigy [model] of a 14th century knight, called Johannes von Alborek II. His effigy is
on his gravestone, and I had it made exactly for a competition that I went to in New Zealand. I also wear a dress whenever I can to show that I’m a female competing with men and I can do it just as well or better.”
From her diverse array of talents and as champion for jousting, Ms. Hay has been nothing short of an inspiration and a hero, living and riding with courage, passion, and integrity.
“I’m a serious competitor and I joust as an equal with men,” Ms. Hay said. “I take the sport very seriously. And that’s something I’m very proud about. I’ve won lots of things. I don’t always win. But, I have won. A lot of times. I’m the only woman ever to win the Queen’s Jubilee Horn. It’s interesting, isn’t it? I love it.”
BY:
layout by Jason Shin
Jason Jihoon Shin Junior, reporter
Photo by Jason Shin (11)
A Teacher’s Guide to Modern Slang
Modern Gen-Z terms can be difficult to understand and quite hard to follow, especially with the ever-increasing usage of social media and its complex culture. Students across hallways and classrooms can be heard saying these terms foreign to the ears of teachers. As such, this is the official Teacher’s Guide to modern slang, so that teachers can properly talk to students eye to eye, hand in hand.
Must Know Words!
Rizz: (n)
Word for a person’s “game” and their charisma in attracting positive attention, usually in a romantically attractive way.
“Jared is so successful, he has many girlfriends.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of rizz.”
“Look at Jared! He is totally rizzing up that girl right now!”
“My man Jared is so rizzful.”
Mog: (v)
To look better than the other person, physically; usually attributed with facial features and characteristics.
“I have a better jawline than him. Do you think I mog him?”
“Jared has such a nice jawline and facial symmetry compared to you. He really is mogging you!”
The Difference Between Cooked and Cooking
Cooked refers to a state of being where one is typically screwed or underprepared for a particular situation. It implies being literally “cooked,” by something.
The usage of the cook as a verb however, has a positive connotation. Most commonly, this is seen in the phrase “let him cook.” Here, cook means to outperform or perform at something successfully in a mind-blowing manner.
Notable Survey Response:
Choose the correct definition of
A) To beat another person academically 4.2% Chose this option
B) To shower someone with compliments to get on their good side 66.7% Chose this option
C) To beat another person with looks 29.2% Chose this option
BY: Jason Jihoon Shin Junior, reporter
Editorial
525,600 minutes
by Junseo Lee editor-in-chief
March 26, 2021—My first day as a Tiger Times reporter.
Aug. 18, 2023—My first day as Copy Editor. April 11, 2023—My first day as Editor-in-Chief.
I’ve often summarized the three years I’ve spent in the Tiger Times through these kinds of events. Large, defining moments that completely changed the trajectory of how I would spend my time in both high school and beyond. Of course, these events remain a permanent part of my memory for a reason. At a quick glance, they are the defining moments of my career— snapshots of my most important accomplishments during my time at SIS.
But in emphasizing these achievements above all, it’s easy to forget what truly made my time in the paper—and SIS as a whole—special.
Moments in which I saw the work and effort put into the paper by staff members who valued the paper as much as I did.
Watching Eric, Jason Lee, and Yoon running around class to give their first in-class edits, all the way up to their ascent to executive editorial positions. Scrolling through Sean’s six-page movie reviews at 2 a.m., being shocked to find him still toiling away on the document. The internal sigh of relief as Mr. Macklin complimented Carey and Yeonjae’s first Focus articles and Jian’s first EVP. Watching San and Jason Shin truly “come in clutch” with their endless dedication to layout and ability to procure photos out of thin air.
Even moments outside of my immediate duties as an editor, when the words and writing of my staff simply affected me as a human being.
Opening the Final Graphics folder to see what suffering Chloe had put our school’s mascot through in this issue’s cartoon, learning about the psychology behind getting “dripped out” through Lucy’s Culture Behind the Runway, and listening to Carson quell all of my fears of his articles being late with a simple “trust.”
And of course, all the late nights and Activity Periods spent on bringing the work of our staff to the printed page with Amy, Katelyn, Grace, David, and John in classrooms, Google Meetings, and KakaoTalk group chats.
It was in these moments, in the seemingly mundane, day-to-day happenings of the paper that I truly came to appreciate the work of my fellow reporters and editors and take immense pride in their monumental growth over the course of the school year.
Not only would my accomplishments have been utterly impossible without the support of my staff, but my time in the paper would not nearly have been as enjoyable without students to guide, teach, and work with toward our collective goal of continuing the decades-long tradition of excellence at our publication.
As we all approach the end of the school year, take some time to reflect on the journey you’ve taken, whether you’re a senior off to college or a freshman awaiting three more tumultuous years of high school.
Because every student at our school has something—be it an activity, a person, a class, or a personal lesson—that has made their time at this school worthwhile.
For me, Tiger Times was that special something. For you, it will likely be something else.
Perhaps it’s an activity you haven’t started yet, or an activity you started long ago and continue to this day without much thought. Either way, when you’re at the end of the road, staring down the barrel of your final APs and graduation, remember and appreciate not only the defining moments in your time at SIS, but also the little moments that may have slipped your mind. Awards and executive positions will fade with time, but the memories shared with your peers and the monuments you’ve built by standing on the shoulders of giants will be what truly made your high school years worthwhile.
Let yourself be heard. If you have any responses to articles published in the Tiger Times or original contributions, please send them to tigertimes@gmail.com
by Jason Lee
The truth about EVs: Electric Vacuity
In the past decade, the demand for electrical vehicles (EVs) has seen a huge surge. As of 2023, there are about 40 models of EVs available from 20 car manufacturers, including Kia, Hyundai, Mercedes, BMW, and Tesla. Combined with the vehicles’ innovative technology and the increasing danger of climate change, many have been led to believe that now is the golden opportunity to invest in this latest development in transport technology. However, the decision to purchase an EV has major drawbacks in its current form.
One of the main appeals of purchasing an EV is its sustainability: the idea that buying an EV reduces individual carbon footprint, helping the environment. While it is true that EVs produce fewer carbon emissions than gas cars, it must be noted that buying an electric vehicle does not completely free an individual from carbon emissions. In fact, the manufacturing process alone can often offset the supposed environmental benefits of buying an EV—in 2022, Tesla’s supply chain emissions roughly equated to 30.7 million tons of carbon dioxide. This figure also does not take into account that the most popular EVs, such as the Tesla Model Y or the Porsche Taycan, need to be imported from other nations, which in turn creates extensive carbon emissions.
Modern-day EVs have also consistently demonstrated issues with their reliability.
A study by Consumer Reports revealed that EVs have approximately 80 percent more problems than conventional gas vehicles, ranging from battery malfunctioning,
charging failure, and poorly assembled body parts and doors.
While such issues would also be less of a concern if EVs were easily repairable, this is far from the case. As specialized cars, EVs often receive less attention for repairs and services from most automobile companies, as they likely already have their hands full with their flagship vehicles. There are numerous horror stories of EVs requiring months on end in the shop before being able to be driven again, as most electric cars require specialized parts that are still not readily available like those of gas cars. Such complexities also result in repair and insurance prices being significantly more expensive; in a country like Korea, where most repair parts need to be imported from other nations, these costs can increase tenfold.
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Most importantly, the merit of purchasing an EV is often overgeneralized and exaggerated. Their sustainability, instant acceleration, quiet driving experience, and innovative hardware and software all draw naive consumers in to create a delusion that electric cars are superior to the rudimentary, unsustainable gas engines. Consumers must be more wary of the drawbacks that come with purchasing an EV and keep in mind the ultimate priority of all automobile companies: profit.
For these multimillion-dollar companies that continue to produce gas-based vehicles, the EV market is just another industry to contribute to their financial gain: climate
Spill the tea about celebrities
Amid Korean dramas and K-pop becoming increasingly popularized worldwide, several celebrities have faced backlash due to a rather unusual aspect of their personal lives: dating. Recently, two major dating scandals caused significant commotion online—idol Karina and actor Lee Jae-wook’s relationship, and actor Ryu Jun-yeol and actress Han So-hee’s relationship.
Beyond the harm done to these celebrities’ reputations, these recent scandals highlight a major problem in Korea’s celebrity culture—fans have far too much influence over celebrities’ lives. Because a celebrity’s career and reputation largely depend on the opinions of netizens, it often does not take long for even the most popular celebrities to feel the tangible impacts of their controversies. Although the culture of celebrity worship paints the picture that celebrities have significant influence and are admired by all, in truth, netizens have the upper hand, having the potential to harm celebrities’ careers.
Netizens most often become involved in celebrities’ relationships because they form a parasocial relationship with the celebrity—a one-way relationship in which large groups of people, otherwise known as fanclubs, start developing connections with a
awareness is not an important factor for them. With the demand for EVs seeing little possibility for decline, manufacturers will continue to create more electric vehicles, while simultaneously producing thousands of gas cars that completely mitigate the so-called “environmentally friendly” benefit of EVs. The same can be said for companies that only create electric cars. If Tesla, Rivian, or any other major EV producer truly prioritize the reduction of individual carbon footprints as they often advertise, then they would start by reducing their own emissions.
It is often an innate nature of modern consumers to fall into the trap of “keeping up with the Joneses,” immediately desiring the latest “new, innovative, and futuristic” products on the market. However, the current development of EVs is widely contradictory in its own merits and has other major drawbacks, which should concern consumers and make them think twice before confirming their purchase.
celebrity without the celebrity knowing any of them personally. In an effort to increase the size of fanclubs and thus increase profits, companies often employ a variety of strategies to turn celebrities into marketing material. For instance, some corporations sign contracts with celebrities that prohibit public dating to promote their public image and perceived availability. This only facilitates the creation of parasocial relationships with the celebrity, as they are guided to believe that the celebrity is open to being in a relationship and accessible, making fans idolize their celebrity more.
Though it is normal to be curious about celebrities’ relationships, the intense involvement demonstrated by netizens secretly taking photos and writing articles regarding their relationship status often harms the celebrity’s reputation and infringes upon their privacy. This publicization of celebrities’ private lives has increasingly resulted in dating scandals in the past few years.
Especially in Korea, netizens overreact whenever a popular celebrity has a dating scandal. Karina, who has almost 14 million followers, was accused of “betraying” her fans when she started dating Lee. Some fans even went to the SM Entertainment headquarters with a billboard that read, “Is
the love to you by your fans not enough?” As Karina is a very well-known celebrity, SM faced a $50 million decrease in the company’s market value due to this one scandal.
Following Karina’s relationship scandal, Han and Ryu’s relationship stirred up even more controversy. Han was accused of approaching Ryu even while he was still in a relationship with actress Lee Hae-ri. The two actresses fought through their Instagram stories, telling netizens their own perspectives. Although Lee and Ryu had broken up before Ryu and Han started dating, due to online comments that accused Ryu of cheating on Lee with Han, the scandal became a greater deal. In the end, Karina, Han, and Lee Hae-ri all had to apologize for their dating scandals.
“I personally don’t think netizens have the right to obsess over any aspect of celebrities’ lives, including their dating lives,” Lin Chiang ’25, active netizen, said. “Celebrities, just like everyone else, should be able to have privacy, and their private boundaries should be respected. Celebrities do not have to apologize for their dating scandal, as dating someone is not a crime and is a completely normal activity for anyone.”
Despite the relationship between the netizens and celebrities being very shallow, apologies seem required because celebrities also know their career can turn upside down in an instant. Apologies may also seem required because celebrities exert a similar amount of influence on the general public as do the public on the celebrities. In both Han and Ryu’s relationship and Karina and Lee’s relationship, however, an apology was unnecessary because it was not a wrongdoing of any kind that would cause shame on the Korean entertainment industry.
As netizens find more ways to learn about the private lives of celebrities, they are able to take more control over celebrities’ private lives. This toxic culture has led to celebrities being even more careful on what they do both on and off camera; celebrities cannot really live their own lives—only the lives shaped by their fans.
by: Yoon Choi Junior, Copy editor
by: Yeonjae Kim Sophomore, reporter layout
Memories and money—the value of uniforms
Uniforms are physical representations of a team’s identity, instilling a sense of belonging between athletes and their sport. At SIS, the colors and logo on a uniform showcase a legacy of excellence and are emblematic of an athlete’s blood, sweat, and tears.
However, unlike the excellence that SIS sports are known for, parents and athletes alike have felt that their uniforms are not representative of the athletic program’s prestige. These uniforms often arrive late and leave teams without jerseys early in the season, and many sports teams have questioned their uniform’s durability, design, and perhaps most commonly, cost.
Take cheer uniforms for instance. Consisting of just a top, short skirt, and a hair clip, these uniforms cost 190,000 won. When taking into consideration the added cost of dress shoes, makeup, and additional attire, families are spending northwords of 500,000 won every season.
“The majority of cheerleaders and their parents have always felt that cheer uniforms are extremely overpriced, and we feel that we should be charged way under 200,000 won,” Chloe Yoon ’26, cheerleading team member, said. “Our uniform design and sustainability is also elementary compared to most other international schools, which have better quality and designed uniforms.”
For the school to present their athletics program in the best light and offer a fulfilling experience for their athletes, a practice that could be implemented is a two-part plan that, for cost-related issues, implements a reward system based on subsidies. Parents would pay for a percentage of the team’s uniforms, but the remaining
cost would be covered by the school if the team were to improve upon or match the success of their performance the previous year. If the team’s performance were to drop drastically, parents would cover the rest of the costs, as they normally would in any other system. In short, the school increases the amount covered based on stellar results, incentivizing athletes to perform at a higher level.
The second part of this two-part uniform plan would entail that SIS change vendors to a top-tier provider, such as Nike or Adidas, and purchase their stock uniforms, ensuring that uniforms do not have to be constantly replaced because of uniform tears, fading, and second-tier providers being unable to provide the same uniform design as the previous year, forcing teams to purchase uniforms for the whole. Switching to top-tier vendors, however, does raise the cost of each uniform. For example, the baseline cost of a pair of basketball shorts and jersey costs 70,000 won, the current final cost for an away uniform, and when taking into consideration the customization cost and surcharge fee due to expediting the order, the price of uniforms from top-tier vendors is a 25 percent raise.
To avoid this increase in cost, the administration is considering a policy change in which the school would purchase, from its current second-level vendors, uncustomized uniforms that would be re-issued to athletes every two to five years. While families would no longer be obligated to pay, this system devalues the meaning of uniforms, while still leaving the issue of uniform quality unaddressed.
Uniforms are a keepsake, a token of
Viewpoint Feature:
How often have you, as an athlete, been upset by the cost, quality, or design of your uniform? Our current uniforms do not match the uniforms other schools have nor are our representatives of the excellence of our athletic program. This is why we must integrate a two-process approach that will reduce the burden of families of athletes paying for and replacing uniforms while also improving the quality of them.
Are complaints about the cost, design, and durability of uniforms different across sports teams?
How can the school and athletes compromise on the cost of uniforms to ensure the athletes have the best high school athletics experience?
What needs to be done for your uniforms to be of higher quality and durability?
an athlete’s dedication, personal hardships, and achievements, and therefore a memorabilia highly valued by most athletes. Making athletes wear pre-owned and de-personalized uniforms with an unwanted number and blank name slot sacrifices the treasured experience of athletes keeping their own uniforms with their name and number on it.
“This system change would strip all individuality from athletes,” Minjae Choi ‘26, former varsity boys soccer player, said. “Shifting from customized to generic-school owned uniforms mirrors the benefits and advantages of a capitalist or socialist system; one disregards the individual athlete and only considers the collective benefits of the school and the cost of living for each individual, the athlete, while the other puts value in each individual’s wants while sacrificing the cheapest method of an uniform system.”
Such a systemic change would most likely invoke further criticism from student-athletes of team sports such as volleyball, basketball, and soccer, who often value establishing their own player identity through uniforms.
In terms of quality, any system that involves continuing to outsource uniform orders to second-tier vendors would result in the same uniform standard. These uniform companies do not offer the same materials or patented technology that prestigious uniform producers provide, resulting in various deficiencies. For example, the current vendors do not include moisture-wicking properties that keep athletes dry and comfortable in their uniforms, leading to drenched, heavy garments that affect mobility and lead to dis-
comfort. Wear and tear on uniforms made from lower quality materials also only exacerbates the costs that families have to pay. For example, uniforms used for basketball quickly fade and the numbers and letters on the jersey sometimes peel off by the end of the season, resulting in athletes purchasing another set.
Switching to purchasing stock uniforms from top jersey institutions would mean that athletes are getting uniforms that are of the caliber of professional and college sports garments. Meanwhile, teams would be able to add their player’s names, number, and the school’s design, all while the cost of such stock uniforms would be minimized by the subsidization system— resolving a vast majority of the issues that students and parents currently have with their uniforms.
For sports like cross country, where uniforms are worn a handful of times, players may feel changing the current uniforms is unnecessary. For sports like basketball, athletes are seeking to lower costs while still experiencing the full team and athletics experience. Ultimately, what makes a team successful is not just the collectiveness of the team’s atmosphere but also each player’s pride in what they have accomplished for themselves. Physically, this feeling is represented by earning the right to have a jersey with one’s name. Owning these uniforms, however, is a question of quality, cost efficiency, and the value in experiencing being a self-identifiable and unique athlete.
by: Sean Kim Sophomore, reporter
Raising both hands to the sky, Seowoo Choi (10) finally realizes that he’s just Ken.
By Yoon Choi
The ONIYOON
Every Thursday after 5 p.m., the low bumps and thumps of bouncing balls echo from TG1. Such sounds mark the start of the weekly Teacher Basketball Association (TBA) game, during which various male teachers competitively battle in basketball. The TBA was established over a decade ago, with teachers initially just playing pick-up games for fun. However, as the weekly games increasingly grew in popularity, a brand new league of professional sports was established.
“I first started playing in the TBA because I wanted to show off my basketball skills and intimidate the teachers,” Glen Monaghan, frequent TBA player, said. “After looking at myself be an absolute force on the court, I think I could make it a future career. If I just train my jump a bit more, I should be able to dunk soon. I’ll probably get a call from LeBron soon asking me to join the Lakers. Any day now.”
Because the league’s games are self-officiated, the TBA does not have a set list of rules for fouls or violations but usually adheres to the regulations of its American counterpart, the National Basketball Association. The format of the games is flexible, adapting to roster situations every week. For instance, the TBA might play 3v3s, 4v4s, or 5v5s, depending on which players are available. Each game is played up to 11 if there are subs but up to 15 if everyone is playing at once. The league’s point system is twos and threes.
“I like to think of myself as Zach Randolph with a three-pointer,” Morgan Miller, TBA player, said. “But I probably have a higher opinion of
myself than I need to. I will say that I can’t hold a candle to Mr. Halter. He’s definitely the best player out there. He’s setting screens, airballing stuff, throwing all sorts of passes all over the place.”
The TBA has a multitude of talented players, all with a variety of skill sets. Steven Nave, for instance, is a sniper from deep, able to knock down three to four three-pointers in a row with ease. Timothy Munro utilizes his strength and plays extremely physically; having played in Division 3 College basketball, a division of the National College Athletic Association, Munro has a solid and fundamental skill set. Charles Nelson, often compared to Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, is known as a great interior defender, utilizing his length and height to swat shots at the rim.
“I feel like my skill set matches a player such as Magic Johnson,” Steven Nave, TBA three-point shooter, said. “I can be a scorer or a distributor of the ball. I am a knockdown shooter and I have a mean baby sky-hook. My defense is a bit lacking, but honestly who really wants to play defense. ”
Due to the league’s open-market policy and thus all teachers’ eligibility to participate, the TBA has gained much attraction from players outside of the regular members. Occasional players include Niko Lambert, Robin Ibbotson, Matthew Halter, and many more. The TBA is not limited to merely high school teachers, either. Brandon Frasuer, the athletics director, Mr. Park from the supply office, and even Mr. Shin from IT also participate in the games.
Ask the Alumni
By Jian Hong & Yeonjae Kim
For most students at SIS, summer break is not the vacation it is made to be. Expectations for a time of rest are defeated by the reality of spending busier days preparing for the coming school year or in SAT or AP preparation classes, contrary to what teachers recommend. However, these days which are spent slaving away at hagwons often at the coercion of consultants and parents inevitably begs the question—is this the best usage of our time, and if not, what is?
Summer break before freshman year marks the first 3-month-period during which students deliberate what to do to make the best use of their time. At this point, some will still spend time preparing for high school, but most will spend their summer with friends or catching up on sleep, anticipating the transition for high school.
“I just mostly had fun for all of the years I think,” Jihoon Kim ’23 said. “I did some SAT prep in 10th grade but it didn’t help for [redacted] because I just took it in junior year a year later after no preparation and my score just jumped. I don’t really regret anything because I had fun but one thing I might regret is sleeping very late in 9th and 10th grade because that might’ve stunted my growth.”
Rising sophomores and juniors have more on their plate: most students choose to start preparing for the SAT far before their peers, and some spend time in summer camps, enjoying the free time away from GPAs. Others may ponder over their extracurriculars, searching for ways to maximize their time. Although the break is a time away from school work, students still have to work hard to keep up with their peers before the next school year starts. Many students take on interesting activities to differentiate themselves from the rest of their grade.
“Some useful activities I did during my summer were gaining lots of experience
by shadowing a veterinarian and helping him with tasks within the animal hospital,” Yenna Ko ’23 said. “Another activity that was extremely helpful was making trips to local dog shelters, helping them take care of the dogs and donating funds to better their shelters as well. I gained a lot of hands on animal experience which allowed me to learn in better detail how animals are taken care of and the harsh reality of the dogs’ backgrounds.”
Seniors face the climax of anxiety while preparing for their college applications. Some even choose to finalize their extracurriculars after getting a better sense of what to do in the future.
“After graduating SIS, I mostly took time to rest and prepare for college,” Jack Lee ’23 said. “For example, I would wake up, have breakfast, go on a walk in the park, come back to rest or meet with my friends, and spend some time on my hobby at home. During the rest of the day, I would prepare for college and have quality time with my family.”
Regardless of the grade you are in, however, summer planning should be taken seriously, even if all you plan on doing is catching up on sleep.
“You have to divide your time and make sure to [have] breaks during work,” Jack said. “Especially if you’re working for most of the break, giving yourself time to rest is crucial. Break is another opportunity to dive into a hobby, so consider finding one to utilize the break well. Dividing between work and social life depends on your amount of work. It’s important to set realistic goals and not overestimate how much you can do in a day.”
Summer break should be a time of relaxation and preparation—alumni suggest a balance of both.
Photo by Kristina Kang (11)
photo of the month
layout by Yoon Choi