Tiger Times Volume 55 Issue 5

2 SCHOOL NEWS

Tiger Times Staff

SIS hosts first basketball senior send-off

The SIS varsity basketball teams held its first-ever basketball Senior SendOff to celebrate the end of senior team members’ last season on Jan. 20 after the varsity girls’ basketball game. The celebration was held in TG1 following

the team’s final home game against the SFS team. After the celebration, the varsity boys’ basketball team played against SFS and ended the season with a victory, while the varsity girls’ basketball team ended with a loss.

“Our gift to the seniors was the win against SFS,” Ryan Bae ’26, varsity basketball player, said. “Although we gifted our seniors flowers and player cards of them, our best gift to them would be our win. We were on a losing streak before this, but winning against SFS was a great way to end the last home game of the season.”

After each basketball game, there is typically a short celebration among the team members. But during this year’s Senior Send-Off, members of both the varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball teams showed their appreciation for the seniors by taking a moment to recognize the efforts they put in for the team.

“It is kind of sad that I am done with basketball in my high school career,” Anika Kurebayashi ’24, varsity basketball captain, said. “I was part of the basketball team for four years, and it feels surreal that I won’t be playing next year. Although my high school basketball career is over, if I am given the opportunity to play basketball in the future, I would love to.”

During the event, Brandon Fraseur, Head of the Athletic Department, called out the names of all the seniors participating in varsity basketball or varsity cheer, and the underclassmen athletes from their teams had prepared various gifts for them, including necklaces, flowers, cakes, and posters. Traditionally, teams would simply celebrate the seniors’ last

MUN members attend THIMUN

From Jan. 21-28, 15 members of the MUN club as well as chaperones Chris Bracciano and Phoebe Borst flew to the Netherlands to attend The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) which took place from Jan. 23-27. THIMUN is one of two mandatory international conferences for the MUN Club, and with over 3,000 delegates in total, it is also the largest MUN conference.

Arriving three days before the conference, the members were given time for sightseeing and tourism. Included within their itinerary were visits to Rijksmuseum, Edam cheese house, and the local beach.

The conference itself began on Jan. 23, marked by an opening ceremony led by the President of the General Assembly, Katelyn Oh ’24. Several prominent guests spoke at the opening ceremony, including the mayor of The Hague, a lawyer of the International Criminal Court, and the chief organizer of THIMUN.

“The opening ceremony was memorable,” Caleb Kim ’26, delegate of Human Rights Sub-commission 2, said. “One speech I remember is the lawyer who was part of the International Criminal Court. He explained his role and responsibility of defending even those who are accused of committing the most heinous war crimes. To me, a person aspiring to become a lawyer, that opened my eyes to a whole new perspective. THIMUN truly brought the idea of justice for me.”

All 20 committees tackled issues that were specific to their parameters, ranging from international security to environmental awareness. Of the 58 issues the committees tackled in total, some

included “Preventing conflicts caused by new shipping routes and access to new energy resources in the Arctic” from General Assembly 1 and “the global protection of marine mammals” from Environmental Sub-Commission 2.

“One of the topics I tackled was about female genital mutilation,” Joonmo Ahn ’26, General Assembly 3 delegate, said. “It was interesting because in Korea, it is not commonly practiced. Delegates from Serbian countries said that they had to conserve their own religions and traditions, while UN bodies said that they had to protect the rights of women. I think this experience is specific to THIMUN, which was why the debate was really fruitful.”

To prepare for these issues, delegates were required to research and write resolutions, a formatted paper containing different solutions, on their respective topics. As delegates represented specific organizations, committees, or countries, they wrote their resolutions in a manner that supported their country’s stance, even if that did not necessarily reflect the delegates’ personal beliefs.

Throughout the four days of debate, the first day was allotted to lobbying—a time designated for delegates to form groups based on their country’s beliefs and write resolutions that reflected their common stances. The other three days focused on debating on these resolutions as a whole committee. Delegates that opposed the resolution made counterarguments or proposed amendments, while proponents advocated and protected the resolution so that it would be voted for, and thus passed.

THIMUN ended on Jan. 27 with the offi-

home game privately in the locker rooms, but this was the first time this event had been celebrated publicly in TG1.

This event was to recognize not only the SIS seniors but also those on the SFS teams. As senior members of the SFS teams were called up, they were each given their gifts to celebrate their last season as well.

“I think that our school giving the SFS seniors a senior gift was a kind gesture,” Julie Koh ’26, girls varsity basketball member, said. “It was a small, but friendly gesture to give a box of pocky to the opposing team. I would have also liked it if another school took their time to mention the seniors from our school.”

Coaches from both varsity basketball teams showed their appreciation and gratitude towards the seniors for all the hard work and effort they put into the basketball team for the past few years.

“I have known Anika for four years and she has meant so much to SIS athletics,” said Coach Nave, co-coach of girls varsity basketball, said. “Lina Hwang has also meant a lot to the basketball team. Her attitude has been great and we will miss them greatly next year.”

By: Chloe Kim Sophomore, reporter

cial closing ceremony, during which Secretariat members including the President of the General Assembly, Deputy Secretary Generals, and Secretary General gave short speeches that inspired delegates’ MUN journey.

“Overall, I think THIMUN still has lots of problems,” Jason Baek ’24, delegate from Human Rights Sub-commission 2, said. “Besides the problems like WiFi though, the spiritual aspect of THIMUN being the holy grail of MUN was pretty alive.

It was great to meet lots of new people and interact with them. I do feel like it was somewhat of a repetitive experience from last year. Still, with Paul and Katelyn’s speeches, the train we made with the drummers, and interacting with other people all contributed to the fun. If I had the time and money, I would go again.”

By: Eric Kim Junior, reporter

Photo by Sean Kim ’26

Photo by Eric Kim ’25

RALLY REPORT

Following a dominant Korea Classic tournament sweep by the varsity boys basketball team, injuries and team chemistry issues sunk the team to a 2-6 record, putting them in a position to potentially miss the KAIAC Cup tournament. However, key strategy adjustments helped the boys cut down on negative performance factors such as turnovers, poor shooting, and isolation offensive play. In the most crucial part of the season, the team was able to pull together their best performances of the season, resulting in a stunning defeat of Chadwick and GSIS—teams that had beaten SIS earlier this season.

“This season has obviously been challenging, and there were a lot of adjustments that had to be made,” Timothy Munro, head of the boys basketball program, said. “For most of the season, our offense was one-dimensional, but we substituted our one-pass threes and quick dribble drives with a much more effective

offense focused on ball rotation and high post action. I also told my players that every game we play has to be filled with intensity and a bit of desperation.”

Yet, that same sense of desperation and intensity was not being matched, for their losses were marked by over 30 turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and late game collapses.

A 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter that collapsed.

An overtime loss after the boys lost their lead late in the game.

At the end, however, strong wins against SFS and YISS secured SIS’s spot in the tournament as the 3rd seed.

In their first KAIAC Cup matchup, SIS dominated DHMS from tip off, scoring a season-high 78 points and leading SIS straight to a semifinal battle against Chadwick, who had the KAIAC leading scorer Chris Kang, and enough firepower to hand them a second round exit. But SIS domina-

ted Chadwick with an early 14-0 run, shocking them with an impressive performance.

With a home court advantage, packed crowd, and 4-game winning streak, the team was ready for the finals: it was win-or-go-home. Their finals match against GSIS was marked by intensity and unpredictability, a nail-biting spectacle that kept fans on the edge of their seats. While the vaunted defensive efforts of Joshua Hwang 24 were a critical loss for SIS against the star-powered and undefeated GSIS team, SIS continuously rallied together key stops on defense while limiting their turnovers and finding open shots and easy driving lanes after multiple ball rotations.

The game remained tight until there were three minutes left.

SIS baseline jumper, off. GSIS, dribble turnover. SIS missed spin move layup. Still our ball. Airball three. GSIS has the ball.

But an immediate SIS turnover gave GSIS one last shot, a 7-foot jumper. Off. Loose ball, rebound by SIS, foul. Up 2…3 seconds left, SIS had the chance to end the game with two free throws. First free throw, net. Second one, same. And they finally deliver. Every single time, when it matters—perhaps only when it matters—SIS leaves all other teams searching for answers, wondering how SIS is once again the champions.

“Going into the KAIAC tournament, the biggest change in mindset we had was that we were the underdogs and had to play efficient basketball,” Ryan Bae ’26 , varsity basketball player, said. “All season, other teams have been playing with desperation, along with grit and energy, every possession against us. But the two weeks before the KAIAC tournament, we brought more effort and energy to each and every practice and game. And that has made all the difference.”

Live commentary elevates home basketball games

Starting with the varsity basketball home game against Humphreys High School (HHS) on Dec. 13, 2023, SIS began incorporating live commentary for sports events. The live streams for the home games against HHS, CI, and SFS on the SIS Athletics YouTube channel were all accompanied by live commentary, narrated by Chris Del Vecchio alongside an assistant student commentator.

On the baseline of the TG1 court, a table and a microphone system were set up for the commentators. Mr. Del Vecchio, who started the program, is the play-by-play commentator, communicating the active play, time remaining, and current score in real-time. Meanwhile, the assistant student serves as the analyst, offering insight into certain plays, the progression of the game, and situational strategy.

“I’m satisfied that I got to leave a trace on the live stream,” Grace Choi ’25, an assistant student commentator, said. “The first and second quarters I felt kind of nervous because I couldn’t talk much, and I talked over Mr. Del Vecchio sometimes. After half-time, I started to notice the flow of how things go, what I should talk about, and what I should emphasize about a player. It went smoothly in the last two quarters.”

Though live stream viewership is

yet to increase, the number of likes has increased more than doubled compared to that on live streams without commentary. The purpose of the commentary is to provide spectators—including parents, students, and teachers—with more insight into the game and increase community engagement during home games.

“It started because we had been having conversations about different ways that we can raise the level of the athletic programs,” Mr. Del Vecchio said. “Broadcasting is something that I have a personal background in, and hopefully it provides an opportunity for students who may be interested in doing it. The feedback has been positive, and now, it’s just about being able to align that interest with the spatial and technical limitations that we have at the moment. That will govern how quickly we expand the presence of commentary on the various live streams.”

The school is currently exploring potential changes to support the commentary setup and improve the overall quality of the live streams. This includes replacing the current camera with one positioned in the center that can pan from side to side, moving the commentators to a midcourt location potentially on an elevated platform, installing new scoreboards, and establishing an official,

student-led commentary team. Some of those changes might be in place for the fall season to broadcast volleyball. Moreover, Mr. Del Vecchio is looking into the feasibility of the technical setup on the soccer field.

“I don’t feel nervous when playing with the live commentary,” Stella Eu ’26, varsity girls basketball player, said. “It’s more entertaining to watch the livestream, and the student commentator is a nice inclusion. Mr. Del Vecchio is really experienced. I’m looking forward to how the program will be expanded next year.”

By: San Schwede Junior, reporter

SIS hosts KAIAC forensics tournament

After school on Jan. 19, SIS’s halls and classrooms bustled with noise as students across schools gathered for the quarterly Forensics KAIAC event. As the third tournament of the academic year, the two-day intensive event was hosted by SIS this time.

Photo by San Schwede (10)

“There’s a lot more to set up than people believe,” Iain Cowieson, Forensics Director, said. “We primarily set up with the catering staff, and Mr. Fraseur also put in a lot of work in coordinating the event. Our student volunteers also did a great job in fulfilling the necessary roles of helping out in rooms.”

Mr. Cowieson served as the main director of the forensics team, accompanied by Matthew Halter, Amber Watkins, and Chris Bhadra, who all dedicated significant time to organizing the event. Because this forensics

tournament would be the only one held at SIS this year, it was especially important that the entire operation went smoothly.

Students prepared for the event through weekly practices and feedback from coaches, bringing back multiple awards with ten finalists in speech and four finalists in debate. SIS performed exceptionally well in the categories of oratory in speech and parliamentary in debate, with first place winners in both.

“Although I didn’t place, I think really there was a lot that students could learn from doing this,” Seungwoo Oh ’26, speech team member, said. “Being on our school made me more comfortable, and I think I was also able to make more friends during my time.”

The experience was especially meaningful for many of the freshman mem-

bers of the team, learning first-hand the responsibilities of hosting a school event through various means of timing, setting up, and cleaning up after the event.

“I think I learned a lot from this experience,” Leah Kim ’27, forensics member, said. “I never realized how much goes on behind the scenes in a tournament until we had to help too. Things like timing, setting up rooms, organizing lunch, all required people.”

The forensics tournament award is given based on each competing school’s cumulative results from the October, November, and January events. SIS placed second in all three tournaments, causing many students to look forward to the final conference in March, which will be held at Chadwick.

This particular tournament also

held significant meaning for the many seniors on the forensics team, many of whom had been on the team for most, if not all, of their high school years.

“I had mixed feelings when we walked down from the school after the tournament,” Stella Chae ’24, speech team member, said. “I felt relieved that the tournament we hosted went well and everyone tried their best, but at the same time I felt really disheartened by how it will be the last tournament we host that I participate in. Forensics had really helped me grow in many ways and granted many special memories, so this tournament was very special to me.”

By: Jian Hong Sophomore, reporter

Photo by San Schwede ’25

Sean Kim

Harvard president resigns amid controversy

Six months into her tenure as president of Harvard, Claudine Gay resigned on Jan. 2, marking the shortest presidential tenure in the university’s history. Specifically, Dr. Gay had been under fire for her response to protests that many felt were antisemitic. The issue only became more inflammatory after a House Education Committee congressional hearing that spotlighted three university presidents, including Dr. Gay, to respond to the uptick in antisemitism on college campuses. Her responses during the hearing and several findings of her research papers being plagiarized are cited as the greatest factors resulting in her resignation.

“Her responses during the congressional hearing were definitely

disappointing, and it was clear that she was attempting to walk down the thin line between respecting students’ freedom of speech and intervening in instances of harassment or abuse,” Aimee Choi, ’23 alumnus now attending Harvard, said. “But the balancing act ultimately failed in the public’s eye. I find it unfortunate that her lapse in judgment in this single hearing has been weaponized to invalidate her worthy character and scholarly achievements.”

Despite the initial backlash against Dr. Gay’s justification of the varying protests at Harvard related to the Israel-Hamas war, specifically ones that were perceived as antisemitic, the Harvard board publicly reaffirmed their commitment to Dr. Gay. However,

Lee Sun-kyun’s suicide shocks Korea

On the morning of Dec. 27, 2023, actor Lee Sun-kyun was found dead in his car near Waryong Park. After further investigation, the police found that he had committed suicide by igniting a charcoal briquette in his vehicle, causing him to suffocate. The police had begun searching for Lee after receiving a report from his wife Jeon Hye-jin that Lee had left behind a note that resembled a will. However, Lee had already passed away by the time the police had found him.

“It was pretty shocking when I found out Lee died,” Sungwook Kim ’25, a fan of Lee, said. “His impact on the acting industry was great. I remember Parasite. It was a great movie. It represented Korea even further. The suicide was shocking because of how successful he had recently become. But unfortunately, he still took that decision.”

With Lee’s agency HODU&U Entertainment keeping his note unreleased to the public, the exact motivation for his suicide remains unknown. However, many point to the prolonged investigation and the threat messages he received as the primary causes.

For months, Lee had frequented a room salon named Good Place. It was there that Lee had an affair with one of the salon’s workers, Kim Nam-hwee, who after multiple visits from Lee, offered him illicit narcotics disguised as sleeping pills. Later investigation found evidence that pointed toward Lee consuming these drugs on various occasions, leading to questions of whether he was truly free of any intentionality.

“I think to an extent Lee wasn’t as clueless as he claimed he was,” Jay Choe ’25, avid follower of the Lee issue, said. “If someone tells you to snort something and tells you it’s sleeping medicine, it’s natural for you to be suspicious of it. But he makes it sound like he was clueless of the situation, which raises some doubt. From an objective standpoint, if you’ve taken drugs, you should be punished but I’d say that there needs to be an investigation to see what actually happened.”

As the affair and the drug consumption continued, Kim worked

layout by San Schwede

following extensive reports and allegations regarding the plagiarism of several of her research works, as well as donations worth millions being retracted from Harvard, Dr. Gay stepped down.

Dr. Gay’s resignation now marks the second university president who has resigned over their answers during the House committee hearing, as the president of the University of Pennsylvania also resigned immediately after her congressional testimony on Dec. 5 of last year.

“I think trying to attribute the fault in this case misses the point,” said Aimee. “This has been an extremely difficult time to lead an institution that is the face of higher education. Both antisemitic and Islamophobic protests were ram-

pant, and I can see why Harvard and Dr. Gay seemed ‘neutral’ in the beginning.”

Her resignation is just one event in recent years where the integrity and ideology of prestigious private colleges, specifically Ivy League schools, have been called into question. In the past eight years, public trust in Ivy League schools’ acceptance of differing political ideologies has significantly dropped, whether because of plagiarism in research as seen in Dr. Gay’s research, or because of worries over a perceived liberal agenda being implemented into school curriculum.

“I know many people’s perception of Harvard has been significantly negatively impacted because of the recent protests and

controversies,” Kevin Kim ’27, student aspiring to get into Harvard, said. “In fact, Harvard early admissions dropped by 17 percent this year alone. But for me, I would still be more than happy and in fact dreaming and aspiring to get into Harvard. At the end of the day, Harvard is still going to be ranked as one of the most academically prestigious universities in the world.”

Alan Garber, Harvard’s provost and Chief Academic Officer, will serve as the interim president. Dr. Gay will remain a professor of government and African American studies at Harvard.

BY: Sean Kim SophomorE, rEportEr

Students take suneung to court

with her friend Park So-jung to fabricate a Kakaotalk chat in which she was threatened by a hacker.

Kim told Lee that the hacker, who in reality was Park, had threatened to release the chat history between Kim and Lee, which contained both their affair and drug consumption information unless they were paid $230,000. Although Lee was initially skeptical, he eventually submitted once Kim became increasingly emotional, requesting that Kim pay if he did not want them both to be imprisoned.

Considering the amount of stress Lee would have received from being blackmailed, many sympathized with him and viewed him as a victim, expressing their condolences. On the other hand, others found that the blame lied in Lee’s actions, condemning Lee’s affair and consumption of drugs.

Amid much controversy, a new organization named the Organization of Cultural Artists (OCA) was formed on Jan. 15 to defend the privacy rights of celebrities. The OCA claimed that it was the tarnishment of his reputation that caused Lee to commit suicide. As such, they believed that investigations into the private lives of celebrities should be kept secret from the public. While some claim it is the right of citizens to be aware of such cases, especially as they concern people with significant public influence, others sympathize with this organization, expressing condolences to Lee.

“I think it is both the police department and as well as the media’s fault,” Ian Saewoong Park ’24, admirer of Lee Sun-kyun, said. “Even though Lee is an actor, he still has his rights to not let his own information be released. As an individual, it is illegal for information to be released when investigations are still going on. I watched a video of the OCA, and I agree with them. I believe the government should install policies to protect these individuals that are famous. This was a privacy invasion.”

BY: Eric Kim Junior, Copy Editor

39 students sued the Korean government for 20 million won to compensate for a timing error during the Suneung exam. The incident in question occurred on Nov. 14, 2023, when the first Korean language section of the Suneung ended 90 seconds earlier for the students of Kyundong High School. The timing issue was reportedly caused by the test adviser, who accidentally triggered the alarm to go off earlier than the official time limit.

There are two ways that students prepare for college admissions in Korea: jeongshi and sooshi. Sooshi is a form of earlier acceptance based on a student’s recommendation letters and school transcription, while jeongshi students are accepted almost entirely based on their suneung score. For such jeongshi students, suneung is of exceptional importance, especially when examining that most students competitively battle to get into the SKY (Seoul, Korea, Yonsei) universities.

Upon recognizing the error, the advisers attempted to rectify it by returning the Korean language section to the students after completing the second section. However, they were only given 30 seconds and were not allowed to change their

previous answers, only being permitted to write answers for questions they had left blank. Students were also given 90 seconds during the lunch break to review the section, compensating for the 90 seconds the mishap had originally taken away.

“I think it’s unacceptable for such an error to occur,” Junho Lee ’25, long-time attendee of Korean school, said. “Korean high school students spend their entire 3 years of high school preparing for Suneung, and even one question can heavily impact their results. For the top universities in Korea like SKY, even one minute of test time is huge. The fact that they took a minute away, a minute where students could solve one more question, is extremely unfair.”

Despite the efforts to correct the situation, students continued to protest, saying that this process of handing out and collecting tests took up about 25 minutes of their break, which was officially mandated for 50 minutes. Due to the time issue, students argued that their performance on the test was drastically harmed; for instance, a student who received a 73 on their mock test only got a 48 after being under such conditions. Some students even gave up, leaving the testing center

after the error was made.

“I completely understand where the students that sued the government are coming from,” Hanjoo Lee ’24, past Korean school attendee, said. “It must have been an extremely frustrating experience because 90 seconds is honestly a lot of time for a test that you only get a shot at once a year. If I was in that situation, I probably would have reacted similarly and sued with other people.”

Suneung test centers can opt to either track test time manually or automatically. Still, many test centers tend to prefer manual control, as they worry about the risk of system failure for automatic timing.

This is not the first time such legal troubles have been brought up in Suneung. Some students sued the government in 2020, as a section of their test ended about 3 minutes earlier than planned. As South Korea continues to advance with its current education system, changes may be considered to prevent simple, yet critical errors from happening on arguably the most important day for Korean students.

BY: Yoon Choi Junior, Copy Editor

Goodbye meerkats; South Korea implements restrictions on exotic animal cafes

On Dec. 5 last year, the South Korean Ministry of Environment made it illegal to exhibit exotic animals in places that were not registered as zoos as an amendment to the Wildlife Protection and Management Act following years of controversy over the famous exotic animal cafes in Korea. If animal cafe owners wish to continue operating, they must meet certain criteria regarding animal care. While exotic animal cafes were given a transition period of four years to either re-register or close their doors, the act of touching and climbing on top of exotic animals was banned from Dec.14.

While there have been some questioning the necessity of such strict regulations, claiming that animal cafes have an incentive to care for the animals, others have commented that these enclosed environments are not ideal for the animals.

“From my experience, when I visited a meerkat cafe before, they had strict safety regulations,” Woosung Choi,’26, Korean Animal Service Association executive member, said. “For example, we were not allowed to stand up and move around, and I had to wear a blanket. While I do understand there might be controversy around things like animal rights, even without government policies, in my experience the owners of the cafes seem to be taking good care of the animals.”

Korea is home to a variety

of exotic animal cafes, housing over 40 exotic species like meerkats and raccoons. Many of these cafes are not registered as zoos or aquariums because they do not meet the demanding requirements to qualify for this status, such as imitating the animal’s natural habitats. Previously, restrictions were lax, only calling for rudimentary living quarters for exotic animals. Several cafe owners have now realized that it will prove difficult to continue operations while adhering to the new requirements.

“I think the government is right to put such big restrictions on them,” Angela Campbell, animal rights advocate, said. “I don’t think animal cafes right now are suitable habitats. We don’t know much about their immune systems and I think we should limit human contact with animals that are not domesticated.”

While activists are glad change is being implemented, many are still dissatisfied. Some believe that not only is the fouryear grace period too long, but also that the amendment does not address domestic animals or livestock cafes that are also popular. Another complaint that arose is the government’s lack of foresight, as there is minimal information on where the animals will be relocated after the cafes close.

“I would prefer for governments to encourage the preservation of animals’ natural

habitats as much as possible,” Glen Monoghan, dog owner, said. “I agree with the activists that the government needs to find accommodations for these animals. This may be why there is a four year grace period, so these details can be worked out. Activists can’t have it both ways and force immediate action and then expect everyone to have a detailed plan in place that accommodates everyone.”

Exotic animal cafe owners share a similar sentiment. Many of them have no choice but to shut down, and the future of their animals is also at stake. Many have forged strong emotional connections with their animals that they now find difficult to sever, it may be difficult for them to continue to care for them as the law requires licenses to be exotic animal caretakers.

“I think separating the animals from their owners and moving them to new environments can be more stressful to them,” Minseo Park, ’26, owner of four cats, said. “I think the animals have probably been in animal cafes for a large part of their lives and have adjusted to that lifestyle. I think it’s also unclear of [sic.] whether they will be treated better if they’re under government custody, especially because of the uncertainty of where they will be taken and how they will be cared for.”

BY: Carey Kim SophomorE, rEportEr

‘Gyeongseong Creature’ faces hate from Japan

“Gyeongseong Creature,” a fantasy thriller drama featuring Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee, premiered on Netflix on Dec. 22 last year. While “Gyeongseong Creature” contains fantastical elements, such as a monster that serves as the main antagonist, the story is grounded in historical facts, taking place during Japan’s colonial rule over Korea in the early 1900s. According to Jung Dong-yoon, the show’s director, even the monster is a satirical representation of the dehumanizing experiments that were conducted on Korean citizens by the Japanese Empire.

“As soon as the drama first launched, I binge-watched the whole series because of the unique storyline and chemistry between the leads,” Ellen Park ’26, avid viewer, said. “I thought the storyline was

new to the Korean scene, as it implemented aspects of Korean history and culture along with sci-fi. The cinematography and realistic CGs also drew my attention.”

Despite the drama securing seventh place in the Netflix TV series worldwide ranking, it also sparked significant controversy. For instance, many Japanese viewers interpreted the horror aspect of the drama as a representation of anti-Japanese sentiment among Koreans. The show became further inflammatory when Han So-hee made an Instagram post in remembrance of Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun that referenced the Japanese colonial era as “dark times.” In response, many Japanese fans added comments such as “I’m glad I’m not Korean,” and “never come to Japan again.”

“I don’t think the drama should have received so much hate,” Ryan Bae ’26, Han So-hee fan, said. “Han So-hee was just expressing her opinions and supporting South Korean history. It is true that the Japanese controlled Korea for over forty years, so she shouldn’t be receiving hate for something that did happen. History doesn’t lie.”

While some criticized the commentary from the Japanese, others viewed them as reasonable as the show often seemed to criticize Japan instead of objectively commenting on historical events. As the title of the drama was “Gyeongseong Creature” and the monster was clearly unrealistic, many assumed that the show was intended to be entirely fictional and not feature any accurate commentary on Japanese occupation. However, Jung explained that his

“This was a Korean brand?!” is a common question many Koreans raise when shopping for clothing online. While many South Korean apparel brands such as Matin Kim, Ader Error, KIRSH, and Maison Kimhekim have gained massive recognition, a noticeable trend of using white models has made it difficult for the public to realize they are Korean brands. For customers, they cannot help but ask why these Korean brands prefer white models over Asians.

“I’ve noticed this trend of white models frequently being used for the photos on shopping platforms,” Charlotte Jun ’25, fashion enthusiast, said. “And I think this trend is becoming more prevalent today within Korean brands.”

Many Korean brands prefer white models because although the brands were found in Korea, the “concepts” or “aesthetics” of these brands are rooted in Western fashion. In contrast to stereotypical Asian clothing like Hanbok, western fashion tends to be more convenient and comfortable to wear on a daily basis. Whether it is the classic, cozy berets and bolero cardigans or the comfortable, stylish Adidas tracksuits and biker shorts, these popular fashion items in Korea ultimately originate from European or North American countries. The same goes for the “Ivy League Look” or the “High-teen Aesthetic” that portray a comfortable yet preppy American-student look.

Securing a place in a competitive economy is important for fashion businesses. Many famous designer brands including Chanel, Hermès, and Yves Saint-Laurant establish legitimacy through their long history. However, compared to European countries with a longer heritage in fashion stemming from the 18th century, Asian countries often find it difficult to establish a strong narrative.

Another component that brands significantly consider is aesthetically pleasing features. Pale skin, big round eyes, a small nose, and an angular face are all characteristics that constitute Korea’s beauty standards that

white models are more likely to possess. By using white models who possess these traits more often, brands can better promote their apparel.

In addition to their “aesthetically pleasing” appeal, foreign models are also known to accept lower pay than their Korean peers. Thus, for smaller, newer brands, they could make their apparel look credible on a more economic budget.

“My personal opinion is that it is because brands can look more luxurious when it is far from the customer’s reality,” Andrew Ro ’25, fashion brand owner, said. “And I think this phenomenon is negative because there are brands that prefer white models with no other reason than the trend of using them instead of thinking about their identity.”

The hiring of white models is a trend observed in other industries in Asia. According to The “Highsnobiety,” an online fashion magazine, cosmetic brands, laundry detergent companies, and even children’s fashion magazines frequently use white models for their advertisements.

“People actually buy more products that have white models,” Andrew said. “But at the same time, brands create products based on an Asian’s body. It is just that they use them for the image that people prefer. What is really interesting is that in Europe, a lot of fashion brands use Black or Asian models ‘cause they prefer their image more so it is opposite from Asia. Asian models do well outside of Asia and white models do well in Asia.”

As much of the progression in Korea’s modern culture is centered around Western culture, the boundaries between what is ‘ours’ and what is not may be becoming faint. Although the fusion of cultures in fashion can be seen as a positive phenomenon as it allows for unique style, too much incorporation of a culture that is not ours may lead to confusion, misrepresentation, and even severe criticism.

intentions were to accurately depict the lives of Koreans in that era, leaving many viewers confused by the purpose of the show.

“I didn’t really enjoy the drama because it didn’t portray Korean history just as it is,” Lucy Park ’26, critic of the drama, said. “I think it tried to focus more on the horror genre, but the monster wasn’t even that realistic, so it was disappointing. Besides me, lots of people didn’t finish the drama because the story seemed to only have a straightforward story of monsters killing people.”

Of course, “Gyeongseong Creature” is not the first work of Korean media to receive criticism due to its discussion of sensitive historical topics. For instance, past movies such as “Hanbando” that commented on the relationship between Japan and Korea have also incited criticism

from the public. Although such creative works have sparked controversy and disagreement regarding historical issues, sharing new perspectives through film is considered by many to be an important tool to inform the public of the past.

“It probably was a real horror film for the Koreans living then,” Steve Nave, Asian Studies teacher, said. “I think the monster was a metaphor for what Korean people went through, so the Japanese shouldn’t have been offended if they committed horrific atrocities on the Korean people. If your country did things to others that were inappropriate, you have to show your empathy and sorrow for committing those acts; you have to own your history.”

BY: Yeonjae Kim SophomorE, rEportEr

Epstein Island: implications for celebrities

By JASON LEE ’25

Stephen Hawking, a world-renowned physicist, cosmologist, and author, reportedly enjoyed watching dwarves erotically struggle to write math equations on comically tall whiteboards. At least, that is what doctored viral images on the Internet claimed following the recent release of court documents regarding the sex crimes of American businessman Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein’s uncovered scandals and his notorious island have sparked a media firestorm fueled by the release of court documents and a list of public figures linked to him. Such intense media coverage has often crossed the line into sensationalism, unfairly painting some celebrities in a bad light without solid evidence.

“I was honestly just confused when I first heard on social media that celebrities like Stephen Hawking and Leonardo DiCaprio were on Epstein Island,” Charlotte Kim (9), self-proclaimed Stephen Hawking admirer, said. “I remember that the ‘Epstein List’ was hyped up for a while after it dropped, but I didn’t know that some of the court documents that went viral on social media were faked… I would say that there’s probably a lot of misinformation on the topic.”

Popularity around the so-called “Epstein List” first started in December of last year, when New York judge Loretta Preska ordered the release of documents listing more than 170 former employees, co-conspirators, and innocent associates and victims related to Epstein’s sex crimes. It did not take long for the media to publish those documents—which listed everyone from those briefly mentioned in witness testimonials for Epstein’s crimes to flight logs in and out of Epstein’s private island that potentially confirmed Donald Trump and Prince Andrew as Epstein’s clientele.

One issue with the media’s handling of the Epstein case was its tendency to portray accused celebrities as being guilty until proven innocent. The intense coverage has created a situation where mere allegations are seen as proof of guilt, thus operating against the core values of accurate reporting. Although celebrities like Michael Jackson, Stephen Hawking, and Leonardo DiCaprio all appeared on the dubbed “Epstein List,” popular publications often sensationalized their relation to the sex offender without explicitly stating that the celebrities were only a passing mention in witness testimonials.

Such misinformation looks like the spread of falsified information detailing celebrities’ relations to Epstein. For example, a digitally altered court document suggesting Stephen Hawking enjoyed watching naked dwarves solve math problems on tall blackboards on Jeffrey Epstein’s island has widely proliferated on the internet.

The document purported to be a transcript of a witness’s testimony from the Epstein court records, but the original poster of the doctored image acknowledged it as fake and claimed it was only intended to be a meme. Still, this fake meme gained traction online, leading to many believing that Hawking had participated in such crimes when no such evidence existed.

by Lucy Jang

The spread of sensationalized misinformation regarding celebrities has led to them starting lawsuits of their own. For example, Jim Carrey’s legal team has begun suing witnesses on the grounds of defamation for mentioning his name in a way that falsely exaggerates his guilt.

The perpetuation of such misinformation not only tarnishes the reputations of celebrities but also often diverts attention away from the serious nature of the allegations against Epstein and his associates. As the public consumes and shares sensationalized stories, the coverage of the victims’ experiences becomes secondary. Consequently, the public discourse on the aftermath of Epstein’s crimes has gradually shifted to one where clicks and entertainment sometimes outweigh the importance of accurate reporting, somewhat undermining the gravity of the actual crimes committed and the impact on the victims.

The media’s powerful influence on public opinion and the existence of misinformation on social media means that many celebrities are being roped into a scandal deeply damaging to their reputation while their guilt remains uncertain.

Scrutinizing celebrities’ questionable actions has become a norm in contemporary media and Internet culture. However, beyond the deep controversy that the accused celebrities are embroiled in, the media risks overlooking the interests of innocent celebrities and the victims of Epstein’s heinous crimes for clicks and views.

“I’m not usually super sympathetic to celebrities since these sorts of meme scandals usually don’t affect them that much, and the memes that have been created, like about Stephen Hawking going to Epstein Island, are honestly really funny,” Alex Lee ’25, avid user of social media, said. “But I do understand why some celebrities are taking legal action against the people that spread that misinformation since their legal teams usually take their reputation seriously.”

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Epstein Island: are memes too extreme?

By ERIC KIM ’25

Shocked by the horrors that occurred on Epstein Island, many sent condolences to the victims. Instagram pages and Twitter threads designated to console survivors proliferated. However, also prevalent on social media were swaths of memes that amassed millions of likes and shares, aimed at getting some laughs out of one of the largest sexual scandals of the 21st century. Stephen Hawking relished children sexually submitting to him, the Island Boys look oddly similar to two kidnapped kids documented in a photo with Jeffrey Epstein, and Ellen’s set seems identical to a building on the island. These are just a few unsubstantiated memes that took over the Internet in January. While these heedless memes are superficially a jab at humor, they are simultaneously a jab at the victims who still suffer from the consequences of Epstein and his wife Ghislaine Maxwell’s traumatic abuses.

In December 2023, the federal court finally ruled to release names on Jeffrey Epstein documents in the case US v. Jeffrey Epstein. The case investigated Little Saint James, better known as Epstein Island, which has become infamous for serving as a hideaway for Epstein and Maxwell to traffick underage women. With Virginia Giuffre, one of the survivors, voicing her opinion on the necessity of releasing the names for justice, the federal court’s decision aimed to ensure accountability. Following the disclosure of the “Epstein List” on Jan. 3 and 9, many unexpected celebrities were found to have links to Epstein. While many of the celebrities were mentioned for trivial instances and not necessarily linked to crimes, the internet was quick to sensationalize and memeify the case.

With an increasing amount of memes reducing the abusive horrors to humorous

happenings, the release of the names seems to have brought about the opposite effects of its intended purpose. Rather than focusing on seriously condemning the perpetrators of abuse, however, some media outlets focused on unexpected names on the list such as Stephen Hawking and Donald Trump by hypothesizing how they could have been part of the sexual scandal. Furthermore, some in the comment sections of these posts and articles memes joked about the money they could have received for their sexual servitude, wishing that they themselves had been selected as victims instead.

The response of the survivors was best expressed by Elizabeth Stein, who often represents other victims of the case. Stein claimed that the release of the names as well as the following “constant bombardment” of its news triggered their trauma, only making the victims feel more alienated and ostracized: she emphasized the public’s need to realize that the experience was much more traumatic than the jokes and memes suggest, with many details of the experiences unable to be appropriately covered by news coverage. Although the focus was on the humiliation victims received from their most intimate experiences being publicized, she also generally referred to the ignorant reactions of the public.

While many of the victims campaigned for justice, many criticized the federal court for releasing the Epstein List. For instance, many victims believed that certain details would not be released while others felt that the release was wholly unwarranted. As those like Giuffre who had taken direct legal action were most active in expressing their opinions, other victims’ opinions were relatively overshadowed. This has, in turn, caused many victims to be unaware of the

release that concerned their very trauma, resulting in them being retraumatized not only by the release of the names itself, but also the subsequent responses of the media.

Much of this information had been rallied to court and the public later on with Stein, though Stein herself held a neutral stance and understood how disclosing the Epstein List could be necessary for accountability.

In general, the Epstein case reflects the larger culture of desensitization and ignorance within the media. Although the court was at fault, as they did not consider the opinions of other victims in releasing the list, the intentions at least were justified. On the other hand, the media’s rather unexpected response reveals the dark underbelly of digitization: while it has connected virtually all people, the potential has been used for provocative, humiliating memes, not consolation. The memes may have achieved their goals of poking fun at the event; navigating to the comment section, skull and laughing emojis are prevalent. But underneath the pages of Instagram and TikTok reels lies the permanent scars of the subjects made fun of.

“I was quite surprised by some of the names,” Tyler Castano ’25 , avid follower of the Epstein case, said. “It was interesting for sure. And that was probably what led to the memes being made. But the memes, as crude as they are, bring an important discussion to table. When society copes by doing one thing, that might be completely different from the way that a victim approaches things. That can have a harmful effect upon the victim. But I also feel like it is necessary. It helps the public cope with these shocking catastrophes. I guess it’s just different perspectives.”

8 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Chris Blendheim: Renaissance man

Whether it be his passion for motorbiking, his various scuba-diving ventures, or his photography projects, Chris Blendheim, adventurer, educator, and inspiration, has always strived to instill a level of creativity and engagement both within his classroom and his personal life.

“I just had a passion for literature and the idea of teaching,” Mr. Blendheim said. “That was always something that I had in mind, because I was inspired by teachers all the way back to fifth grade. I like how it’s always a surprise in the classroom where I have an expectation or a sense of what’s going to be conveyed and what’s going to happen. And then I’ll learn something new from a student, a different perspective, a different reaction, a different finished product from what I was expecting. You know, because we’re all human beings. We’re not widgets, and having that surprise factor in the classroom, it’s always been fun.”

“Before I entered college, I was in the US military,” Mr. Blendheim said. “I was in the airborne infantry, so we jumped out of aircraft. But, you know, when you’re 18, that’s the kind of stuff you want to do. That’s youthful enthusiasm for you—danger, the adrenaline, stuff like that. It was fun rappelling out of helicopters, jumping out of airplanes.”

Mr. Blendheim’s interests in physical and immersive experiences gave way to his other physical hobbies as well. In particular, Mr. Blendheim has spent extensive time scuba diving to various historical shipwrecks, where he would practice his underwater photography and further kindle his passion for history.

“Diving the Red Sea for the past couple of years was fantastic,” Mr. Blendheim said. “I

Mr. Blendheim’s unique and interesting life originates not only from his passion for teaching, but also from his experiences in the military, where he served for about four years in Alaska.

layout by Jason Jihoon Shin

used to do underwater photography, but it just got too gear intensive, and that ran its course after a number of years. After I got out of the Army, I did hundreds of dives in the Pacific Northwest, near Seattle. The danger of it. It was alluring. I want to do a lot more Japanese shipwrecks, World War 2 like Truk Lagoon, and wrecks near the Philippines.”

In addition to his diving and military escapades, Mr. Blendheim has also spent much of his life motorbiking and backpacking across various countrysides in Vietnam, Italy, and the U.S.. He was first inspired by a hit motorcycle TV series “Long Way Round”, and has ridden ever since. Currently, he drives a Royal Enfield Classic 500. To Mr. Blendheim, experiencing cultures and different sceneries is very important—a view that has culminated from his love for culture and history.

“I want to just ride long distances and unknown lands and just experience places on

a map that I’d never been to before,” Mr. Blendheim said. “I found my new addiction is riding in Vietnam, in Hanoi. It’s just something I can’t get enough of. What you see, what you hear, all this buzzing around you.It’s a chaos of just scooters coming at you and running through red lights and crossing through different parts of intersections at the same time, woven together like gauze. It’s fun, but at the same time, you can be out in the countryside and you’ve got the whole road to yourself and you’re surrounded by beautiful limestone peaks—this landscape that’s out of Lord of the Rings. It’s intensely beautiful.”

“I mean, to just kind of eat, sleep, work and binge Netflix—that’s kind of a fruitless life,” Mr. Blendheim said. “I try to take advantage of the opportunities that I have rather than waste them. As a Christian, just seeing creation and experiencing that and being in a position where I can do that, I feel blessed. Here I am able to go to all kinds of different places that a lot of friends and family back at home can only dream about.

So I’m eternally grateful and thankful for that.”

From experiencing things to the greatest extent possible and taking full advantage of every opportunity, Mr. Blendheim has been an adventurer at heart. With an early inspiration for cultures, history, and exploration, he delved into scuba diving, motorbiking, and has read extensively on 20th-century war periods. He has read many Russian novels—Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Bulgakov, Nabokov, Solzhentisyn, and many more—and even has written some of his own novels himself, of tales from the historical periods that he is interested in.

BY: Jason Shin Junior, rEportEr

Photo by Sean Kim ’26

What is your ideal type?

With the recent rise in popularity of Korean dating programs like “Single’s Inferno” and “I Am Solo,” many students have taken an interest in finding out each others’ preferred types. While there are a multitude of factors to consider, many of the answers to the question, “What’s your type?” tend to be similar. To find the SIS community’s answer to this question, we conducted interviews to determine what qualities of a potential partner were considered most attractive. People often debate about what’s most important in a partner, whether it be related to looks or personality. Six students were interviewed on their personal (and oddly specific) ideal types, each being similar and different to each other at the same time.

“Having respect towards each other is important in an ideal relationship. Respecting boundaries and being communicative in a relationship is what that looks like for me.” - Alyssa Lee ’24

“I think an ideal partner is someone you can rely on and someone that can just brighten up your day. Respect and even just trying to understand each other is really big in a relationship. Ideally, I think they should just be able to naturally vibe with you.” - Sylvia Lee ’26

“I’ve never dated, so I’m not sure, but I want a partner that has varying preferences and personality from me. Someone I can rely on or someone good at academics so I can learn from them is what I look forward to in a relationship.” - Ben Lee ’27

“You can’t wear wrong shoes with an outfit. Communication is something I see as most important in a relationship, more than even honesty, which is what some people prioritize. It helps if they can make me laugh too, as in they can sense when you’re in a bad mood.” - Eunbin Macklin ’25

“An ideal partner would be someone who has the same similarities as me. Because I think helping each other is important, someone who is good at subjects like math or science is attractive. I think a good relationship is when you keep spending time together” - Sungjoon Hur ’27

“I would like someone who can prioritize communicating well and willing to explore and try new things in life. An ideal relationship is one where you can have proper goals set and achieve things together.” - Henry Hatridge ’24

BY: Jian Hong Sophomore, reporter

On the question of community

by Junseo Lee editor-in-chief

With Mr. Macklin’s revival of the Student School Improvement Committee, Mr. Del Vecchio’s efforts to revamp the club system and add live commentary to home games, new policies to increase the efficacy and ethics of club fundraisers, as well as improved club-community engagement through the use of bulletin boards, it is clear that school leadership is formulating a strategy to enhance community engagement at SIS.

Though all of these recent changes coming from both the school administration and student organizations have significant potential to enhance school spirit and truly foster the sense of an “SIS community,” they will ultimately never reach this potential without the cooperation of the community itself.

It is no secret that the SIS environment often fosters a rather self-centered mindset within its students. The heavy emphasis on academics and competition cause many to focus on their own grades and accomplishments, leaving community engagement as more of an afterthought that is exclusively reserved for weeks with no summatives.

However, fostering a more unified sense of community in SIS does not in any way need to come at the cost of one’s own academic success. While some students may express concerns that engaging in club events and focusing on improving the school community takes time away from their studies and ability to prepare for college, the time spent engaging with school-wide activities and initiatives is ultimately a short-term sacrifice for a far greater long-term benefit.

Academic success is often thought of as a purely numerical measurement of an individual’s ability to do well in school. However, this fundamentally myopic view of how students must spend their time in high school does significantly more harm than good.

The high school experience offers far more than an education on traditional subjects in STEM and the Humanities—it also acts as a safe space to learn to socialize and work with other students, plan and host large events, and become a valuable member of your own community.

Even colleges recognize the crucial importance of community involvement, as revealed by the abundance of essay prompts that all ultimately boil down to the question, “How have you contributed to your community?” Colleges want students that have made the most of their time in high school, and that includes those who are able to both contribute to their community through leadership and planning, as well as engage in events held by other members of their community.

Whether it be in college or your future career, the ability to meaningfully contribute to one’s community is a tangible skill that, if learned and practiced, can make students more desirable candidates for admissions officers and employers to recruit into their own communities.

Even thinking more concretely in the short term, increasing overall engagement with school events will only encourage larger, more enjoyable events, which will in turn further increase engagement from the general student body. All students stand to benefit from this, whether it be the attendees of these events who are looking for a genuinely enjoyable experience, or the organizers of these events who will finally see more engagement and success as a reward for their meticulous planning and hard work.

Simply by attending more club events and being cognizant of the far-reaching advantages that a more unified SIS community can bring serves to actualize these benefits for not only the current, but also future SIS students to come.

While efforts by club executives and administration to foster a stronger sense of SIS community represent a welcome step in the right direction, a community ultimately lives or dies by the actions and attitudes of its constituents, and SIS is no exception.

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

layout by Jason Lee

Gentrification of Korean food: Bolsters Korean culture, or ruins it?

Twenty years ago, the launch of Infinite Challenge’s global campaign, aimed at elevating Korean culture and food, marked a pivotal moment in Korean cuisine journey to prominence in the Western world. This effort significantly boosted Korean cuisine’s popularity and gave way to its popularization in the West, instilling a sense of pride and confidence among Koreans in their cultural identity. However, the gentrification of Korean dishes such as Bibimbap, which has seen its price and composition change dramatically, has sparked a complex debate on whether westernization has positively promoted Korean food or deauthenticated it.

Going back to the example of Bibimbap, a dish that was once considered a simple, affordable meal has been reimagined in ways that some argue misrepresent its origins and worse, double its price. Characterized by increased prices and the introduction of non-traditional ingredients, the gentrification of Korean food does raise concerns about its authenticity and accessibility. Yet, this transformation can also be viewed through a different lens—one that recognizes the potential benefits of the westernization of Korean food.

While criticized for leading to overpricing and the displacement of authentic Korean family-run restaurants, gentrification has also played a crucial role in the global recognition and appreciation of Korean culture. The modifications and fusion of Korean dishes in the West mirror the global culinary landscape’s dynamic nature, where the blending of cultures leads to new tastes and experiences.

“I view the globalization of Korean food with positivity because I grew up

at a time when people frowned upon the smell of kimchi and the savage murder of myeolchi bokkeum when I opened my lunch box. Today, I am excited to see the international populace gaining a better understanding of our food and culture--that makes me genuinely happy and proud, too,” Hailie Lee, proud Korean, said. “I do feel that the Korean food in the US is different, but, obviously, just like how we change the recipes of international foods in Korea to make them fit for the general Korean appetite, so do restaurants in the US. But I believe that modifying Korean dishes results in a necessary blend of cultures, leading to new tastes and experiences.”

Local restaurants and franchises have now become ambassadors of Korean cuisine, contributing to a growing appreciation of Asian food in Western societies. This acceptance is a significant achievement, considering the historical challenges faced by Asian communities in promoting their culture and cuisine. Just 15 years ago, Kimchi was still a forbidden food at school.

The debate over the gentrification of Korean food underscores a larger conversation about cultural authenticity and adaptation. Food, like culture, is not static; it evolves and adapts to new environments and influences. The introduction of non-traditional ingredients and the fusion of culinary practices can enrich the culinary landscape, offering new ways to experience and enjoy Korean food.

There is no doubt that there are challenges posed by the gentrification of Korean food that need to be addressed. After all, using truffle oil and pork instead of sesame oil and

beef in Bibimbap is more of a misrepresentation of Korean food than a positive modification. However, there are ways to preserve the authenticity of Korean cuisine and support traditional establishments. These efforts include supporting local restaurants, authentic Korean supermarkets, and keeping Korean traditions alive. The key lies in finding a balance that respects the origins of Korean food while welcoming the new flavors and experiences that emerge from its interaction with Western culture.

“Some argue that the westernization of Korean food has led to beneficial discoveries for the spreading and cooking of Korean food,” Hyeonhong Chang ’26, Korean food lover, said. “While true, the gentrification of Korean culture and subsequently food, defined as a process that fundamentally changes the geography of a space, how its inhabitants understand it, is positively changing the authenticity and identify of Korean food and people.”

The gentrification of Korean food in Western culture is a multifaceted issue that encompasses challenges and opportunities alike. While it is crucial to acknowledge and address the concerns related to authenticity, it is equally important to recognize the positive aspects of this cultural exchange. The spread of Korean cuisine in the West has not only elevated its global stature, but it has also contributed to a greater appreciation and understanding of Korean culture.

by: Sean Kim SophomorE rEportEr

How Korea’s ‘Hierarchy of Positions’ has hindered education

On July 6, 2013, as Asiana Airlines flight 214 approached San Francisco International Airport following its 11-hour journey from Incheon International Airport, the head pilot made an error in the plane’s final descent towards the runway. This error would result in the death of three passengers and injure 187 more. However, this fatal incident was not solely due to the crew’s incompetency or unforeseen circumstances—in fact, the two co-pilots who operated alongside the head pilot were aware of the plane’s erroneous path. Post-crash investigations concluded that they were hesitant to point out the mistakes of their immediate superior, wasting crucial seconds that could have been used to prevent the accident.

While South Korea is often perceived as a technological and pop-cultural powerhouse today, an often overlooked aspect of the East-Asian country’s development is the stagnant, warped Confucian ideologies that dominate day-to-day life. From when most South Koreans first gain the ability to hold a conversation, they are taught to speak to their elders in a distinct, more formal grammar structure, bow down to their teachers, and never question their superiors for fear of admonition. This rigid “hierarchy of positions” has not only, in extreme cases, led to over one hundred casualties,

but also fundamentally hindered the efficacy of Korea’s incredibly competitive education system. In a world where planes sometimes fall from the sky due to Korea’s culture, society needs to move on from this superficial “hierarchy of positions” in which Koreans myopically prioritize positions of power, university prestige, and seniority via birth year. Instead, Koreans should adopt a “hierarchy of ideas,” in which people will value and credit others not on superficial metrics but rather on the value of the ideas and intellect that they present.

Consider the following hypothetical to understand the importance of this proposed shift in ideological hierarchies. Imagine an intelligent student in a Korean school who is learning about World War II. However, while the teacher is lecturing the class, she mistakenly tells the class that WWII started in 1941 when the aforementioned student knows very well that it actually started in 1939. In a world in which Korean society, specifically the education sector, operates under a “hierarchy of ideas,” the student would point out the teacher’s mistake, and she would correct herself while thanking the student for bringing her mistake to the attention of her and the rest of the class. However, this outcome is far from what would realistically happen

in the “hierarchy of positions” under which Korean society operates. In reality, you would bring the mistake to the attention of your teacher, and she would likely berate you for challenging her authority.

Ultimately, this situation is hypothetical in nature. However, the fact that Korean society operates under the “hierarchy of positions” means that Korean students are afraid of this exact situation, leaving them unable to correct their teachers or possibly challenge their authority.

Of course, this phenomenon is less oppressive at SIS, an environment that promotes student engagement and active scholarship better than most other Korean schools. Still, teachers and administrators should remember to counteract the suffocating nature of the “hierarchy of positions” that stifles children’s quality of education and will to learn is particularly bad inside the notoriously competitive nature of Korean academics. Instead of encouraging children to unquestionably listen to authority, teachers should continue to encourage them to use their voices to stand up for what they think is right.

by: Jason Lee Junior, Copy Editor

Viewpoint Feature:

What complaints do you have about your classes? Currently, the main way to express such opinions is mainly through the feedback forms given at the end of each semester. However, these forms are often futile, having minimal impact and causing increased conflicts between students and teachers.

What makes the feedback forms ineffective in their current state?

What are some ways to improve the forms/feedback system so that students and teachers can both help refine courses?

Futile feedback: The inefficacy of end-of-semester class surveys

At the end of each semester, students are invited to fill out a feedback form for almost every class, which contains a multitude of questions regarding the courses’ pace, workload, homework, and the overall student experience. The idea was originally implemented as a way for teachers to get a better grasp of how students felt about their courses. However, these feedback forms have inherent flaws that have made them largely ineffective in fostering major change or improvement.

One of the major issues of the feedback system is that teachers will often ignore or simply refute the feedback provided by students. In some instances, the feedback forms at the end of the first semester are never mentioned in the second, causing both students and teachers to largely forget about them. Even with the assumption that all teachers read over the feedback, this lack of transparency means there is often no way for students to know for sure whether their feedback had been considered.

In other cases, teachers will actively address or mention the feedback to their students but end up refuting a majority of them. However, such refutation is often not the result of teachers not wanting to accept student feedback, but because many teachers feel that such changes are not feasible as they must stick to a set curriculum.

Even if certain changes are implemented, many of them do not last until the end of the school year. While

teachers may address the feedback they received and explain some new changes they have made at the beginning of each second semester, it is not uncommon for courses to initially change, but soon return to the way they were beforehand.

The unintended consequence of the lackluster effect that these surveys have had represents a glaring problem with the student side of feedback forms: students do not fill them out with much authenticity. Because students understand that the feedback forms often have minimal impact on the course curriculum, many students tend to fill them out with minimal effort, convinced that the forms will not have much academic influence.

“I think that most students only fill out the feedback forms with genuine effort if it’s a class that they particularly don’t like,” a junior who wished to remain anonymous said. “For other classes, I think there’s not much to improve or change, but in classes they don’t like they want to see some kind of reform or a new way of teaching that better suits their needs. But even then, it’s not a guarantee that these changes will occur; of course, there are instances where they have, but I also know many examples where things have stayed constant.”

This issue is only exacerbated by the fact that feedback forms are completely anonymous. Theoretically, the anonymous nature of the forms offers a certain level of protection for stu -

dents, as they can speak their minds freely without having to worry about their names being attached to their criticism. However, the absence of identity also results in the absence of responsibility and contributes to the indolent attitudes that most students hold toward these surveys.

One possible way to increase engagement with these forms would be to make the questions more specific. Currently, the only open-ended questions on the forms merely ask for two things that students wish to be continued and one thing that could be improved. Although having vagueness in this situation leaves students’ responses with more leeway, it also creates an ambiguity as to what parts of the course can actually be changed. If students were given a better understanding of parts of courses that are unable or unlikely to be changed (e.g. curriculum, pace, etc.) then they may be able to provide better, more realistic feedback. Additionally, the frequency of feedback could be a way to alleviate certain problems. For instance, feedback forms could be sent out at the end of each unit for a course, rather than the end of the entire semester. This would be a lot of work, as both students and teachers would have to undergo a somewhat tedious process of reviewing and writing feedback essentially every month. However, feedback at the end of each unit could mitigate the lackluster attitudes that students approach the forms with at the end

of the semester. It could also allow students to pinpoint certain activities or lessons in the unit that were effective (e.g. unit x had more worksheets, unit y had more lectures). Afterward, teachers could then implement such activities into the remaining units of the semester as well as ones in the next semester.

Although a vastly drastic change, another possible solution may be to alter the forms into class discussions. Held during the period when classes do not have an SBE, these discussions will likely create a better environment for students to speak their minds, especially if there are incentives like extra credit attached to participation. This change would also likely prevent students from filling out the forms with minimal authenticity: students can no longer hide behind a computer screen or the idea of anonymity. The important factor to account for in such discussions, however, would be to make the environment casual and friendly so that students feel comfortable providing honest feedback without having to worry about the risk of personal emotions interfering with such procedures.

by: Yoon Choi Junior, Copy Editor

The ONIYOON

By Yoon Choi

On Jan. 7, Matthew Halter, English teacher, decided to get a new haircut. His hair now is what hairstylists call the “empty fade”—a fade that accentuates the forehead and the glow of an individual’s scalp. In preparation for the start of the second semester, Mr. Halter went to a hairdresser near his home in Wirye and decided to get a snazzy new haircut.

“I was very surprised to see Mr. Halter’s new haircut,” Joshua Hwang ‘24, AP English Literature and Composition student, said. “It made him look like a completely new person, to the point where I first couldn’t recognize who he was.”

Mr. Halter also went through a multitude of hairstyles ever since he was young: bowl cuts, comb-overs, spiky hair, and shags. Due to his extremely voluptuous and healthy hair, Mr. Halter had many styles that he initially considered for his new style: a wolf cut, a low taper, an ivy cut, and his first choice, a man bun.

However, Mr. Halter eventually settled on the “empty fade” because he decided that he wanted to start the new year and semester clean and empty, ready for new beginnings.

Mr. Halter has also noted that it is his “new year’s resolution” to maintain a clean cut and look more presentable to his peers and students.

“The current inspiration behind my hairstyle is the extreme workload that I have,” Mr. Halter said. “I needed something easy to maintain so that I don’t have to think about it. Now, every two weeks I get a little buzz cut and I move on with my

life. That’s only about 20 seconds of maintenance.”

Mr. Halter’s new haircut has been very well-received by students and faculty members alike, who have praised him for being so courageous yet stylish at the same time.

“I love Mr. Halter’s new haircut,” Charlotte Jun ‘25, English 11 student, said. “I think it suits him really well because it highlights his beautiful head shape. I wish more guys in our grade would have hair like Mr. Halter.”

Mr. Halter’s new empty fade has even sparked a trend among other school faculty members. In the high school alone, Iain Cowieson, head of the drama department, and Michael Ganus, head of the music department, have adopted similar hairstyles to Mr. Halter. ES and MS faculty, too, have been inspired by Mr. Halter’s “empty fade.” Fourth grade teacher Michael Dvorak, seventh grade social studies teacher Aaron Mccullough, and learning support teacher Gregory Terral have all embraced the hairstyle.

“Once I noticed that Mr. Halter got a haircut, I was at first pretty surprised,” Michael Ganus, fellow “empty fade” stylist, said. “But then I thought, maybe I could one-up Mr. Halter. In fact, I like [the new haircut]. It’s cool, it takes no time in the morning to get ready, and frankly, I think I look a whole lot better than Mr. Halter does.”

Ask the Alumni

Do a sport, colleges like it. But two sports are a burden. It does not matter if you like playing sports right now.

Many students come across a similar back-and-forth dilemma when deciding what is more valuable: sports or academics.

But is this truly a decision that must be made? According to Bin Chiang ’23, alumnus, it is not.

“I’ve played volleyball and basketball for three years each,” Bin said. “For me, doing sports really activates my brain also because, after, I sweat a little and just move a lot. After sitting down at school for the whole day, I feel very energized for a bit, and I feel like I get to be more productive.”

He explained that consistent exercise is also connected to academic ability, as allowing your body time to move around prevents fatigue and refreshes the mind. Others shared this sentiment.

“I did soccer, basketball, and cross country all four years, and I think for me the best way to be productive is to always be doing something,” Talin Tyvand ’23, alumnus, said. “So it was easy for me because I would go to school 8-3 then 3-5 practice right away and that put me on a fuel to just go home and think that I need to get stuff done.”

Although several alumni pointed out that it was a struggle at first to find a way to divide their time effectively, they eventually found ways to be productive and have a successful academic career. Bin’s experiences specifically demonstrate the struggle of juggling many AP classes during upperclassmen years.

“The biggest struggle was time management because I took four APs my junior year and five APs my senior year, and it was hard to complete stuff like WebWork,” Bin said. “To overcome time wasted, I used time like office hours and activity period to finish the work. I think during junior year and senior year I got the hang of it.”

When students decide to play multiple sports, a common obstacle they face is time management, especially when preparing for summatives. Yuzine Yi, ’23 alumnus mentioned that to maintain exceptional grades, finding a way to balance the two is key.

“Being a student-athlete isn’t easy and if you dislike playing the sport, it’s just going to make it harder than it is,” Yuzine said. “I overcame, or rather got used to, this difficulty by having a fixed schedule and knowing what my priorities were. If

By Jian Hong & Yeonjae Kim

it was obvious that doing all the things I needed to do in one day was hard I would list them out from most urgent to least urgent and try my best to get them done.”

The importance of having a planned schedule was a shared sentiment.

“The way I balanced it was, I’m a big schedule person, so I need to have every minute of my day mapped out,” Talin said. “I knew after sports I could take like 45 minutes to rest. Because I really procrastinate, if I don’t plan I will do things literally the morning they’re due which is a bad idea.”

Though both activities require immense time commitments, as previous alumni have succeeded despite taking on multiple sports and extracurricular activities, students currently at the school may also learn to do the same.

“I think napping on the after-school bus and taking cold showers helped me stay awake,” Philip Hahm, ‘23 alumnus, said. “It becomes habitual over time since you have the same routine built in every week: go to school; go to practice; go home and study; and sleep. It might seem a little monotonous, but you at least know what to do all the time.”

Even for future value, doing two sports has proven to be helpful in many situations, such as demonstrating a desirable human quality or developing a sense of camaraderie and community within a team. Consistently engaging in sports may bring this experience to other students as well.

“At first when I played sports, I didn’t think about how it would help my college applications,” Bin said. “But the two sports I played, basketball and volleyball, both required a lot of teamwork and leadership in a lot of ways. I think this helped me to learn a lot of lessons and values that eventually helped me with my applications.”

Although some parents encourage their children to focus on their studies instead, most students enjoy playing sports as it allows them to hang out with their friends and relieve the stress from the school day. Some students even discover their talents in unexpected sports, opening their eyes to new opportunities at school.

“It was a nice balance because it was school and then I could see my teammates and engage in something I liked to do, so I enjoyed having both academics and sports in my life,” Talin said. “I just grew up doing sports all four years and I really enjoyed that so… rock on!”

Hugging the championship trophy, Brandon Choi (12) celebrates the varsity boys basketball team’s win.

Photo by Jason Lee (11)

photo of the month

layout by Yeonjae Kim