Tiger Times Volume 56 Issue 5

layout by Alex Lee

2 SCHOOL NEWS

SIS robotics goes to VEX Robotics Competition

The robotics team members competed in the VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) held at APIS on Jan. 10. This marked their third tournament of the season, following earlier competitions at KIS and SIS. Led by two robotics coaches, a total of ten students attended the event, playing three rounds in total—tying the first two, while losing the last one.

The robotics program was launched last year. They participated in the 2023-24 VRC, finishing in 13th place. But this year,

right before the APIS tournament, one of multiple in the season, the team was ranked 2nd in the league. Many attribute this improvement to Nathan Youngblut, who joined the team this year and has had a lot of experience with the VEX robotics equipment. He brought his knowledge to the team alongside Joseph Gallagher, who worked as a mechanical engineer. The finals are set to take place at SFS on Feb. 8.

“If you want to go into engineering, you should be in robotics,” Coach Gal-

lagher said. “When I was an engineer in undergrad, one of the problems I had was not having enough experience actually building things. If somebody did robotics, they’re going to know a lot more than me going in.”

At the event itself, the team uses a kit that comes with a basic robot, resembling a toy car. The robots compete against one another in a game. They then program the robot for both the player-controlled and autonomous periods. The VRC features a different game for each year, with this year’s game being called “High Stakes.” The objective was to slide small, donut-shaped rings onto stakes, which are located throughout the court.

“This competition was our first one after building the intake system in our robot, thus the results weren’t that good,” Kelly Lim ’27, robotics team captain, said. “However, we are certain that we will be able to improve at our future events. We will be focusing mainly on rebuilding the intake system since it couldn’t grab the donuts and the coding portion.”

However, the team continues to face significant challenges. With sports commitments after school, many members cannot regularly attend practice sessions.

MUN club members attend THIMUN

Members of the MUN club traveled to the Netherlands to attend THIMUN from Jan. 25-Feb. 2. THIMUN, one of the largest high school-level MUN conferences in the world and an NGO associated with the UN, welcomes more than 3,200 attendees from over 200 schools around the world.

During the conference, MUN members engaged in debates, diplomatic exchanges, and collaboration, working to address issues such as the ethical use of AI in finance and the situation in the Middle East.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the conference, and it was my third time going,” Jay Choe ’25, senior MUN club member, said. “I still felt as though the experience was different and unique because it was with new people. From the perspective of a senior, it felt as though I was one of the more experienced people in the group, and it was nice to help people out. Overall, I think the conference went really well, and the trip was great too.”

In the weeks preceding the trip, Tyler Castaño ’25, MUN club Vice President, and the club advisers helped members research their delegations, write resolutions, and prepare other materials for the conference during club sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Additionally, the team is preparing for the departure of older, more experienced team members who will be graduating, leaving a gap in leadership and experience.

“The first few years we had a cohort of people who were into robotics and were pretty much self-taught,” Coach Gallagher said. “They all graduated last year, or the year before. So now we have a lot less experienced people. Fortunately, we now have a much more experienced coach. I think they’re learning much, much more this year.”

The team has ambitious plans for the future. They have recently purchased another robot kit, allowing more members to practice. They also hope to grow in membership next year.

“The underclassmen are very dedicated,” Coach Youngblut said. “This is a building year, and I expect in subsequent years we’re probably going to do much better. The VEX robotics program is the absolute best high school program for STEM-interested students anywhere in the world right now.”

By: Anders Christensen Sophomore, reporter

“Fortunately, for us, our club exec Tyler made assignments for us to draft resolutions and operative clauses to make sure that we would be thoroughly prepared,” Gloria Kim ’27, first-year MUN club member, said. “Personally, I just kept on pace with recent news on Pakistan on the internet. The most effective [strategy], I would say, is consistent research on my topic and country.”

To prepare for THIMUN, members have focused on engaging in mock debates, where club members either practiced discussing potential solutions for a variety of agendas or overseeing the discussions for participants.

“We’re going through a very rigorous process of mock debates, research, and writing resolutions and operative clauses for the conference,” Tyler said. “We’re especially focusing on mock debates, [where] each club member pretends to represent a different country. It’s the exact thing that you would encounter at any conference, which is

why we use a lot of our meeting time to make sure everyone knows the procedure, the proper phrases to say, and ensure that everyone can practice in a simulated conference scenario.”

Aside from the conference, members were also given the opportunity to tour Amsterdam and the Hague. They also visited landmarks such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, and the Mauritshuis museum, the last of which is home to Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting “The Girl with the Pearl Earring.” Also, members enjoyed other activities such as boating and shopping at the city center.

Some newer MUN club members found the trip to be not only fun and enjoyable, but also valuable as a learning experience.

“THIMUN helped me grow as a delegate in ways that I never imagined,” Gloria said. “Not only was I able to connect with minds from across the globe and gain international insight, but I collaborated with a fellow delegate, which [helped] me build an unforgettable friendship and alliance.”

By: Charlotte Eunseo Kim Sophomore, reporter

Photo by Carson Park ’26

Photo by Anders Christensen ’27

SIS basketball teams battle hard at KAIAC

After a season of hard work and effort, the boys and girls varsity basketball teams competed in the KAIAC tournament on Jan. 17, with the girls playing at SIS and the boys at YISS. Their final conference standings for the season were boys in 3rd place and girls in 4th place.

“We did not finish where we wanted to be in conference results,” Doha Kim ’28, boys varsity player, said. “Our goal was to finish higher in the standings, but I’m still pleased with our teamwork and effort. I was really scared to be the only freshman on the team. However, my teammates really took care of me and supported me throughout the season. I believe that I played my best against KIS, this is because our team worked together, and we came away with a win.”

Throughout the season, several notable players made significant contributions. On the girls team, Julie Koh ’26, co-captain of the girls varsity team, displayed exceptional leadership on the

court and scored a total of 224 points throughout the entire season. For the boys team, Seowoo Choi ’26 showed great ball control and decision-making as the point guard, scoring a total of 199 points.

“I think one of our most challenging parts of this season was unexpectedly playing against taller and stronger opponents,” Julie said. “Specifically during our GSIS games, I think we struggled to patiently run our offensive and play defense against a really tall individual. Similarly, HHS also has a tall player, although shorter than the GSIS player, but we still found it challenging to contend with her height. However, we managed to overcome these obstacles by trusting in ourselves and in each other’s abilities, whether it was playmaking or playing defense.”

In the tournament, the boys entered as the third seed, while the girls were seeded fifth. Both teams faced the YISS Guardians in their opening matches. The girls defeated the Guardians 47-39, but

the boys lost by a narrow 51-53 during overtime. In their subsequent matches, the boys faced GSIS for fifth place but fell short by a single point, losing 49-50. The girls went against the SFS Crusaders and also were defeated 28-49.

“During the first game against YISS, I felt nervous but confident going into the game,” Ryan Bae ’26, all-tournament player, said. “However, I was irritated during the game because our team wasn’t playing our best offense and defense, but the other team was playing well. We could have prepared some plays and prepared for specific teams we were facing because all the teams we faced had planned strategies specifically for us.”

For their final matches, the girls played against HHS for third place, and the boys against OMHS for seventh. Both teams came out victorious, with the girls winning 41-29 and the boys 69-53. While these factors created a perception of an unfairly conducted game, it is important

School installs new CCTV cameras

Over winter break, the school installed surveillance cameras to ensure the safety of students and faculty on campus. With around 20 security cameras newly installed in “danger-prone” locations where injuries can happen, including hallways, stairwells, and trophy display cases, students and staff were quick to notice the increased surveillance at SIS.

“I was walking up the stairs and found myself face to face with a security camera installed in the stairwell,” Joonho Kim ’26, sophomore, said. “It was looking at me like the Eye of Mordor. It caught me off guard. I think most of us are just wondering why these new cameras were placed over winter break. I was just somewhat unsettled seeing all these new cameras placed around the school. It feels like I am being watched all the time.”

The installation of the new security cameras are largely due to an increased demand for safety from the Ministry of Education. With expectations regarding clear evidence in the case of an emergency, the cameras were installed to allow the school to accurately document incidents, remove any blindspots, and improve student safety.

“My goal is to not watch the CCTVs as much as possible,” Gray Macklin, high school principal, said. “The purpose

of these cameras are to ensure student safety, not to constantly monitor and spy on students. For example, if someone is running and falling, or if something happens in the hallway, these cameras allow us to go back and track what happened. Student safety is important, and the government expects us to be able to explain exactly what happened with certainty. These cameras will not be used to go back and help students to find their belongings.”

According to Mr. Macklin, security cameras at SIS were first installed to monitor expensive copy machines and other rented equipment in locations around the school. In contrast, the administration emphasized that the new cameras will be used solely for the purpose of security, addressing specific safety requirements. Despite this, reactions among students have been mixed, with some expressing unease while others viewing it as a positive development, additional pressure deterring students from misbehaving.

“I honestly see this as a much-needed addition to the school environment,” Donghyun Kim ’25, senior, said. “I heard from another senior in my grade that there were things going missing in the senior lounge. With the new security cameras in place, I doubt anything like that will

to note that these mistakes were likely unintentional.

“During our game against YISS in the third quarter, the scoreboard table put our team at five fouls when we had four, leading to the other team shooting two free throws and making them both,” Ian Kim ’26, boys varsity player, said. “Also, in the next match against GSIS, they scored a game-winner on us and beat us by 1 point, even though it was not on time. Unfortunately, we could not overturn the results because this rule was not mentioned in the KAIAC rulebook.”

For the senior players, this tournament marked their final official conference game, excluding friendly matches against OMHS and YISS. Their last winter season will conclude with the AISA tournament in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

By: Chloe Kim Junior, reporter

if

always someone monitoring the

actively, they can still be able to record footage and discourage people from doing things they should not be doing. It is just a constant reminder to be on your best behavior.”

Although too early to determine the success of this initiative, the installation of security cameras reflect a broader

ASR students delve into winter sports

As the cold weather settled in and freshly fallen snow decorated the hills, Advanced Sports and Recreation (ASR) students, a class open to juniors and seniors, began participating in a novel set of winter sports. They started the semester by visiting the Jisan ski resort, followed by a visit to the Tancheon Sports Complex’s ice rink to skate.

“I really enjoyed the ski trip,” Eunbin Macklin ’25, current ASR student, said. “The progress was a bit slow at first because there are different levels of comfort we all have, but overall, the ski trip was super fun, not many people fell, and overall great.”

The trips were a valuable experience for various seniors, who enjoyed their last winter in Korea before going off to university. While trips are not uncommon considering the class’s purpose to maximize student opportunities in off-campus

sports, the addition of winter-specific sports added a fresh element to the class.

“I think there’s multiple values to ASR,”

Adam Yannakakis, ASR teacher, said.

“Number one, it’s a continuation of PE and applying skills and also experience to new forms of physical activity that students will not or have not be able to or don’t experience in current curriculums. Apart from that, I see the class essentially as a way for students to find value and joy in recreational activities even for their future where they can pursue this if they wish to.”

ASR tries to do what most classes in SIS do not: it creates an alternative to the serious academic atmosphere through a focus on recreation, team-building, and diverse physical activities. This allows students to enjoy the class without having to worry about how it will reflect on their college application, instead focusing on

interpersonal relations and self-reflection.

Students have commented that ASR serves as a gateway for them to try less common sports like skiing—a sport that many wished to attempt but struggled to begin due to its barriers to entry. The unique opportunities ASR provides have also attracted the attention of current underclassmen.

“I’d be interested because it gives me an opportunity to go off campus with friends and engage in interesting activities,” Tony Son ’28, prospective ASR student, said. “The winter sports seem really interesting too because it’s actually taking a trip there.”

Despite having mandatory physical education for freshman and sophomore years, many students opt to take ASR during their junior or senior year to maintain fitness and engagement in

effort to improve security and accountability on school grounds. As the semester progresses, it remains to be seen whether this addition will be accepted as a positive, meaningful improvement to the school or just a minor change.

By:

sports. The satisfaction rate for the class is exceptionally high. However, based on end-of-the-semester surveys and constant feedback after class, improvements can be made, such as adding other winter sports like sledding and luge.

“I think I want to try surfing and skiing the most because usually school sports don’t allow them,” Chris Ahn ’27, prospective ASR student, said. “For the winter, trying snowboarding also seems really cool because I’ve wanted to try it out.” Winter sports are often seen as more extreme or challenging, requiring bulky gear and heavy preparation. Yet with a constantly improving and interactive class as ASR, students may be able to attempt them regardless.

happen again. I feel that even

there isn’t

cameras

Carson Park Junior, reporter

By: Jian Hong Junior, reporter

Photo by Hyunjoon Rha ’27

Korea’s birth rate rebounds for the first time in a decade

Korea’s birth rate has increased to 0.74 births per woman, with 242,334 births registered last year, according to the Korean Ministry of Interior and Safety. This new record that has broken the eight-year streak of decline is a significant accomplishment, as Korea has the lowest total fertility rate in the world.

A number of possible reasons have been attributed to this change. One reason was the 1 percent increase in the married population since 2022, which was the first increase since 2011, combined with a 3.1 percent increase in married people believing they should have children. Another is the general increase in the Korean population in their early 30s, a demographic most likely to start families. Sociol-

ogists have also pointed to changing attitudes around family life, with the growing acceptance of balancing careers and parenthood potentially contributing to the uptick in births.

“While there was an increase in births, it doesn’t seem too substantial other than a slight uptick,” Nathan Warkentin, father of one, said, “I think the reason why Korea has such low birth rates is more not a matter of demographics but more of a cultural phenomenon.”

Aside from the demographic factors, the Korean government has also been fueling efforts to counter the issue of dropping birth rates through government policy, including incentives such as tax exemptions and subsidies. The government also announced that they

Pro and anti-Yoon demonstrations persist outside Yoon’s residence

Anti-Yoon protestors demanding Yoon’s arrest and pro-Yoon demonstrators calling for the repeal of his prosecution have been protesting near the president’s Hannam-dong residence for the past month. More broadly, political turmoil beginning from President Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration to the attempted yet failed arrest of President Yoon has fueled such protests.

“The current protests all began with anti-martial law protests and wide discontent against President Yoon,” Nathan Chung ’26, Hannam-dong resident, said. “However, the additional removal of President Yoon’s successor— Han Duck-soo—major standoffs between Yoon’s bodyguards and warrant forces, and a growth in support for Yoon’s conservative party has led us to the current protest situation.”

The protests began on Dec. 3, 2024, when President Yoon, limited by the Liberal Party’s supermajority in Parliament, accused them of colluding with North Korea and declared martial law. While President Yoon justified this decision by announcing it was the only way to break the political deadlock and “fight communism,” this decision fueled public discontent and aggressive protests. For many, his rhetoric caused concerns and reminded them of South Korea’s history with anti-democratic regimes.

However, aside from political implications and conflicts, for those living in Hannam-dong, the music and chants that have been going on 24/7 have disrupted daily activities and local residents’ sleep. Additionally, businesses in the Hannam-dong area, known to be popular destinations for young people and foreigners, have experienced operation disruptions.

“The day before school, I saw over 45,000 people gathered, occupying all the streets in front of my house,” Sungjoon Hur ’27, sleep-deprived Hannam-dong resident, said. “That night, I couldn’t sleep because they protested for 24 hours straight. Even now, every day, I still hear the annoying melody from the huge speakers

will be revising their child care laws: starting this year, the maximum monthly child care leave benefit will be increased to a maximum of 2.5 million won per month, a significant increase from the previous 1.5 million won. The government has also been undergoing an ambitious foreign help program, wherein they secured over 1,000 foreign domestic helpers to assist families with homecare duties.

“For me, the free childcare was quite a pivotal factor,” Robin Ibbotson, working parent of one, said. “Not having to worry about who’s caring for my child is a really big benefit for me, and it gives me and my wife a lot more freedom. I do believe I would have had a child regardless, but I think the govern-

ment is making it a lot easier for parents. However, in terms of what they could be doing, I think a focus on providing affordable housing would be important, as there is the social expectation of having a newlywed house.”

While this increase in fertility rate is a positive step, experts are skeptical as to whether it will continue because many issues are still keeping families from having children. Beyond financial concerns, experts have cited the struggles with mental health among people in their 20s and 30s. Additionally, work environments are still not favorable toward women who give birth, as the pressure to leave work after birth still remains. This directly conflicts with increasing sentiment

among young women to continue to pursue their careers without having to leave their positions.

“I think that the birth rates rising in South Korea will not be sustainable,” Kate Kim ’26, president of Health Occupations Students of America, said. “The rise in population and babies may be too much of a burden for many families who are not financially prepared in the long run. With many families facing financial burdens, it will significantly impact the economy as well as the well-being of many families who will face similar challenges.”

BY: Carey Kim Junior, Copy editor

Korea and Czech Republic sign nuclear deal

just 200 meters away from my house. The protests seem to get louder and louder each day.”

The combined presence of protestors and police officers has led to temporary road blockages around Hannam-dong businesses and various residences. Additionally, as protests continue to persist regarding the prosecution of President Yoon, Yoon’s guards have reinforced his Seoul compound with barbed-wire installations and bus barricades, indicating a potential conflict between Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) investigators, the President’s bodyguards, and protestors in future arrest attempts.

“It’s hard to predict how the protests will continue, but the ongoing protests will likely persist unless Yoon’s political future is cleared out and the current political deadlock discontinues,”

Aidan J. Hong ’26, Korean politics enthusiast, said. “However, acting President Choi Sang-mok appointed two new Constitutional Court judges, alleviating political uncertainty by allowing the Constitutional Court to thoroughly deliberate on Yoon’s impeachment case. If the Court reaches a clear verdict with minimal roadblocks, the protests may gradually subside.”

More recently, President Yoon’s initial impeachment trial was held on Jan. 14. Yoon was arrested and brought in for questioning on Jan. 15, although it was after a two-hour standoff with Pro-Yoon protestors and his presidential guards. Given South Korea’s deep political divides and the Constitutional Court’s 180-day deadline to reach a verdict, some level of uncertainty and public demonstrations are expected to persist.

“Now that President Yoon has been detained and he continues to oppose a more permanent formal arrest, I expect political dynamics to continue to shift,” Aidan said. “Already, we have been seeing protests moving to the Seoul Western District Court where the CIO delivered the new warrant for approval.”

BY: Sean Kim Junior, reporter

As the EU pivots away from fossil fuels, the Korea-Czech joint nuclear project is an important step for the two countries and a sustainable future. The Czech government chose Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) as their preferred bidder for the construction of two new units at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant (NPP Dukovany) in July 2024. They cited KHNP’s competitive pricing and the existing diplomatic relationship between the two countries as some of the reasons for choosing to cooperate.

Other potential bidders included the French company Électricité de France (EDF) Energy and the American company Westinghouse. The project was initially at risk because Westinghouse had accused KHNP of using their design, but on Jan. 10, Westinghouse and KHNP signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), allowing the project, valued at over $18 billion, to proceed.

The bid signed between KHNP and the Czech Republic will add two more plants to the four existing models of the NPP Dukovany Plant, which are responsible for around a fifth of total energy consumption in the Czech Republic. KHNP has proposed the APR1000 reactor capable of producing 1055 Megawatt electrical (MWe). KHNP has also vowed the construction of the plant will take

place domestically and employ local workers, which will be a boon for the Czech nuclear industry.

Korea undertook its first nuclear export in 2009, wherein they exported their designs and built four plants in the Barakah project in the United Arab Emirates. Korea has extensively used nuclear technology in the domestic setting as well. The country has 26 active reactors, and President Yoon has expressed a desire to further the nuclear sector in the future.

“I think nuclear energy is a good thing if we all adopt it and don’t make any critical errors,” Glen Monaghan, physics teacher, said. “I think the Korean nuclear industry was on track and then shut down a bunch of their reactors due to Fukushima pressure, which I think was a bad idea. I think it’s better for the world if we adopt nuclear energy because it’s less harmful to the environment and climate change.”

The energy deal has many incentives for the Czech Republic. As an EU member state, they have pledged to attempt to meet climate goals. Investing in nuclear power may also be a reaction to the volatility of other sources. Liquified natural gas (LNGs) which make up around a quarter of energy consumption in the EU and around a fifth in the Czech Republic, have historically

been sourced from Russia. However, the EU’s stance against the Russian conflict has meant this source has become unavailable.

“Czechia is still one of those states who still imports gas from Russia,” Donghyun Kim ’25, geopolitics enthusiast, said. “So they do have a need to actually divest themselves from Russia to increase their geopolitical and energy security. One of the easiest ways to do that is by emulating the French model and building nuclear reactors on Czech soil.”

Korea and the Czech Republic have enjoyed a close business relationship in the past. Their trade volume has been steadily growing to what is now over $4.4 billion. Korea is currently the Czech Republic’s fourth-largest foreign investor and its third-largest trading partner outside the EU.

Despite the nuclear deal’s advantages, challenges lie ahead. Nuclear energy deals are often at risk of budget overruns. Additionally, supply chains for the plants may be disrupted and it may be difficult to mobilize a ready workforce for the construction. Still, the deal, if executed properly, could be a significant milestone for Korea and the Czech Republic’s nuclear industries.

BY: Anders Christensen Sophomore, reporter

layout by Yeonjae Kim

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces resignation

Canadian Prime Minister

Justin Trudeau, who is hailed as a liberal icon, announced his resignation from office on Jan. 6, marking the end of a position he had held for 9 years. In a press conference, he announced that he would resign from the position after his party had elected a new representative.

“Trudeau started off as a strong candidate and was rather successful in his early years,” Lauren Lee ’28, Canadian citizen, said. “He was seen as the hope and icon of the liberal party, but in the past few years, he has fallen short of expectations and has disappointed a lot of Canadians.”

One of the reasons for Trudeau’s decreasing popularity was his ineffective response to Canada’s housing crisis. After COVID-19, Canada suffered from inflation of various goods. Housing inflation was a particularly large problem, with home prices going up to an unaffordable degree for most Canadian citizens. Amid this, Trudeau’s policy of increasing immigrants decreased his follower base, as immigrant flow was regarded as one of the main causes of the nationwide housing crisis.

“I understand why Canadian citizens are upset by Trudeau’s decisions,” Kevin Kim ’27, a follower of Cana-

dian politics, said. “He wasn’t very successful in handling the aftermath of COVID-19 which led to him losing popularity overall. The prices for housing have been outrageous for Canadians in the past few years.”

However, the most noted cause for Trudeau’s resignation is his failure to effectively respond against US President Donald Trump’s threat of a high tariff policy. Trump said that if Canada does not resolve border issues and trade imbalances, he would impose a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian products. A few days after, Trudeau personally visited Trump at his home in MarA-Lago, Florida to ask Trump to retract his statement. However, this visit did not change Trump’s beliefs as he has stated that he will implement the tariff on Feb. 1.

“I think that it was an excellent decision, particularly looking at how Trump operates and who he is as a person,” James Dillhoff, politics enthusiast, said. “He values that ‘look you in the eye’ kind of face-to-face discussions. So I think Trudeau didn’t have anything to lose by meeting with him personally and a lot to gain if he could convince Trump, not only that the tariffs wouldn’t be a good idea but also to establish that

respect he needed to.”

Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, one of Trudeau’s largest supporters, resigned on Dec. 16, 2024, which further weakened his position. She was also considered one of the possible successors to Trudeau.

The Canadian Parliament originally needed to begin a new session on Jan. 27. However, Trudeau’s request to prorogue Parliament until March 24 was accepted, extending his stay in his office. While the election date for prime minister has not been finalized, it must be done before or on Oct. 20. To prepare for the upcoming election, the Liberal Party stated that they will elect a new representative on March 9.

The next elected leader of the Liberal Party is projected to face a lot of opposition from the public and the government.

As of Jan. 21, results of publicly conducted polls shows that the Conservative Party, under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre, has a 23-point lead over the Liberal Party. Furthermore, the Conservative Party is also receiving support from US President Donald Trump, increasing their chances of inauguration.

BY: Jiwu Lee Sophomore reporter

HMPV outbreak raises concerns in China

With China witnessing gradual drops in temperatures, cases of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms, have recently surged in the country. HMPV reportedly accounted for 6.2 percent of positive respiratory disease tests in China and 5.4 percent of hospitalizations due to respiratory infections from Dec. 16-22, 2024.

“My thoughts on this HMPV outbreak aren’t too negative as this virus isn’t new but has first been discovered in 2001,” Justin Nam ’27, AP Biology student, said. “Moreover, I don’t think we should be worried about it as we already have experience 5 years ago with COVID-19, so in case this virus does get out of hand, I feel like we are more than prepared to fight it efficiently.”

The outbreak has raised concerns about whether this virus will mirror the horrors of the COVID-19 pandemic, but experts have publicly stated that this situation is far less worrisome. COVID-19’s deadliness mainly originated from how it was a new pathogen that people’s immune systems had not built defense for, making them more vulnerable to infection. On the other hand, because HMPV has existed for decades since 2001, humans have already developed partial immunity to this virus. Though it is not deadly, HMPV can result in more serious complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, especially for children younger than 15 years.

Research shows that HMPV typically peaks in colder weather, and since this virus is transmitted through direct contact, it has been exacerbated by increased indoor activity. This interpretation aligns with the current situation of dropping temperatures in China. Experts also attribute the surge

Suspected terrorist slams truck into crowd in New Orleans

A man drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon street, New Orleans on Jan. 1 at around 3:15 a.m., killing 15 and injuring 57 others. Shamsud Din-Jabbar, the perpetrator and a US citizen from Houston, Texas, engaged in a gunfight with police after exiting his truck. After injuring two officers, Din-Jabbar was fatally shot by police before he could set off two explosive devices that he had installed near Bourbon street.

“When I first heard [about] the attack, I was very sad because a lot of people died,” Joseph Kang ’27, US citizen, said. “But what struck me harder was that [the perpetrator] was apparently a US citizen who was in the military. That

made me more sad because— why would you turn against your own people? Why would you attack your own country when you served in the military? I’m not really sure about his motives, but I do know that he did get inspired by ISIS.”

After the attack, law enforcement officials found a flag from the terrorist group ISIS in Din-Jabbar’s truck. Hours before the attack, Din-Jabbar recorded a video in which he pledged allegiance to ISIS. However, because there was no evidence of foreign interference or aid behind the attack, it was considered domestic terrorism.

In the weeks following the attack, law enforcement found evidence that it was premed -

itated. In a report from the FBI, they found that Din-Jabbar “conducted many online searches” since November 2024 that related to the attack, including “how to access a balcony on Bourbon Street.”

“It’s frightening, really, to know that these tragedies can occur to anyone at any time— even while celebrating New Year’s,” Regina Kim ’28, avid news reader, said. “More than anything, it’s especially sad how the attack took place in a time that should be festive, and that this gruesome attack was premeditated.”

Also, since last October, Din-Jabbar took a number of videos and photos of the area around Bourbon Street on a bike

while wearing what appeared to be an ordinary pair of sunglasses. FBI officials believe that Din-Jabbar was wearing Meta Ray-ban smart glasses, which would have allowed him to take footage of the area without using his hands. The usage of Meta’s smart glasses raised concerns about the challenges that such advanced technology could pose.

The attack prompted responses from government officials. Former US president Joe Biden wrote on Jan. 1 that “there is no justification for violence of any kind” and that “[his] heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday.” Biden also visited

in HMPV cases to the invention of new technologies that easily detect and identify the virus; in the past, accurate detection was difficult due to a lack of such technology, making it seem as if there were less infections than there actually were.

“I don’t think that the HMPV virus would be anything like COVID-19 due to the fact that humans already faced a similar issue with COVID-19,” Brennan Park ’28, avid news reader, said. “Therefore, we would be able to take the proper measures to keep the virus as small as possible, such as implementing quarantine regulations.”

Media sensationalization has exaggerated the seriousness of the HMPV outbreak and heightened fears among users, as many misinterpreted it as a pandemic like that of COVID-19. This highlighted the importance of digital literacy in an era marked by increasing digitalization. Nevertheless, with cases of HMPV as well as influenza rising, experts encourage people to adhere to safety precautions to prevent further risks, such as wearing a mask in crowded places and washing hands regularly.

“If HMPV is not a lethal virus that has the potential to spread as far as COVID19, I think there’s little need for us to be worried about this outbreak,” Woosung Choi ’26, medical field enthusiast, said. “The disease may have spread to areas like India due to the lack of sanitation, but I think Korea has preventative measures like quarantines that will prevent HMPV from spreading.”

BY: Jason Chung Sophomore reporter

New Orleans on Jan. 6 to meet with the families of victims of the incident, emphasizing the importance of supporting those affected by the tragedy.

“I couldn’t imagine the amount of pain and grief that the victims’ families must be experiencing after they heard the news of their loved one’s death,” Nabin Won ’28, frequent news reader, said. “There should be active support towards the victims’ families, such as promoting access to therapists or trauma counselors who can emotionally support them.”

BY: Charlotte Eunseo Kim Sophomore,

reporter

6 SPORTS

KBO All-Star Kim Hye-Seong joins LA Dodgers

Korean All-Star infielder Kim Hyesong from the Kiwoom Heroes signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Jan. 4. Kim’s contract involves a three-year deal worth $12.5 million and an additional two-year option for a total of $22 million. Kim was offered deals from several other MLB clubs such as the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres, but ultimately signed with the Dodgers, joining MVP winners Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw. Kim landed on the contract through the posting system, wherein all 30 Major League clubs were given 30 days to negotiate with Kim and his former team, the Kiwoom Heroes. Through this posting system, Kim’s team, the Heroes, also earned a $2.5 million release fee based on the

amount of Kim’s guaranteed contract.

“I would say Kim was definitely the strongest second baseman in Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) with good contact, speed, defense, and game sense,” Dominic Hahm ’25, KBO fan, said. “But I still think it will be a hard journey for him in MLB, especially because the Dodgers’ player depth is so strong. Also, Kim’s departure will put Kiwoom Heroes in a worse spot, inevitably, because their key player would be gone.”

As a well-rounded player, Kim was recognized as the best second baseman with the Golden Glove award and was acknowledged for his defensive skills with two consecutive wins of the Fielding Award. The Dodgers’s scouts gained interest in Kim’s defense last March during an

US Olympian Fred

Kerley arrested in Miami

US Track and Field Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley was arrested with charges of unlawful physical contact, resistance against the police, and disorderly conduct. The altercations between the police and the young track and field athlete happened in Miami, Florida, on Jan. 2, where the confrontation escalated to physical violence and the use of a stun gun.

“Fred Kerley’s recent arrest highlights that Olympic medals don’t necessarily save athletes from law enforcement,” Sean Chung ’27, sports ethics enthusiast, said. “While medals can elevate and improve a person’s status and admiration in a community, they don’t guarantee better treatment, showing societal and system factors can override personal achievements.”

The incident occurred while the police were on high alert conducting an unrelated investigation for a Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Hotel, and another case looking into the deaths of 14 people in a crowd in New Orleans via a van. During their inspections, Kerley reportedly approached them, expressing concern about his vehicle being parked in the surrounding area.

According to Christopher Bess, a spokesperson for the Miami Beach Police Department, Kerley had disregarded lawful commands and pushed one of the officers to the ground. The situation later escalated into a larger conflict, as the police claimed that two officers fell, with Kerley landing on one of them. Bodycam video footage also showed officers struggling with the athlete before deploying a dart stun gun, which subdued him.

With the showcase of unnecessary violence, the incident highlights a potential flaw in ensuring a just and accountable law system, especially regarding the rights of small minorities.

Kerley’s attorney Yale Sanford criticized the police’s actions, describing the footage as “obscene” and alleging that the athlete was inhumanely treated. Incidents like this have raised

exhibition game between the Korean national team and the Dodgers in Seoul. Kim doubled off Dodgers starter Bobby Miller by lacing a 96 mph fastball off the right field wall and turned around a 93.9 mph sinker in another exhibition game against the Padres, impressing the scouts multiple times.

As the Dodgers already consist of a surplus of middle infielders, a position that Kim mainly performs in, critics predict that Kim will face competition against middle infielders Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas. Additionally, some argued that in the case of Kim’s under-performance, the Dodgers always will have the option of shifting Tommy Edman back to the infield to utilize the Betts-Edman strategy.

“If you think about it, the Dodgers is one of the deepest teams if you look at their rotation,” Jason Kang ’27, baseball enthusiast, said. “It is going to be really hard to see Kim get an actual spot in the roster to compete in comparison to Kim Ha-seong or other players that entered the MLB. I do not think he is going to last long in the actual major league baseball and come back to Korea.”

However, others pointed out that Kim can take a position as a utility player that opens up more options in forming various rosters for the Dodgers, and that Kim appears to have a high chance of making the roster since the Dodgers have limited left-handed hitter options. Brandon Gomes, the General Manager of the Dodgers, stated that Kim’s excep-

tional contact skills can provide momentum for the team.

Though Kim expressed his awareness of the competition he would have to face, he expressed excitement about becoming a Major Leaguer, acknowledging that competition is inevitable in his first year joining any team.

“I think a lot of baseball fans in both Korea and the US have a pretty high expectation for Kim,” Noah Ko ’26, avid baseball fan, said. “A few other players like Kim Ha-seong went to the MLB from the Heroes as well, but the Dodgers has a very deep and strong team dynamic, so it would be a hard competition for Kim.”

BY: Minju Chung Sophomore, Copy editor

US sports undergo major shifts in viewership

questions about the systemic issues with law enforcement’s treatment of African-Americans, and the constant correlations that have arisen in the media in recent times.

“I think his arrest was unjust and showed the police department’s suspicious use of racial profiling in arrests,” Elliot Lee ’27, justice advocate, said. “To be honest, Kerley did not do anything extreme in the initial contact, making the police’s provocative action to be the main cause of the escalation.”

After his arrest, Kerley was transported to a local hospital and later arrived at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He subsequently arrived at court on Jan. 3, where his attorney further condemned the police’s conduct and raised awareness of the parallel between police injustices and people of color.

“I think organizations should address these types of legal situations with their athletes,” Daniel Gohde ’27, varsity track athlete, said. “Athletes are often looked up by people around them, [and] bad representation of them could lead to unwanted exposure of the sport which could lead to the youth taking inspiration from the misconduct that athletes may have done. There should also be the importance of moral conduct in and out of the sport. Maybe they [are] kicked out or given a partial suspension.”

The US Track and Field team refused to comment on the situation, while the Miami Beach Police Department maintains that their actions were justified, accounting for Kerley’s alleged non-compliance. Despite such controversy, this incident sparked discussion regarding the treatment of public figures in terms of police law enforcement. Future implications include raised suspicion of law justness and the need for individuals to be more alert to prejudice in powerful institutions.

BY: Yumin Jeon Sophomore, reporter

According to Nielsen rating trackers, sports accounted for 96 of the 100 most-watched US television shows in 2023, representing sports media’s prominence in the US. However, post-2020 metrics indicate that sports audience viewership has undergone major shifts.

Powerhouse leagues like the NBA, which used to hold prime-time broadcasting slots and television audiences, saw historically low NBA Finals viewership in 2020. The MLB saw a similar decline, with its popularity declining from 21 to 9 percent in 2023. Meanwhile, according to Wasserman, women’s sports leagues now account for 15 percent of sports coverage compared to the usual 4 percent.

“The NFL has also recently expanded their dominance and audience by jostling for holiday game day slots like Christmas, which were traditionally days ‘owned’ by the NBA,” Elliot Nam ’27, NBA fan, said. “And for traditional powerhouse sports leagues like the MLB and NBA, high viewership can only be found in games featuring a select few popular stars.”

For instance, Stephen Curry, a fan favorite and widely considered the greatest 3-point shooter ever, has been featured in all 27 NBA games that drew over 14 million viewers since 2015. Now, the looming retirement of such high-profile players raises concerns for the NBA’s future, considering that games without

such audience-captivating stars have suffered historically low spectators. Hence, many fans point to changing viewership numbers as a byproduct of the fluctuating entertainment value of certain sports. However, the shift from cable to streaming is being proven to be a larger and more permanent reason behind recent audience trends.

“I think sports viewership trends have been changing not primarily because of declining or increasing viewership in certain sports but rather because of the shift from cable to streaming,” David Coward, regular user of NBA League pass, said. “People no longer are buying cable TV but at the same time, it is also hard and expensive for viewers to buy all of the sports streaming platforms.”

2024 marked the first year sports streaming viewership outnumbered cable sports viewership. Rather than traditional broadcasting stations like TNT, ABC, and FOX, sports organizations have shifted toward streaming services including YouTube TV, ESPN, and Prime Video. Such a shift has led to a fragmentation of rights across multiple platforms, raising consumer inconvenience and costs.

“For the casual fan, it’s much more difficult to watch because you don’t know where you can watch games regularly,” Steve Nave, regular NBA and NFL viewer, said. “Growing up, I knew that every Sunday NBC broadcasted NFL AFC games at noon

while CBS featured the NFC. But now, multiple streaming platforms need to be bought throughout the season, which is expensive and inconvenient too.”

Alternatively, for many, illegal streaming sites like StreamEast have become a free and easily accessible option for millions of fans both domestically and internationally. However, illegal site ratings are not reflected in official metrics, leaving millions of fans unaccounted for in official metrics.

Another factor in changing viewership dynamics is the shifts in sports consumption. Younger generations often prefer fast-paced 10-minute highlight videos and social media sports content over full-length games. With many teams providing real-time social media coverage of their games, such efforts mitigate the need for fans to purchase game subscriptions. They also reflect general sports-wide initiatives to connect with and draw in younger and new fans.

“In the instance of the NBA, people engage with it a great deal on social media but don’t necessarily watch full games,” Mr. Coward said. “Times change, but interest is still actually high; it’s just that ‘viewership’ ratings are based on sitting down and watching full games. People don’t appear to be doing that as much.”

BY: Sean Kim Junior, reporter

layout by Chloe Kim

TikTok banned, then unbanned

Due to privacy concerns regarding its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, Tiktok was confirmed to be banned in the US, but was later unbanned.

The law banning TikTok was endorsed by former US President Joe Biden in the spring of 2024 after being passed by Congress. Government officials collectively agreed that the law should take the form of a divest-orban based on recent US-China tensions. This entails that ByteDance would have to sell TikTok to a domestic company or have it shut down in the US.

The decision for the law was challenged and turned to the Supreme Court on the account of violating the First Amendment on the freedom of speech, yet they unanimously rejected the appeal. TikTok paused its services starting Jan. 18, greetings its users with a disappointing message for many.

“Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now,” the message read. “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”

Yet after the Biden administration declared that they

would leave the enforcement of the law to the incoming Trump administration, President Trump immediately declared an extension of the law to revive TikTok, claiming that he had “no choice” and “[had] to save it.” The new president’s promises did not end there, though. He also claimed that the ban would be repealed the moment he entered office, essentially unbanning the app in around 14 hours.

Many users had opted for social media platforms Little Red Note or XiaoHongShu as an alternative, referring to themselves as “TikTok refugees.” Some find it a much smaller issue than users are claiming it to be, criticizing the almost clinical obsession with the platform. Others have found it an intriguing alternative to TikTok.

“It was very devastating, and I was counting down the days in despair,” Esther Park ’26, TikTok user, said. “I even downloaded XiaoHongShu to get updates from the Americans. But then it got unbanned in 10 hours. Clearly, I was very flustered because of how fast the decision was reversed, but I think it’s for the better.”

Many Americans celebrated the reversal, citing that the ban was unfair from the beginning.

“After seeing the senators ask questions to the TikTok CEO, I thought it was pretty

unfair from the start,” Michael Jang ’28, TikTok advocate, said. “I think that they didn’t have significant proof and they just wanted to ban the app because they knew the influence it has on younger kids.”

The video of senators asking about TikTok went viral months ago, triggering a response from netizens who criticized the government officials’ lack of basic understanding of the app. Many praised the TikTok CEO for remaining calm, while criticizing the government system for prioritizing officials who allegedly could not keep up with the rapidly developing society.

“I thought the TikTok ban was unreasonable because while the app definitely does have its downsides, it’s also an incredibly informative platform, whose benefits are overlooked,” Irene Joh ’28, avid social media user, said. “It provides educational content and spreads awareness on important social issues. I also thought the argument about China collecting our data was dumb because they use it, too. It’s hypocritical that they could use it, but we are told it’s too dangerous for us because of security risks.”

BY: Jian Hong Junior reporter

Brandy Melville in Korea sparks commotion

A bustling crowd lined up for hours in Seongsu on Jan. 3, eager to enter the new Brandy Melville store that opened in Korea. Known for its cute aesthetic and “one size fits all” policy, Brandy Melville has gained a devoted global customer base, especially among teenagers.

With its affordable staple pieces of clothing and accessories, such as oversized graphic tees and cropped sweaters, Brandy Melville offers an organized selection of trendy designs catered to young, fashion-forward individuals. The store is decorated with a minimalist aesthetic and neatly arranged clothing racks, showcasing the brand’s signature of youthful offerings.

“I noticed that a lot of teenage girls love shopping there,” Jessie Lee ’28, loyal shopper of the brand, said. “The store is always full of people, and the vibe is very relaxed but stylish. The clothes are simple and easy to mix and match; they are affordable for students like me. I see many of my friends and even K-pop idols wearing Brandy Melville, so it is a popular choice here! I am so glad that Brandy Melville has finally arrived in Korea and I find it fun to be part of a brand that is so trendy and loved by so many.”

Despite the excitement, Brandy Melville’s arrival has ignited debates about inclusivity and communication between customers and workers. Many customers have criticized Brandy Melville for its “one size fits all” policy, which reduced the customer base to only those who are skinny. This led to concerns about whether the only sizesmall clothing would fit the body types of buyers. While some loosely fitting tops and training pants were marked with a “large” label, customers noted that the selection of such items was

very limited in the Seongsu store.

“By only having one size, I think Brandy Melville endorses society’s brutal beauty standards of being tall and skinny,” Noella Shin ’27, regular customer of Brandy Melville, said. “There has been a lot of controversy on this topic, and I think Brandy Melville should make their clothes to fit teenagers of all body types, tall or short, big or small.”

Another issue was the language barrier between consumers and workers. As an international brand, Brandy Melville’s staff at Seongsu included non-Korean speakers, and consumers expressed difficulty getting answers to their questions in the store. Several visitors noted confusion when foreign workers responded to their questions by asking for English translations. While positions requiring Korean communication such as cashiers and fitting room attendants were staffed by Korean speakers, other roles such as floor staff in charge of organizing clothes were staffed by employees of other nationalities.

“I think the language barrier is a significant challenge in creating a positive customer experience in Brandy Melville,” Minseo Park ’26, regular visitor of Brandy Melville, said. “While I have not personally witnessed such situations, I have seen multiple accounts online where customers expressed disappointment. To address this issue, I think Brandy Melville should recruit more Korean-speaking employees or offer Korean training for current employees, ensuring they can communicate basic phrases and assist customers effectively.”

BY: Catherine Ryu Sophomore reporter

Blurry photos, metallic fonts, and low-rise pants were all widely known characteristics of a specific era, commonly referred to as Y2K. Towards the beginning of the 2000s, the fashion items that people preferred were much different from today’s trends. For instance, silver and holographic materials were commonly found in clothes, with streetwear and high fashion also being an extremely popular stylistic choice.

This fashion trend was made extremely popular through the influence of early hip-hop and K-pop stars such as Lee Hyo-ri, who typically wore colorful tank tops with blue denim pants. Lee’s influence was extremely significant to the point that her famous song “Ten Minutes” became the main symbol of the Y2K era.

“I have seen Y2K fashion trends make a big comeback and return in popular music videos, reels and fashion stores,” Chris Ahn ’27, avid Y2K enjoyer, said. “The nostalgia of early hip hop icons in the 2000s like Eminem and 50 Cent had a huge influence on this style and inspired me to try it out.”

Although Y2K made its comeback, the advancements in the trend differ from the original Y2K craze as modern twists were incorporated. While the initial trend embraced bold metallics and chaotic futurism, today’s revival refines nostalgia with sustainable materials and slightly more sleek designs.

“Because fashion is constantly evolving, it’s hard to predict whether the trend will sustain in the following years,” Yunmi Ishida

’28, fashion enthusiast, said. “The comeback of Y2K influenced many new fashion trends such as the popularity of lowrise jeans. However, I do think that there’s a possibility for a new 2000s style to be in trend this year that might replace the Y2K trend.”

With the rising popularity of NewJeans, a K-pop group famously known for its unique and fresh concept, and “Ten Minutes” on TikTok, Y2K has successfully returned as a new sensation for the younger generations. Fueled by social media, the trend successfully blended vintage authentic clothing with a modern touch of contemporary creativity to turn the once chaotic Y2K style into a new branch of visual appeal in the aesthetic world.

NewJeans was originally based

on Y2K aesthetics starting from their debut. Their hit songs “Attention,” “Hype Boy,” “Ditto,” “OMG,” “Super Shy,” “ETA,” “How Sweet,” and “Supernatural” all showcase renewed Y2K fashion in the music videos, succeeding in sparking nostalgic emotions for citizens from the 2000s era.

“When NewJeans made their debut, I thought their concept was really unique, like something I’ve never seen before,” Ceyon An ’27, NewJeans fan, said. “Everything was new; their fashion, their music style, and even their aesthetics had a certain nostalgic vibe. Their Y2K aesthetic was on point, and it’s their group identity now. I think this concept really made Y2K more famous in Korea, because I know that a lot of people started wearing Y2K or similar clothes after New-

Jeans debuted with ‘Attention’.”

After receiving a strong push from New Jeans, Y2K fashion made a grand return to the K-pop industry, with various idols starting to wear fashion items from the 2000s era including tank tops paired with low-rise pants, clothes with metallic fabric, and chunky sneakers in music videos and stage performances. Accessories like mini shoulder bags, tinted sunglasses, and aesthetic clips have also become iconic stapes, further enhancing the nostalgic aesthetic fashion users once cherished.

And with that, it is time to go back to the future and reshape Y2K!

BY:

Yumin Jeon & Leah Kim Sophomore, reporterS

K-culture’s distractions from politics

By HYUNJOON RHA

In thKorean culture (K-culture) is currently in its stride of global popularity despite political commotion in the country. Works such as “Squid Game 2,” “APT.,” and anything relating to BTS all consistently take the spotlight away from President Yoon Suk-yeol’s arrest and impeachment, and many other artists have been doing the same work when it came to North Korean conflict. In other words, K-culture upholds a positive public image of Korea. Consequently, when asked about the state of Korea, international consumers can answer with either of the following two diametric connotations—cultural or political—depending on the time. This generates an interesting question: when do people view Korea more for its culture than its politics?

Public perception is malleable and constantly changing. This means there cannot be a single Holy Grail of all answers to that question. However, a crucial aspect of public perception is timeliness: what is on people’s minds is often what has happened most recently. South Korea as of late has been a massive powerhouse of content creation unbound by content form (albums, television series, movies), which is how it has been constantly keeping in check with its fans. Moreover, social media has played a big role in spreading memes and trends like dalgona (the brown sugar candy with shapes), and clips from “Squid Game 2.” The proliferation of short-form content means more timely exposure.

While studios may not deliberately release trendy material whenever unsavory political events occur in Korea, when they happen to do so, the unintended impact is that it somewhat deters the third-party cynicism of the country. A watertight schedule of constant releases reminds audiences of the attractive side of Korea and distracts them from the negative news reports.

“I think that it’s all about timing,” Alaina Ramey, domestic consumer of K culture, said. “Because right now Squid game just came out, and so that’s kind of the big show. I would say culture overshadows politics mostly just when there’s some type of big thing that came out, like when Parasite came out that’s all anyone can talk about. Most of the time people want to focus on the cultural side in general because news is pretty negative in general nowadays. It’s like the big thing is ‘Squid Game 2’ so that political things take a backseat.”

The takeaway: K-culture is not just a promotion of an East Asian nation’s culture—it is an unprecedented global brand. So many of the worlds presented within K-fiction are crafted for viewership outside of the Korean peninsula with a target demographic made up largely of North Americans—they transform into convenient samples of escapist media for a third party when the real Korea does not match up to its promised K-aesthetic. The obvious instance being the recent protests.

The next reason why the general audience may focus more on the cultural side of Korea than the political one is the self-promotional nature of Korean content. A well-made brand is not just timely, but it also appeals to the audience’s palate. Much of Korea’s content has a riveting self-awareness—a meta quality that reflects their ambition for internationalization. Korean musical artists rap and sing English lyrics, with Rosé specifically collaborating with Bruno Mars for her latest single “APT.,” very much a choice to have her song played in the States. Scenes in movies and TV shows feature English-speaking characters like the VIPs and Ali from “Squid Game.” Although some of these characters have been criticized for their unnatural dialogue, the show could have very well been made with an all-Korean cast, but Netflix made a different

decision.

Adopting English as a dominant form of expression leads to more exposure in English-speaking countries, which makes K-content more approachable. As much of the world does not always pay tremendous attention to every single international conflict, when presented with the choice between researching the latest Korean politics and consuming tailor-made content, many will choose the latter. Exceptions do exist, like when President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment was trending on social media, but that issue simply was not relatable enough for the average onlooker to prioritize over catching up with more K-content.

Not all of Korean entertainment was created with Western audiences in mind. But there were notable outliers that ended up gaining global traction anyway. Released in 2019, Bong Joon-ho’s movie “Parasite” won the prize of Best Picture at the Oscars despite being comprised entirely of Korean-speaking actors, but that was some time ago. At that point, the presence of K-culture had already been established internationally through the work of previous artists who aimed for global fame, and it was simply able to ride the K-wave and contribute to the positive light in which Korean filmmaking and the arts.

The Notorious K

From Feb. 26-29, the Mobile World Conference BaRecent political tumult in Korea over President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law has garnered an immense amount of international traction. Yet, this kind of global interest is not new to the nation. Although Korea is often known for its culture, including K-pop and various successful shows such as “Squid Game” and “Single’s Inferno,” the geopolitical perspective also plays an important role in determining Korea’s reputation. With the increased recognition both aspects are receiving, it has become apparent that they both play a crucial role in shaping the country’s reputation.

While both the cultural and geopolitical aspects of Korea proved to be imperative in the development of the country, the lens through which people view Korea differs greatly, specifically under the geopolitical lens.

The declaration of martial law, though short-lived, had ramifying international effects. The Korean won plummeted in value, stocks’ values decreased, and weeks of protests waged—affecting the international market at large. Further, allied countries are worried that Yoon’s successor may not continue to invest the political capital Yoon did to further institutionalize security cooperation with Japan. They also fear the discontinuation of previous efforts made to reconcile ties with North Korea.

“After martial law, there has been a lot of political chaos in Korea.” Joseph Kang ’27, politics enthusiast, said. “For example, Korea had to go through three presidents of which two have been impeached already. The dilemma of power distribution among the parties also raises questions about the transparency of Korean politics. I don’t think other countries investigated in depth about these incidents. Yet, I think these countries are disregarding the political past of Korea

By JOSEPH LIM ’27

and viewing the incident in a very short-term way.”

As such, major political tumults such as the Gwangju uprising have previously tarnished Korea’s global reputation and the political resolutions the country has implemented to mitigate protests and public disputes. Specifically, the citizens of Gwangju protested against the martial law imposed by General Chun Doo-hwan, in which the demonstrations were brutally suppressed by the military, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

The suppression was condemned globally, and allies of Korea, such as the US, received criticism for supporting dictatorship and violence. Moreover, international human rights organizations like Amnesty International increased their focus on South Korea, documenting abuses and calling for accountability.

As a result, it seems as if the cultural aspect of Korea is overshadowed by the geopolitical one in times of political tumult. While the flashy culture of Korea that has garnered international acclaim aided in its commercial growth, it ceases to eclipse the importance of the global political perspective on Korea. Thus, while Korea’s culture may increase global outreach, especially to the younger generation, it is due to the political attention Korea receives that it was able to foster greater economic opportunities.

“Because of all the negative news that is nationally spreading right now due to the declaration of martial law and the aftermath, I think some advancements in the cultural aspect of Korea are overshadowed,” Alex Ko ’27, avid consumer of Korean culture, said. “For example, news channels are filled with recent news about President Yoon’s fate rather than the cultural advancements such as new internationally acclaimed KPOP groups.”

As five previous Korean presidents have ended up

in Jail due to illicit acts, these scandals have created a negative reputation of Korea as a politically unstable country. Specifically, the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye during 2016-17. Exposing significant flaws in the political system, including deep-seated corruption and the influence of personal relations in the political process, the scandal brought about many responses and reactions from ally countries such as America, China, and Japan. While most of these countries hoped for political rehabilitation to not affect bilateral relations, some covered the event negatively, highlighting the influence of political tumults from an international perspective.

Thus, both the cultural and geopolitical aspects both contribute to the polar and diverse opinions expressed about Korea internationally. However, the views on the two aspects, cultural and geopolitical, differ drastically. While the cultural aspect of Korea represents a country as a land of development and an opportunist of creativity, with its well-organized music program/groups, and internationally acclaimed TV programs and movies, the geopolitical aspect seems to represent the country as one that has an unstable political system. With every few presidents ending up in jail and the occurrence of frequent protests, the international view regarding the geopolitics of Korea ceases to be positive.

Colin Park: SIS’s one and only lumberjack

When a bomb cyclone tore through Redmond, Washington, it toppled trees and power lines and left behind a devastated community. With 700,000 residents out of power and fallen trees blocking roads, many, like Colin Park ’26, found themselves trapped at home with little to do.

“This definitely wasn’t the winter break I was looking forward to,” Colin, freelance lumberjack, said. “When I arrived at my grandparent’s neighborhood, I saw many of my neighbors having trouble making repairs to their damaged homes. Massive trees were blocking driveways and yards, and some were on the verge of collapsing. I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing, that is when I decided to make use of some of the skills I had learned.”

While most students at SIS decided to spend their winters in hagwons studying in advance for the next semester, Colin spent his winter working as a freelance lumberjack, cutting wood for his neighbors.

“It was almost natural; I just

layout by Kayla Kim

grabbed my axe and started cutting,” Colin said. “I had already learned the fundamental sledgehammer, chainsaw, and axe techniques from my uncle, so all I really had to do was put them to good use and help my neighbors. I think this was a good opportunity to step away from all that privilege I had growing up and get my hands dirty.”

When a tree toppled over, Colin grabbed his axe and started cutting it into manageable rounds. Then, with the help of a chainsaw, he created a small crevice for the wedge, breaking the rounds open with a couple of controlled swings from a sledgehammer. With cedar trees in Bellevue and Lake Sammamish averaging around 25 meters tall, Colin’s job was no easy task.

“I initially went with the intention of just doing the lumber work for free,” Colin said. “But the people I helped kept insisting I take their payment, explaining that it would have cost them more to hire contractors to do the work instead.

Rather than charging them cash, I realized it would be more profitable if I just asked for a portion of the wood I cut, selling it for kindling. HomeDepot sells kindling for around $40 for 12 pieces of medium-sized logs, so I decided to sell it for one-fourth the price for people to use as firewood.”

With nearly everyone in his neighborhood being elderly, Colin took it upon himself to clear the yards and driveways, ensuring that his fellow neighbors could leave their homes. Despite the challenges of physical labor, Colin eventually finished cutting most of the fallen trees, receiving many thanks, hugs, and cookies along the way.

“Looking back, I see this as a unique opportunity to get a job,” Colin said. “The vast majority of international students in Korea never worked a nine to five in high school, so being able to experience that kind of responsibility and hard work was eye-opening. This experience of me taking a portion of my cut wood and selling it for firewood gave me a new appreciation for

the value of labor and the effort it takes to make money.”

Through his work cutting trees, Colin supported his neighbors and made money for the first time. What began as a charitable act soon evolved into a fully fledged freelance business, as neighbors began offering Colin a portion of their lumber.

In addition to making money, Colin found the experience to be rewarding at a personal level. As he worked, cutting trees from nine to five, he heard stories from the elderly residents about their lives. One neighbor in particular, Barry Bonnell, a former Seattle Mariners baseball outfielder, shared memories of his time playing in the Major Leagues.

“It warms my heart to know that there are still youngsters like Colin left in this town,” Barry, Colin’s neighbor, said. Most of the teenagers in Redmond go to other places around this time and most usually move out to downtown Bellevue. I am really grateful that kids like Colin are still around to help

in times like these. I am getting too old to really do anything anymore and frankly without Colin’s help, clearing all the lumber in my backyard would have taken years. It was nice having someone ask me what I did in life and genuinely listening to my stories.”

Colin shared how the experience was more than just charity; it was a learning opportunity.

“It was so interesting to learn about the lives of my neighbors,” Colin said. “As international students, we are often too preoccupied with academic rigor that we forget to look around and appreciate the opportunities life has laid out for us. Getting up and working a nine-to-five was an eye-opener for me. From the stories of my neighbors, I learned about the value of persistence, individuality, and money. I encourage everyone to spend their next summers not locked up in academies but seeing what life has in store for them.”

BY: Carson Park Junior, reporter

Photo by Jiwu Lee ’27

Kriistalyzing the digital outreach of SIS

Among the thousands of Korean international school students, SIS boasts a distinctive YouTube star in the making. Kristina Kang ’25, the creator of the YouTube channel “Krii,” has become a growing sensation.

With the widespread use of social networking service apps such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, the number of students using these platforms to document parts of their lives has increased. Also known as “vloggers,” these content creators have become prevalent in the SIS student community, with various channels gaining traction, such as “Alychee,” a vlogging account by Alyssa Lee ’24, or “Nangman Crew,” consisting of Alex Kim, Jay Lee, Sean Choi, Jaewoong Park, Phillip Kim, Andrew Park, and Andrew Choi, all from the class of 2023. Of them all, Krii, has garnered some of the most popularity.

“At first, I started Krii purely because of memory purposes,” Kristina, channel owner, said. “If there is anything cool going on in my life or around me, I just take out my camera and

take photos and videos to remember it. But since these footages were taking too much storage, I decided to edit them and summarize them based on their relatability, then post it on my YouTube channel.”

Created on Sep. 7, 2015, Krii has amassed over 13.5 thousand subscribers and garnered 823,189 total views across 33 videos.

“Back then, my channel solely focused on posting videos about my dog Bono, and even if I wanted to post my vlogs on my channel, I felt like I was betraying my subscribers who were only interested in my dog content,” Kristina said. “However, as I started to lose motivation and interest in my own channel, I decided to go on with a fresh start, aiming to engage viewers with a fresh perspective. That’s when I began posting the vlog contents.”

Kristina posts various videos on her channel, ranging from vlogs about her school life to videos of her playing with her dogs. Her videos mainly document her life as a student at SIS,

particularly special events such as the Terry Fox Run, volleyball matches, and AISA matches. She occasionally posts videos about special events outside of school, such as music concerts and cosmetics testing.

“I chose to post international school vlogs that capture school memories not only because I want to remember my high school days when I get older but to also share and spread the experience,” Kristina said. “I also documented my academic and social life at an international school, offering insight to viewers curious about studying abroad or school life, hoping it would be informative for those interested in these areas.”

Content creation is usually a highly ambitious pursuit, as is the case with Krii. However, running a YouTube channel is not without its challenges.

“Time management was definitely one of the most difficult aspects of managing a channel,” Kristina said. “As a student in high school, editing videos that contained over 150 footage while having various summa-

tives and homework was more difficult than it seemed to manage by myself. To make a one-minute length of the video, I spend about an hour editing it, so basically I spend about 20 hours making a 20-minute video. So, uploading one video took a lot of determination and motivation.”

Krii sheds a positive light on the SIS community as the channel captures the bright environment and cheerful mood during the school events, such as during the sophomore latenight, Terry Fox run, and prom. Krii has also garnered many international fans, furthering the digital outreach. Through Krii, international and Korean fans have expressed sentiments of wanting to attend SIS, and how interesting the school life at SIS seems.

As a senior nearing the end of her high school career, Kristina plans to engage more actively with her channel and fans now that her workload has decreased. Previously, she recalls an instance where a student from Cheonga Dalton

School approached her, stating that she was a big fan of Krii. These interactions further motivate Kristina to continue uploading content on her channel.

“Since I am currently a senior in high school, I want to put my priority on posting more videos that capture my senior life,” Kristina said. “Now that I have more time on my hands, I would like to vary my contents more. I want to try going back to posting content about Bono, my dog, again.”

Through Krii, Kristina has learned valuable skills that she plans on honing in the future. Moreover, Krii allows fans from around the world to get a glimpse of what life as a student in SIS looks like, highlighting the school’s bright and cheerful atmosphere amid various events. With her fans and subscribers rooting for her alike, Kristina plans to continue her journey in the next stage of her life: college.

BY: Joseph Lim Sophomore, reporter

Photo by Yumin Jeon ’27

NO REGRETS? THINK AGAIN.

The beginning of a new year is always an exciting transition into the future and an opportunity to move on from the troubles and mistakes of the previous year. However, it is also important to reflect on the past year and identify and learn from regrets and missteps. As we are now at the halfway point of the decade, six SIS students and faculty reflected on their biggest regrets and takeaways from 2024.

“Perhaps unsurprisingly, my greatest regret this year is WeBWorK-related,” Nathan Warkentin, upper-level mathematics teacher, said. “Over the summer, I did a lot of work implementing Geometry homework into WeBWorK, but as the school year progressed, I just wasn’t able to keep up with the timetable. Unfortunately, this meant that Geometry students had to return to paper homework midway through the year. While there is great value for the students in solving these problems on paper, I am still disappointed that I couldn’t push through my personal challenge.”

“My biggest regret from 2024 is not spending enough time with my family and friends,” Minjoo Kim ’28, said. “I often found myself so busy with school, responsibilities, and personal goals that I neglected the people who matter most to me. Looking back, I realize how much I missed out on—the conversations, the laughs, and the little moments that make relationships special. In 2025, I want to make a conscious effort to prioritize my relationships and to fully engage in the moments that really matter.”

layout by Anders Christensen

“My biggest regret from 2024 is signing up for an abundance of extracurriculars without sufficiently organizing my schedule, Leona Gohde ’28, said. “I didn’t think about time to study, relax, or go out with friends, and had to constantly bounce between valuing extracurriculars over academics and vice versa. As a result, I fell relatively behind and ended up getting regretfully lower grades than I expected. With that being said, I’m optimistic about 2025 because learning from my previous mistakes will ensure that I am twice as efficient.”

“As I reflect on 2024, I regret not having made more time to play the piano,” James Kowalski, AP Research and U.S. History teacher, said. “Music has always been a source of solace and creativity for me, but I allowed myself to put it aside too often in favor of getting one more task on my to-do list done. My 2025 journey will be one that more successfully balances the things that make life both challenging and fulfilling.”

“Looking back on my first three high school years, there are a lot of things in the past that I could spend days lamenting about,” Yoonwoo Lee ’26, said. “2023 was my year of bad decisions, and 2024 was my descent into regret. But now I realize that I don't really regret anything. Everything I did or do will either lead to success or serve as a new lesson learned, and I am all for it.”

“There were many memorable moments from 2024, such as spending time with friends, meeting with family, and celebrating achievements,” Chong Min ’25, said. “But at the end of the day, after these moments passed, my mind was consumed with the anxiety of the future, and I couldn’t really enjoy the present. I’m glad that it’s all over now, and am looking forward to enjoying what 2025 has to offer.”

BY: Sean Kim and Anders Christensen Junior, reporter and Sophomore, reporter

FavoritE SQUID GAME 2 CharactEr

“Freeze! I have watched these games before!”

Following the release of “Squid Game 2” on Dec. 26, 2024, the SIS community has been filled with students imitating their favorite line from the show. “Squid Game,” initially released in 2021, gained global popularity for its intense storyline centered around a deadly survival game where contestants risk their lives playing traditional Korean children’s games for a massive cash prize. Naturally, there are characters that have been receiving more love or more hate than the others, which was surveyed through a school-wide poll.

FavoritE CharactEr

The next question of the form asked for the least favorite Squid Game 2 character within the SIS community.

Coming in first was Seon-nyeo with 14 votes and a vote percentage of 16.3 percent. In the show, Seon-nyeo is portrayed as a psychic with a lack of powers. Her slow choices and incapability to survive on her own have caused viewers to be frustrated over her character, allowing her to secure a lot of votes.

Coming in second was, interestingly, Thanos, with 10 votes and a vote percentage of 12.8 percent. Although Thanos has been receiving a lot of love, it is also true that his character received ambivalent reactions, with some stating that his character was necessary for the show while others state that his acting was too unnatural.

As for the final question that asked for the students’ favorite line from the show, two quotes in particular earned the most votes. With 20 votes and a voting percentage of 25%, “Gyeong-su, you out” and “I’ve played these games before” received the highest votes. The first quote is from Thanos, and became a meme due to the ridiculous nature of the scene. The second quote is from Seong Gi-hun, the main protagonist of the Squid Game franchise, which rapidly became a meme in social media after the English dubbed version of the show was criticized for its bad acting.

The runner-ups for this category were the Thanos rap with 13 votes, “Freeze” with nine votes, and “I’m a legend, Thanos” with seven votes.

With a total of 86 respondents, the poll received varying responses from SIS students and faculty members.

Starting with the category of favorite Squid Game 2 character, Choi Su-bong, more famously known as “Thanos”, came in first with 30 votes and a vote percentage of 34.9 percent. Thanos is a character that has received a lot of love, especially among global fans, due to his funky personality and ridiculous actions in the show. His popularity is also evidently clear in SIS, as a lot of students can be seen imitating the most famous lines of Thanos such as his rap verse from the second episode.

Coming in second with 11 votes and a vote percentage of 12.8 percent was Kim Jun-hee, or player 222, one of the main female characters of the show. Player 222 has also been receiving a lot of attention due to her attractive features and sympathetic character, who was portrayed as a young pregnant woman who needed money for her baby. Player 222’s popularity can be seen quite clearly in social media platforms such as Instagram or TikTok, as a lot of the popular edits that were made on Squid Game 2 are for her.

BY: Leah Kim and Kayla Kim SophomoreS, reporterS

How soon is too soon?

by Yoon Choi and Jason Lee

editors-in-chief

Though the new year is often met with celebratory festivities, this transitional year-end period was filled with some of the most devastating headlines of 2024. Across the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the destructive wildfires in LA, truck-related tragedies in New Orleans and Las Vegas, a deadly Washington D.C. plane-helicopter crash, and the passing of 181 passengers and crew members in the Jeju Air crash, these past few months have been riddled with calamities.

The Tiger Times staff members express our deepest condolences for the victims of these tragedies and for the many others we did not mention.

A common denominator across all these stories is their polarizing public reactions, especially in the digital space. After the initial mourning, a wave of commentary on Internet media is often published. Some are investigative and explanatory, aiming to highlight the scope of the devastation or share the victims’ stories as tribute. However, much of this content among younger generations focuses on cracking jokes, making references, and producing memes surrounding these tragedies. We saw content that glorified and sexualized suspect Luigi Mangione, undermined the severity of the wildfires, and referenced the link between truck accidents and Grand Theft Auto (GTA), which were commonly posted on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

This cycle follows a general phenomenon of desensitization to public catastrophes across social media. Jokes surrounding various national tragedies are normalized: 9/11, the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, slavery, the assassination of presidents, and more. The Internet’s protection of anonymity and lack of physical consequence is a core root of this issue; people are free to say whatever they want without fearing significant repercussions due to the detachment of one’s digital identity from their real one. Additionally, those digitally verbose enough to create memes on social media were often not physically present to experience these tragedies, making individuals seemingly indifferent to the distress caused to previous generations who lived through such events.

So, how soon is “too soon?”

Though certainly a necessary discussion, this question has no concrete answer. For some, there is no such thing as “too soon,” advocating that commentary is most necessary immediately following a tragedy’s aftermath. Contrastingly, others may believe it is never the time to comically comment on tragedies, no matter how far away they were.

It must be noted that comedy is often innately provocative, but that doesn’t constitute its unacceptability. Significant, meaningful discussions about society cannot be had without bravery in voicing opinions, speaking out, and reflecting on tragedy. A “hot take,” in the right contexts, is necessary. Indeed, clearer distinctions must be made between using comedy to reflect and grieve, and outright distastefulness. Joking about tragedy should not be done with the intent to undermine the severity of calamities, or the grievances that those involved must go through.

The way to point this internet trend towards a better direction lies in the viewers, not those creating such content. As users, we should aim to reciprocate media that respectfully incorporate humor in the correct contexts to lighten the overwhelming darkness that is often shed. The likes of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, and other satirical but informative platforms use humor to effectively encode a coping mechanism for many, while simultaneously spreading greater awareness of the event. While we can appreciate how this kind of media navigates issues with levity, we must distinguish it from the distasteful, repulsive content that often takes the spotlight.

After all, laughter is the best medicine (sometimes).

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 Catherine Ryu

Romanticizing true crime: Gruesome entertainment

True crime enthusiasts are widespread, from the invested teenager watching videos while doing her makeup to the anxious married couple fretting over their television from the warmth of their couch. They remain invested in the show, only to realize for a moment that these are real events that happened to real people.

Many individuals consume true crime media as entertainment and a way to pass the time, yet few are aware of the hidden industry of true crime films.

Such media can indeed be interesting and intriguing. The story is suspenseful and built up in a way that draws in the audience. The viewers are given a sense of importance as detectives in a mystery, with a final plot twist always revealed at the end. When introducing themselves, some people even use the term “true crime girlie” to proudly announce their association. What society must ask itself, however, is whether or not such light portrayals of human death and crime should be tolerated.

Unethical and intrusive moral hazards must be approached with caution, especially considering the victims and their families, who often attempt to speak out against true crime films that make a travesty of serious incidents.

A primary issue with true crime is its negligence of due procedure. Film producers often disregard their obligation to collect consent from victims or to verify information provided to them.

This leads to the public airing of incorrect and violating information, considering that it was collected through shady methods and diluted recollection from third-party actors.

The normalization of true crime and the criminals within it is hardly new. Since a few years ago, trends of referring to criminals as “hot” or romanticizing them as they would a celebrity have picked up traction on the Internet. Similar cases happen even now with the convict behind the UN World Health Assembly minister’s death— Luigi Mangione—whose edited videos and “thirst traps,” videos that appeal to the sexual nature of an individual, have gone viral. Discussions on normalization are directly tied to the number of people who watch true crime and find it as a form of entertainment.

“Honestly, I never really understood why people would make those edits about real criminals,” Gloria Kim ’27, TikTok user, said. “It’s one thing to be interested in like films about crime, but actually thinking that a criminal is cool to obsess over is pretty weird. I don’t think it’s a good thing.”

True crime is heavily interconnected to criminals in that sense. Many films, especially the dramatized ones such as “Extremely Wicket, Shockingly Evil and Vile” on Ted Bundy, often star attractive male actors to pose as the murderer; others add creative elements and entice viewers to disengage themselves from reality, humanizing serial killers by adding a sob story. These films simply

Elderly driver’s license reforms

A driver accelerated through the Mokdong Kkaebi Market on Dec. 31, 2024, and shattered a fruit store, rendering its owner killed and 13 pedestrians injured. The driver was revealed to be a man in his 70s who stopped receiving treatment for his Alzheimer’s disease after 3 months of medication. The driver stated that it was not due to sudden acceleration. On July 3, 2024, a 68-year-old driver was involved in a similar accident near Seoul City Hall, resulting in nine deaths and seven injuries.

Driving accidents caused by elderly drivers repeatedly occur in Korea, accounting for 20 percent of total car accidents in 2023, according to a report from Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. The annual increase rate of accidents involving drivers over 65 was 14.4 percent over the past four years, notably higher than the 4 percent increase among drivers in their 20s to 50s. The public’s concern has risen, and it is worth considering restricting those with weakening driving abilities from continuing to drive to protect pedestrians and older drivers.

Yet, simply banning older individuals

feed into the morally gray practice of obsessing over these individuals, which is a shock and a source of retraumatization for victims in itself.

“I don’t think it’s that deep,” Ryan Son ’28, true crime film advocate, said. “I think people can watch true crime if they want to for entertainment. Those shows are usually made after consulting people anyway. I just don’t think it’s to the level where we should worry about the case associated with it.”

Some advocate for true crime films because they incorporate because they incorporate show-like elements that differentiate them from reality. But these factors may be for the worse—by making crime more of a “show,” producers are alleviated from the burden of being sensitive to the victim’s emotions or the realistic portrayal of events.

Being able to focus on the physical attractiveness of someone who ruined other people’s lives or the flashy effects of a show based on a gruesome crime is an accurate reflection of current society’s crude lack of empathy for others. While some may believe that the educational value or issue awareness is an important component of the documentaries they watch, these aspects can be well made up for through alternatives such as the news. At the same time, an invasion of privacy and a carelessly sensational approach to the topic may forever tarnish the victims.

dents is that they cannot see, then maybe it would be helpful to ask those who have been in accidents more questions like whether they could not see their front as a whole or just the person they hit. But at the same time, we also need to consider that not all elderly live close to subway stations if we take them off the road.”

While some are concerned that stricter driver’s license reforms would limit older individuals’ mobility rights, those who are still capable of safe driving can maintain their licenses despite rigorous tests. Setting the bar higher for the safety of pedestrians and infrastructure, as well as the drivers themselves, is an important step for society that prevents unnecessary casualties. In other words, the third party’s right to safety on roads outweighs the first party’s right to drive around as an older individual who is no longer fit to drive safely.

from driving does not resolve this complex issue, especially considering that Korea is a super-aged society where social inequalities and tensions should be minimized. Instead, driver’s license policies should be strengthened through a robust set of cognitive tests required for renewal. These tests can be efficiently completed in an hour and would examine older individuals’ abilities in areas such as memory, response time, information processing, and concentration.

Additionally, these renewal policies should be applied to a wider age range, lowering the minimum age required to take renewal tests from 75 to 65, as it is currently set. These cognitive tests can be enforced in non-intrusive ways, such as by including them as a free examination part of regular health screenings or providing incentives such as reduced insurance rates.

“Some people shouldn’t go back on the road if they are unable to see well, just like people are required to wear contacts or glasses if they have eye impairments,” Alaina Ramey, concerned follower of the issue, said. “If the main reason for them to get into acci-

Some cities in Korea have implemented ways to incentivize the elderly’s voluntary return of licenses by rewarding monetary compensations or money that can be used on public transportation. Hence, even those who can no longer drive can access convenient transportation by expanding this to a nationwide reward system for those who return their license after failing the exams. Although possibly not as convenient as driving their cars, a benefit still comes from the fact that the elderly who are incapable of safe driving can protect themselves from car accidents with convenient transportation as an alternative.

The rapidly aging Korea can ensure the safety and dignity of all citizens through this rigorous driver’s license renewal examination and extended public transportation benefits. As this system becomes more widely accepted, it can become a norm for older individuals to self-select themselves from driving as they become more aware that they are no longer fit to drive. More elderly people can feel more voluntarily involved in this process, understanding that their license withdrawal can reduce the risks of sacrificing more lives and infrastructure on Korean roads.

by: Jian Hong Junior, reporter

by: Minju Chung Sophomore, Copy editor

The case for first-semester executive turnovers

Many seniors yearn for the second semester. With college applications and daunting exams mostly out of the way, the second semester poses an opportunity for seniors to take a break from the academic stress that has weighed down on their shoulders for three and a half years. What this often feeds into, however, is a yearly pattern of notably lowered motivation among seniors in school-related affairs after winter break. This phenomenon is especially unfavorable when seniors, who often hold great responsibility as the leading executive members of most clubs, put notably less effort in the second semester, leading to shortcomings in executive boards and confusion among younger executives and members alike.

To combat the yearly pattern of lower participation among seniors in the second semester, clubs should consider selecting their new executives at the end of the first semester.

“Earlier executive turnovers prevent ‘senioritis,’ or the unwillingness for seniors to be productive after they submitted their college applications,” Russell Jin ’26, Mu Alpha Theta (MAT) President, said. “This system allows for a more motivated executive team. Also, outgoing executives can help incoming executives, allowing [them] to adapt faster to their role[s].”

Three clubs—MAT, Coding Club, and Global Issues Network (GIN)—already select new executives in December and January. This system mitigates what many students humorously term “senioritis,” or the common phenomenon of seniors

losing motivation in the second semester.

For MAT, selecting executives in the first semester ensures that members can continue to receive quality lectures and homework problems from dedicated executives in the second semester. Also, by moving executive turnovers to December and January, as some clubs, such as Global Issues Network (GIN), are in the process of doing, incoming executives can cooperate and organize themselves before recruitment starts in the fall.

“A lot of executives are seniors,” James Dillhoff, GIN adviser, said. “Second semester of senior year tends to be a little less focused and organized for [seniors] as they transition to other more important priorities in their lives. If you’ve got your exec board in place in January, the momentum of carrying the club over through the summer is stronger as you go into August, when clubs are recruiting new members. Having an exec board in place means that recruiting will be well organized, as opposed to picking those execs right at the end of the year.”

Beyond countering the lowered motivation from seniors in the second semester, earlier executive turnovers allow younger, incoming executives to gain experience working together before member recruitment starts in the fall. Also, earlier executive turnovers allow incoming executives to learn directly from seniors’ experiences. What often results from second-semester executive turnovers is a trial-and-error process among incoming executives, who are unsure of how they should best

Viewpoint Feature:

Many seniors yearn for the second semester, when college applications and daunting exams are mostly out of the way. However, many seniors are the leading executive members of most clubs.

As seniors transition to focusing on larger priorities in the second semester, many clubs undertake awkward transitions of power, causing confusion among members and incoming executives alike in the wake of the new school year.

Why are some clubs moving their executive turnovers to the first semester?

How can we best combat the yearly pattern of lowered motivation from seniors in the second semester?

manage and lead their club due to a lack of prior experience and guidance. However, if executive boards are finalized in the first semester, new executives can learn from the invaluable experiences of their outgoing counterparts for a few months before the upcoming school year However, rescheduling executive turnovers for December may come with challenges. For one, December may be an overwhelming time for many due to SBEs, and rescheduling executive turnovers may add to a mountain of existing pressure. However, far more pressure exists in April, when most high school students will be studying for what is usually between one and five AP exams. As SBEs test students based on already-acquired skills rather than knowledge of course material, students’ workloads are less demanding. Even if some SBEs require revision, lightly revising a semester’s content entails far less pressure than reviewing a year’s worth of content for one or more AP exams.

It should be considered that rescheduling club executive turnovers may result in other parts of the club management procedure changing, such as the schedules for club funding and club renewals. However, the rescheduling of such processes would not bring about any harm in the club management process—instead, it would only push these procedures earlier in the year.

Another possible concern with moving executive turnovers to December is that it may cause some seniors to feel even less motivated, as their executive roles are no longer in their own hands. However, sen-

iors’ newfound responsibility to mentor incoming executives may give them a sense of fulfillment. Even if some seniors feel less willing to contribute, most of the seniors who are less willing to contribute after letting go of their executive positions will likely be the same seniors who will contribute less even if they retain their executive responsibilities throughout the second semester.

Suppose executive selection processes are not moved to December. In that case, incoming executives cannot be mentored or gain prior experience, which may slow progress in the upcoming school year. If executive selections are moved to December, incoming executives will, if seniors play their part, gain experience and contribute in the place of outgoing executives. Every year, almost all school clubs undertake awkward transitions of power. With incoming executives with no idea of what they have gotten themselves into and lowered commitment from seniors in the second semester, it has become increasingly clear that the current schedule for executive selections is inefficient. To best combat the yearly pattern of curtailed effort from seniors in the second semester, and to ensure that incoming executives can learn from the extensive experience of their upperclassmen before the upcoming school year, clubs should reschedule their executive turnovers for the end of the first semester.

by: Charlotte Eunseo Kim Sophomore, reporter

photomonth of the

In a pivotal moment of a girls varsity basketball game against YISS, Julie Koh ’26 prepares to inbound the ball to Hannah Park ’27.

Photo by Jason Shin ’25

WHAT I ... Escalators

By Joseph Lim & Jason Chung

What if all our stairs turned into escalators?

At SIS, at least three students are caught every day abusing the elevators without permission, whether in the annex, high school building, or middle school building. Ignoring the prominent laminated warning that reads, “DO NOT USE,” these bold bandits sneak on the elevator, evading teachers when they reach their destination. Yet from a student’s perspective, this “crime” is not completely unreasonable.

For the many students who live far away from SIS, their day starts as early as 6 a.m. Tired and unmotivated, they rush to get dressed and pack their bags before getting on the bus, leaving no time for breakfast. As a result, many students can be found in the cafe or the school store before their first period starts. The desperate need to fulfill their hunger, coupled with their desire to evade a tardy, is one instance where the elevator is commonly used, as three flights of stairs consume too much time and energy.

“Because of school rules, I’ve rarely used the elevator,” Peter Yoon ’26, infrequent elevator user, said. “But in some cases, I ride along with other students from the cafe in B1 to make it to class on time, as the line there is often quite long and walking up multiple flights of stairs takes too much time.”

So, what if our stairs turned into escalators?

Surely, it would satisfy the tired legs of the student body. As an immediate effect, the number of tardy students will decrease as they no longer need to run up three flights of stairs two minutes before their classes start. Moreover, students will no longer have to be engaged in laboring physical activities first thing in the morning when their eyelids are half closed and their brains are half asleep.

“Replacing the stairs in school with escalators could be a remedy for high school students who are always tired but prohibited from using the elevator,” David Lee ’27, advocate of this idea, said. “I think it is a fun idea, but at the same time I feel like there is going to be a lot of injuries.”

Unfortunately…

Constructing escalators is quite a difficult change to implement as we would have to completely rebuild our school from top-tobottom. The installation cost could be up to as high as millions of dollars, a budget SIS is not willing to allocate just for escalators. In addition, considering how students often fool around on the stairs, replacing them with escalators could put students’ safety at risk.

Finally, as students are no longer required to take a PE class after their sophomore year, students tend to not exercise, and replacing stairs with escalators might be taking away the only time students get to exercise. This could induce a lazy pandemic in SIS, and as exercise activates and awakens the brain, the installation of escalators could further worsen the state of tired and burnt-out students in SIS.

“I believe that replacing stairs with escalators reduces physical activity, increases maintenance and energy costs, impacts environmental sustainability, and costs unnecessary amounts of money that could be used for different ways,” Chris Ahn ’27, avid stair user, said. “So, I believe that it’s not a good idea to replace stairs with escalators.”

Picture a situation where all our stairs turned into escalators. While this change may not be immediately applicable, it sure does appeal to the students. Hopefully, in the future, we can see escalators instead of stairs in the school. Who knows? That might be after the summer break.

Life’s Questions

By Yeonjae Kim

Do we all experience the same reality?

Over the past few years, the photo of the dress that was either black and blue or gold and white, or the audio recording that played either “Laurel” or “Yanny” became online phenomenons as they sparked debates over what the right answer was. While seemingly trivial, these disagreements point to an underlying question: does everybody experience the same reality? In response to this commonly asked question, philosophers, neuroscientists, and psychologists have suggested that the perception of reality is shaped by multiple factors, ultimately creating a different reality for everyone.

The most basic reason behind different perceptions is the biological factor. Because everybody has varying genes, the way sensory information is processed and presented by the brain is different. For instance, color perception depends on how a person’s eyes and brain process the light it is receiving, which is why it could lead to variations among people. Even when looking at the sky, for example, though the word “blue” is globally used to describe its color, some may perceive it as a darker shade, while others see it as a more bright and vivid color. Similarly, when eating food, what tastes salty for one may be bland for others, highlighting how biology and how one chooses to process one’s senses ultimately influences their experience of the physical world.

Other than the senses people are born with, their environment and experiences also shape how they view reality. Perception is not solely the result of sensory information but is deeply influenced by context. German physicist Hermann von Helmholtz presented the idea that perceptual experience is when the brain combines sensory information with its own predictions to produce an individual’s experience of the world. Because one’s whole idea of reality is based on an initial prediction, it is even said that everyone is living in a “controlled hal -

Your thoughts:

lucination.”

One variable that could change people’s initial predictions before becoming perceptions is their upbringings or backgrounds; for example, while direct eye contact is appreciated in the West, prolonged eye contact during conversations may be rude in Eastern culture, which influences how people interpret and understand social interactions. The memories and emotions people experience also act as filters, coloring and changing the world to fit their background knowledge.

While reality is commonly questioned, when people are told everyone perceives the world differently, they do not always take it in. The photo of the infamous dress caused a heated debate online, rather than concluding with a global understanding that people see things differently.

Because people do not accept other’s realities, many even question whether reality is actually based on objective facts interpreted by our senses. This stance has become even more relevant as modern technology, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, creates artificial and digital environments that blur boundaries between what is real and what is perceived, proving realities could be altered.

Despite these individual differences, shared perceptions and an understanding of slight differences are essential for a society to function. Sharing similar realities often allows easier communication and collaboration, fostering an empathetic and understanding environment. Though these differences in perspectives encourage more interaction, reality is as much of a shared understanding as an individual experience. In fact, reality is not just a concept or experience; rather, it is a medley of ways the world can be seen.

“We absolutely do not all experience the same reality,” Steve Nave said. “I believe we can all create the reality we want to live in. This can be a positive if the reality we create for ourselves helps us deal with the pressures that the world gives us everyday. However, when we are totally oblivious to other people’s realities or are unable to separate what is real and what is our own reality then we can have issues.”

“Yes, we all experience the same reality because we all live in the same world and experience the same events,” Winston Chen ’26, said. “We have different reactions or opinions to things because we have different thoughts, but in the end we are living in one reality.”