Over the years, KAIST has had a variety of media outlets that have served the school community. In delivering the latest updates on the hottest topics to the individual student, no doubt the efforts and dedication of KAIST Times, Voice of KAIST (VOK), ARA and – last but not least – The KAIST Herald have contributed greatly. Historically, though, there has been another lesser-known periodical whose members were just as willing to play their part in providing information to the student body: the school magazine. Established in 1990, Hanwool was part of a nationwide movement of liberal university students interested in independently reporting and examining society’s wrongs. Now, two decades later and a full decade since its last issue, a group of students are set to resurrect the school magazine and the values that it stood for.

Can you introduce yourself and your organization?
Hello, my name is Jong Su Choe and this is currently my fourth semester at KAIST. I am the leader of the Magazine Editing Committee (MEC), and have been so since the beginning of last semester when the organization itself was conceived by the current student council. The MEC currently has eight members who have all worked throughout the summer holidays to bring Hanwool back into print. Our current aim is to make the magazine available at least before the midterm exams this semester.

Can you briefly introduce us to the publication?
Hanwool originally was conceived around two decades ago, right after the fervors of democratic student activism in the late 1980s. It was intended to be a publication that would function as a political forum – that is, it would enable KAIST students to communicate their political ideas without outside interference. Its independence was such that it derived all its necessary funding from its readership – though that may have proved to be its undoing. The last issue of Hanwool out of the only three that still survive is from 1999, but what exactly happened to end its publication and when exactly that happened are still quite unclear. We still have been unable to contact the previous editors for details.

What, then, prompted you to join the organization committee?
One of the public pledges that the current student council made in their campaign was the resurrection of the school magazine. So plans were immediately put into action last semester, soon after the student representatives took office. I joined up straightaway upon hearing about it because as part of the student council, I wanted to take up responsibility and make my own mark on KAIST. Plus, the values of independence and liberalism that Hanwool stood for in my opinion make the publication all the more special to me. I’m sure my colleagues hold similar views to my own.

What makes Hanwool different from the publications that already exist on campus?
I think the biggest thing that will differentiate Hanwool from The Times or The Herald is its ability as a monthly magazine to examine the progression of significant issues in detail. The importance of doing so was demonstrated by the sequence of events last semester, when several events all happened over a period of months. In addition, we plan on having a more entertaining, satirical take on events than do the other publications. Every reporter will be able to write more or less in their own unique voice. Similar things have been done with school magazines and student publications in other universities. For now, though, we plan to focus more on entertainment than on current affairs. This is because we still haven’t found a “voice” as a publication yet.

What other problems have you encountered in organizing this?
First I must admit that progress is currently very slow. Starting an entire magazine with little or no prior resources proved to be more challenging than anticipated. Having access to necessary financial resources still continues to be problematic, though we are quite sure that the student council will help us to the best of its abilities. Also the lack of a common room in which to store our material and edit our articles has been a significant issue. We hope we may be able to gain access to one of the basement rooms in the renovated Tae Wul Gwan.

Thank you. Any last comments?
As of now, everything is in the making. However, students may rest assured that the MEC will deliver Hanwool to the KAIST community as soon as possible. Please give us your attention and full support. No matter what, we promise not to disappoint.