On May 9, KAIST International House hosted Korean Day, the first day of the annual Korean Day and Night, to give international students an interactive experience to familiarize themselves with several features and aspects of Korean culture and history. The event was available to a limited number of registrants, who took part in several interactive activities, including crafting paper lanterns, making rolls of gimbap (Korean seaweed-wrapped rice rolls), and singing and dancing to pansori (Korean genre of musical storytelling).

However, the highlight of this two part event will be found in Korean Night, which will take place on May 30 and unlike Korean Day, will be open to all who are interested. Korean Night will have a dinner party accompanied by two main features: a live musical performance and a special group of panelists. For this year’s performance, Abigail Kim, a contestant of the popular TV show K-pop Star Season 3, will give a vocal performance. For the panel, there will be three seminars, each covering a different topic.

The first speakers are Yohan Kim and SonEui Kim, the director and coordinator respectively of the Korean branch of the Far East Broadcasting Company. They will be giving a seminar on several aspects of Korean history, particularly the Korean War. The second speaker is Pham Ngoc Thuong, an undergraduate from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She has taken part in previous international Korean trips and will recount her experiences and what she has learned from these sorts. The final speaker will be Saw Phei Er, a post-doctorate of KAIST. She will be giving a seminar on Korean culture, and how she as a former student learned and familiarized herself with the Korean standards and traditions.

This event is a unique and special way for internationals to learn new things about Korea. Korean Night is open to all participants, and if anyone has any questions, they may contact Grace Choi at 042-350-2446 or at gracechoi@kaist.ac.kr.