Being an ex-apolitical individual, I never expected to grow such a keen interest in democracy, politics and human rights while living in Korea.

Despite studying a major that's not directly related to international studies or political science, I found myself joining a variety of programs aimed at promoting youth leadership and active citizenship. One of my absolute favorite experiences besides joining Model United Nations and UNESCO conferences, was actually interning for an NGO.

My journey into civic society broadened my perspective on the role citizens play in their government. Coming from a country where civic responsibility isn’t widely embraced, it was unfamiliar—even strange—at first to realize that we, as civilians, hold as much responsibility as our governing bodies. This revelation led me to set a personal goal of interning for an NGO before graduating.

From MUNSF to PSCORE: Fate and Networking.

I joined MODEL United Nations Strategic Framework as the UN Development Program delegate. The conference, organized by PSCORE and the National Institute for Unification Education, was a chance to connect with passionate youth and learn about North Korea. During this event, I met interns from PSCORE and saw firsthand the work they were doing. A few days later, I applied for an internship position.

Thankfully, I received an honorable mention at the conference, which I believe helped me secure an interview. Although I was concerned about not living in Seoul, I did my best during the interview and hoped for the best. Soon after, I was thrilled to be offered a part-time internship!

My Internship Journey:

During my time with PSCORE, I tried to experiment with different areas to help me grow both professionally and personally but my main role was within the Communications team. It included researching North Korean human rights news, creating various content, appearing in front of the camera and occasionally assisting with event organization. I also briefly joined the Research team before my internship ended where I contributed to and learned about drafts writing and report writing. We were also lucky to engage with defectors from different ages, who shared their personal experiences and stories. These encounters deepened my understanding of human rights advocacy in ways I hadn’t imagined.

The internship allowed me to:

• Work in an International Environment: Collaborating with a diverse team improved my teamwork and communication skills. It also taught me to trust the process and adapt over time. I definitely felt more confident and enjoyed the internship more during my last days compared to when I initially joined.