Dreaming of Becoming the Next New Global Leader!

                        Song Min Kyu tells us about his experience as a youth representative of South Korea in the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Among teenagers who dream of becoming global leaders, majority wish to work in the United Nations (UN). After Ban Ki Moon became the Secretary General in UN, Korean teenagers’ interests on the UN and world peace has increased. Song Min Kyu, a student at Korean Foreign Language University, has been able to experience UN before many others have.

                  The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has announced for the dispatch of the Korean youth representative at the Forty-Ninth session of the UN Commission for Social Development in February, 2011. Having gone through competitive applications and interviews, Song Min Kyu earned the fortune of becoming the representative of South Korea in UN headquarters. He spoke about his special experience he had in New York.


Q: Could you introduce yourself? (Name, age, school, interest, etc.)

A: Hello. My name is Song Min Kyu. I am currently attending Korean Foreign Language University as a business major. I am 22 years old now.

 

Q: How did you get to apply for the UN dispatch?

A: About a year ago, I had an opportunity to know a website called ‘Nation Council of Youth Organizations in Korea’ (www.ncyok.or.kr) through a person I knew. I didn’t get to go on it very often but I tried to go on the website whenever I had free time. Then one day I was able to reach the news that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was looking for a youth representative for the UN Commission for Social Development. Since I always had passion and interest for this area, I decided to apply for this opportunity.

 

Q: Can you tell us about the interview you had before you were selected as a representative?

A: During the interview I was asked many questions. First, they asked me why I wanted to go to the UN. For me, I started having interest in the UN during my high school years. Through this opportunity, I said that rather than listening about what the UN is, I wanted to actually experience it.  

 

Q: Many people are very curious about the process of preparation for the UN dispatch. What kind of trainings did you go through at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family? Also, what was your special effort to be the chosen representative?

A: Rather than saying that I had a special effort, I think that my interest in the UN field since my high school years has helped me get selected as a representative. Also, I think telling myself that I want to experience the UN and always searching information about the UN helped me. At the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, I was able to learn about the Korean teenagers’ policies. In a short time, I learned many laws and policies that Korea has set and has enforced. On the terms of policies relating to youth, I was able to know that even when compared with other developed countries, ours are not behind.

 

Q: Can you tell us about the UN dispatch? Where was it held? Please tell us about the process, people you met, New York and anything else that you have felt from this experience.

A: When I first arrived in New York as the representative I was very anticipated to go inside the UN headquarters. However, the UN headquarters was in construction. Instead, we got to work in the temporary headquarters. I was very nervous that I will be with the representatives from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. However when I actually started to be with these people, I became very close with them and I had a lot of fun.

 The general meeting was held twice a day from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. and then from 3 to 6 p.m., from Wednesday to Monday. Also in the between times, from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m., each youth representative gathered to discuss about the youth related policies. This meeting was progressed by discussing about the passages that need to be amended. Also each representatives added comments about each one’s opinion.

The special experience was that there were about 20 youth representatives and I was the only one that made a speech as a youth representative. I was curious whether it was alright to make a speech with representative from so many nations in front of me. However, I think the speech ended well. Even the chairperson commented that it was very creative. At the time, because I was so nervous, I had a mixed feeling of happiness and confusion. When I first arrived there as a youth representative, the consular introduced the people from the ‘World Youth’. The consular explained what this group does. The World Youth is a nonprofit volunteer organization which offers people over the age of 18 to volunteer in developing areas. I was surprised that most of them were around the same age as me. At first it was very awkward to be with people that I was not familiar with, but later I was able to see them couple of more times and talked with them about what needs to be done for the youth.

 

Q: What is your final goal or dream? Also were you able to get closer to your dream through this dispatch experience?

A: My final dream is to go in the UN Commission for Social Development that I have been dreaming since high school. In the commission, I want to discuss social issues that developing countries are dealing with. Many people in Korea say that numerous developing countries have set Korea’s development as their role model. This is somewhat true, but I think they should include countries that failed as their model also. Instead of saying “To solve these social issues, your country should do this!”, I want to help each country figure out their issues by concentrating on their culture and society.

 

Q: What is a ‘global leader’ to you?

A: Everyone has different meaning of a ‘global leader’. For me, I think that a global leader is a person that can help others when others need help, rather than a person that everyone knows and looks upon.

 


 

You can be the next new global leader!

 

The dispatch for the youth representative is all around the world. The youth representatives come from countries starting from Australia, Austria, Germany, Norway, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Tunisia and etc. When you participate in the dispatch as a youth representative in the UN for the next session, youth representatives write the Reports of the Secretary General on Youth together. This document provides background for the Resolution on policies and programmes on youth at the General Assembly. Along with presenting in formal meetings, they also participate in the informal consultations where negotiations of the Resolution take place. Here are the three different meetings youth representatives (delegates) can participate in:
 

General Assembly (GA)

The General Assembly deliberates on social, cultural and humanitarian issues. The matter relating with youth falls under the agenda item, “Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, persons with disabilities and the family”. The GA is held usually in October.

 

The Commission for Social Development (CSocD)

The Commission for Social Development deals with social development issues such as poverty, employment, youth and etc. When participating in the GA, the delegate is most likely to also participate in the CSocD. The CSocD is held in February.

 

The Commission on Sustainable Development. (CDS)

The Commission on Sustainable Development reviews the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development. Youth delegates can participate as their country’s official delegation or by representing an NGO for Children and Youth. The CDS is held annually in the month of March.

 

If interested in the dispatch for the youth representative for your country, keep updated by checking http://english.mogef.go.kr , and http://www.un.org/youth for official announcements. The announcements for the dispatch in 2010 were announced on June 30th and December 31st. 

 

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