fulbright korea alumni quarterly: volume i issue i

QuarterlyF U L B R I G H T K O R E A

P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E K O R E A N - A M E R I C A N E D U C A T I O N A L C O M M I S S I O N

W I N T E R 2 0 1 0 / Vo l . 1

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Fulbright Korea QuarterlyWinter 2010

Cover photos of the 2010 Sancheoneo Ice Festival by Emilee Lehenbauer.

4 From the Desk of the Executive Director

5 Anniversary Celebration Marked by Hwangap

6 USFKAA: Creating a New Alumni Network

8 A Year in Pictures

10 Alumni Spotlight: Kyoung-yeon Chung

11 Alumni Spotlight: Aimee Lee

12 Seoul Symposium Focuses on Korean Education in the 21st Century

13 ETAs Volunteer at Refugee Centers

14 Fulbright Forum Snapshots

16 Alumni-Founded Program KKOOM Reaches 500 Orphans in 2009

17 Exchange Program Brings Korean Teachers to the U.S.

19 Fulbright Korea to Publish History Book

KAEC is not responsible for the information contained in this quarterly, and neither the Commission nor any of its services are bound in any way by its content.

Fulbright Korea QuarterlyVOLUME 1 ISSUE 1

This and future issues of the Fulbright Korea Quarterly can be found on the web, at http://60.fulbright.or.kr.

http://60.fulbright.or.kr 82-2-3275-40244

From the Desk of the Executive DirectorGreetings Fulbright Family,

Welcome to the first edition of the Fulbright Korea Quarterly. The introduction of this publication marks the beginning of Fulbright Korea’s year-long 60th anniversary celebration. This newsletter will highlight alumni accomplishments and serve as a valuable news source for the Korean-American Educational Commission and its alumni.

Each year, KAEC strives to improve, to develop, and to excel, while furthering the mission set forth by Senator J. William Fulbright. As we prepare to commemorate the successes of Fulbright Korea over the past 60 years, I cannot help but reflect on how much has been achieved even in this past year.

In 2009, 90 English Teaching Assistants entered classrooms all over the country—the largest group in our Commission’s history. We held a symposium on the topic of public education in Korea—a precursor to a second symposium to be held in October of 2010. Even the Fulbright Building in Seoul went through a major transformation, the first in 10 years! This initial edition of the newsletter focuses on these and other accomplishments that took place during the 2009 calendar year.

2010 promises to be a momentous year as well, with events both in Korea and the U.S. to commemorate our 60th anniversary, the culmination of which will be the main celebration in October.

In the past, we have struggled to maintain ties with our American alumni. To tackle this challenge, we have launched a massive initiative aimed at reestablishing these ties. Building a stronger alumni network is our top priority, and we cannot do it without the help of our entire Fulbright family. I encourage you to join us in this effort by registering and reconnecting with Fulbright at http://60.fulbright.or.kr.

We hope that you enjoy the first edition of the Fulbright Korea Quarterly. Keep an eye out for more updates from Fulbright and alumni in coming issues!

Best Regards,

Jai Ok ShimExecutive DirectorKorean-American Educational Commission

Each edition of the Fulbright Korea Quarterly will feature alumni news and events. Additionally, our “Alumni Spotlight” section will highlight significant work and accomplishments of Fulbright Korea alumni. If you would like to contribute articles, announcements, photographs, or alumni recommendations to be featured in a future edition, please contact our Alumni Coordinator, Lisette Garza, at [email protected]. With your help and contributions, we hope to make this newsletter a valuable resource for all Fulbright Korea alumni.

Submit to the Fulbright Korea Quarterly >>>

5http://60.fulbright.or.kr 82-2-3275-4024

By Elizabeth So

There are three important events in the life of every Korean: baekil, the 100-day celebration, dol, the first birthday, and hwangap, the 60th birthday. The last of these milestones, hwangap, relates to the zodiacal cycle, which completes one full revolution every sixty years.

In Korea, hwangap is regarded as a time to reflect upon personal experiences and history. Furthermore, the holiday is often marked by honorific rituals and large family gatherings. Just as 60th birthdays are highly regarded in Korea, the same sentiment will be held toward the 60th anniversary celebrations of several historical events in 2010.

June 25th will mark the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Twenty-one nations sent troops and medical staff to Korea during the war, which ended with a ceasefire armistice and border stalemate that continues to this day. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, about 2.3 million of the 5.7 million individuals worldwide who served during the Korean War are still alive. Many nations are intent on honoring the individuals who participated and sacrificed their lives during the conflict. Korea plans to commemorate the occasion by inviting 2,400 veterans and their families to Korea from the twenty-one nations that assisted during the war, launching a poster campaign to express the country’s gratitude toward overseas war veterans, and staging major battle reenactments such as the 1950 Incheon landing by U.S.-led United Nations forces.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Fulbright Korea. Just a few months prior to the start of the Korean War, the Republic of Korea signed the official agreement for binational educational exchange with the U.S. to establish the Fulbright Program in Korea. Since the program’s inception, more than 3,600 grantees have benefited from the support of Fulbright Korea, while contributing to the spirit of mutual understanding through international cooperation and the advancement of knowledge.

These coinciding anniversaries evoke reflection upon

Korean-American diplomatic relations and the historical impact of this relationship in recent decades. Motivated by the devastation of World War II, Senator Fulbright developed his vision of cross-cultural exchange in order to help “every society develop its own concept of public decency and individual fulfillment.” Nearly 50 years after the founding of the program, South Korean President Kim Dae Jung affirmed the contributions of the Fulbright program in Korea: “It was in the aftermath of the Korean War, a devastating and unstable period that the Fulbright program was implemented in Korea. Those well-qualified professionals who received support through the Fulbright program during this period performed vital roles in rebuilding the nation.” The spirit of the Fulbright program continues to play a vital role in strengthening relations between the U.S. and South Korea.

While the impact of Fulbright Korea will continue for years to come, its hwangap is expected to be a momentous occasion. The Fulbright Commission is planning major 60th anniversary events in Seoul, New York City, and Washington D.C. In addition to these grand festivities, the Commission will publish an alumni directory and a book on the history of the program.

The quality of the commemorative publications relies heavily on alumni contributions. You can pay tribute to Fulbright Korea’s hwangap by registering in the alumni database and submitting reflections, photos, video, artwork, or other materials related to your Fulbright experience to the Alumni Coordinator, Lisette Garza, at [email protected]. For more information about the 60th anniversary celebration, please visit http://60.fulbright.or.kr.

Anniversary Celebration Marked by Hwangap

A young Senator J. William Fulbright, founder of international Ful-bright Program, addresses a group of constituents.


By Nikki Guarino

The U.S. Fulbright Korea Alumni Association (USFKAA) was established in March 2009 by former Executive Assistants at the Korean-American Educational Commission who recognized the need to reconnect past American grant recipients to the Fulbright Korea network.

All former U.S. Fulbright grantees to Korea automatically become members of USFKAA and are encouraged to participate in the new alumni association in order to establish a stronger and more beneficial alumni network.

While an Alumni Coordinator handles alumni relations at the KAEC office in Seoul, USFKAA exists to promote active exchange and reunions among former American Fulbright grantees to Korea who reside in the U.S. in addition to supporting the creative projects of current grantees.

To date, USFKAA has hosted four alumni gatherings in Korea and one ETA reunion event in Washington, D.C. Alumni are encouraged to host reunions in their

area to connect with old friends and re-establish ties with KAEC, especially as Fulbright Korea prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary throughout the year.

USFKAA also compiles data following each grant year to show donors how their contributions to the Fulbright Korea Alumni Fund (FKAF) have been put to work. The FKAF provides funding for current ETA projects at their host schools or in their communities. Projects are screened each year by KAEC and given appropriate funding based on the ETA’s proposal. USFKAA hopes to encourage more alumni to donate while also providing accountability for project grantees.

This year, USFKAA encourages its members to become involved in Fulbright Korea’s 60th anniversary celebration. Alumni can visit the 60th anniversary website to submit material, which will be used for KAEC anniversary publications in order to honor the outstanding achievements of Fulbright Korea alumni over the past 60 years.

Beyond Fulbright Korea’s 60th anniversary events and commemorative publications, USFKAA members can easily become involved in alumni activities or projects

USFKAA: Creating a New Alumni Network

1) ‘06 ETA Laura Tschop and ‘07 ETA Hillary Eason pose at a USFKAA event; 2) ‘08 ETA Elizabeth Gutting and ‘08 ETA Phillip Chong attend the 2009 ETA reunion dinner in Washington, D.C.

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HELP US CELEBRATEIn its 60 years of operation, Fulbright Korea has provided grant funds to support more than 3,600 scholars in their academic, educational, and artistic pursuits. As a past beneficiary, you can help us capture the true spirit of the program and make the 60th anniversary event a success. Here’s how you can contribute:

Update your contact information using the Alumni Registration Form on our 60th anniversary website: http://60.fulbright.or.kr

Reach out to other Fulbright Korea Alumni in your personal network

Send written reflections about your Fulbright experience along with photos, videos, artwork and other media related to your grant year

Share your accomplishments with us, including patents, publications, artwork, and professional/academic research

Submissions can be sent to [email protected]

Lisette GarzaAlumni Coordinator

Fulbright Building168-15 Yomni-dong Mapo-guSeoul, 121-874

Office: 82-2-3275-4024Mobile: 82-10-4208-0717Email: [email protected]

by submitting proposals to the USFKAA Executive Board. Furthermore, USFKAA is seeking ideas for a collective “gift” so that all alumni members may contribute to Fulbright Korea’s 60th anniversary.

If you are interested in hosting an event in your area or would like to share your ideas for future USFKAA activities, email us at [email protected]. Also, check out USFKAA’s blog (http://usfkaa.wordpress.com) and Facebook page (search for USFKAA).

The USFKAA was founded by former KAEC Executive Assistants (EAs) Dylan Davis (‘03 ETA, ‘04 EA), Caleb Kim (‘04 ETA, ‘05 EA), Mariah Perrin (‘05 ETA, ‘07 EA), and Nikki Guarino (‘07 ETA, ‘08 EA). They have since been joined by Emily Kim Goldsmith (‘08 ETA, ‘09 EA) and Alumni Coordinator Lisette Garza (‘05 and ‘06 ETA) to form the Executive Board, which oversees all USFKAA operations.

3) ‘04 ETA Aelee Kwon and ‘07 ETA Thomas Murtaugh prepare for a 2009 reunion event in Washington, D.C.; 4) USFKAA members meet for dinner at Mad for Garlic in Seoul. Left to right, bottom row: ‘05 ETA and current KAEC Alumni Coordinator Lisette Garza, ‘08 Senior Scholar Dr. Sugwon Kang, ‘95 ETA Albert Chongheun Lee, ‘05 Junior Researcher Heather Bayless, ‘09 Junior Researcher Elizabeth Chae, ‘05 ETA and former KAEC Executive Assistant Mariah Perrin, and ‘05 Senior Researcher Maureen Fleming. Right to left, top row: ‘94 ETA Michael Hurt, ‘03 ETA and former KAEC Executive Assistant Dylan Davis, ‘08 ETA and current KAEC Executive Assistant Emily Kim Goldsmith, and ’04 ETA and former KAEC Executive Assistant Caleb Kim.

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365A YEAR IN PICTURES

1) ‘08 ETA Deborah Ou-Yang with her Camp Fulbright team in July; 2) ‘08 ETA Tori Foster with host sisters at the Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Hwacheon; 3) ‘09 Fulbright U.S. Studies Institute Program for Korean Elementary and Secondary School Teachers of English travel to Texas in January; 4) ‘09 ETAs Melissa Lewis, Emilee Lehenbauer, Ashley Pinney, and Julie Presant practice taekwondo during ETA orientation in August; 5) KAEC Executive Director Jai Ok Shim visits ‘96 Mid-Career Researcher Kyoung-yeon Chung’s art exhibit in November; 6) U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, the Honorable Kathleen Stephens, and California 15th Congressional District Representative Mike Honda ad-dress Fulbright staff and grantees at the Ambassador’s annual pool party in August.

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The New Face of the Fulbright Building

1) ‘09 Fulbright Junior Researcher JodiLynn Murdoch presents her work at a Fulbright Forum in September; 2) Families pay respect to former Korean President Kim Dae Jung who passed away August 18, 2009; 3) Ambassador Stephens addresses ETAs and Fulbright staff at the 2009 Thanksgiving dinner in November; 4) A Flat Stanley from the elementary class of ‘09 ETA Nikki Muyskens travels to California in November (http://www.flatstanley.com); 5) ‘08 ETAs Alex Su, Tori Foster, and Emily Comstock attend the annual Seoul Lotus Lantern Festival in May; 6) Students of ‘08 ETA Kenny Loui visit the DMZ as part of the Alumni Youth Leadership Program (AYLP) in January.

DAYS

NEW YEAR, NEW HOME

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Kyoung-yeon Chung Mid-Career Researcher 1996-1997Textile Design

By Emily Kim Goldsmith

“My mother sent me a pair of gloves by parcel post for protect-ing my hands in my tough days [of] study in a foreign country, so that I could do odd jobs easily. As soon as I received the gloves, [many] more thoughts than ever before

came to my mind. [Since then], gloves have been everything to me and always a reminder of the love and care of my mother...and all the mothers in the world.”

Born in Busan in 1955, Kyoung-yeon Chung began her study of art at Hongik University in Seoul in 1972 and relocated to the U.S. after two years. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from Mas-sachusetts College of Art and her Masters from Rhode Island School of Design. It was during this time that she received the simple pair of gloves that would inspire her art for the next 30 years.

She returned to Korea to teach at Hongik University, which had re-cently established the first Depart-ment of Fiber Arts in the country. Finding the fledgling program to be lacking in its ability to adequately

prepare students for the field, Chung proposed to return to the U.S. as a mid-career researcher through Fulbright to study the teaching and professional applica-tion of textile design. She did her research at her alma mater, RISD, and at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. Since com-pleting this grant and returning to Korea she has contributed to the growing field of textile design and been an active member of the Ko-rea Fulbright Alumni Association.

Chung has also been honored with several prestigious awards in Japan and Korea, including the Choongsub Lee Artistic Prize in 2008. Her work, all featuring gloves in various shapes, forms, and me-dia, has been exhibited throughout Asia, the U.S., France, and Russia.

Alumni Spotlight: Kyoung-yeon Chung

With the upcoming 60th anniver-sary celebration in October and an ambitious Fulbright Korea alumni outreach project underway, we at KAEC are making greater efforts to highlight the activities of our Com-mission by sharing the successes of alumni with the Fulbright com-munity and the world. The “Alumni

Spotlight” section of the Fulbright Korea Quarterly is a part of this effort. Each spotlight will provide a brief profile of former grantees and a description of their recent ac-complishments. Both Korean and American alumni will be featured, and we hope to capture a broad range of fields and scholars from all

grant periods. If you would like to be featured in the “Alumni Spot-light” section, please fill out the Alumni Registration form at http://alumni.fulbright.or.kr and contact our Alumni Coordinator, Lisette Garza, at 02-3275-4024 or [email protected].

February's Featured Alumni >>>


Aimee Lee Junior Researcher 2008-2009Traditional Papermaking and Related Craft Forms

By Vincent Flores

On April 24, 2009, the Fulbright Forum audience had no idea that they would become advocates for the preservation and promotion of Korean traditional paper making, or hanji.

Before a full house at the Fulbright building’s seminar room, junior re-searcher Aimee Lee’s presentation entitled “Spider Paths on the Paper Trail: Contemporary Possibilities for Hanji” gave attendees an in-depth look into the world of hanji, includ-ing its history and importance in Asia, and the challenges of carrying on hanji tradition in the modern era.

Originally from New York, Lee is an

interdisciplinary artist who creates paper, book, performance, installa-tion, and text art. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from Oberlin College and her Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Book and Paper Arts from Columbia Col-lege in Chicago.

Lee’s Fulbright research focused on traditional hand papermaking and related craft forms. During her grant year, she visited and documented the methods of seven different operational paper mills in four provinces. She apprenticed at one mill run by a family whose patriarch is a designated Intangible Cultural Asset for the Gyeonggi province. Under a 3rd generation master, she also studied paper weaving, or jiseung—a rare craft form that uses hanji in spun and woven forms to create all manner of objects. Her Fulbright grant made it possible for her to become the leading bilingual expert in hanji, not only in theory, but also in practice.

Since returning to the U.S., Lee has been featured in several news-paper articles and held four solo exhibits, two of which featured her hanji research and artwork exclu-sively. Much of Lee’s work, along with photos and video from her research, are available online at http://www.aimeelee.net.

Alumni Spotlight: Aimee Lee


By Dr. Sung-Wook Jung

A symposium on Korean education policy in the 21st century was held in downtown Seoul last October to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Fulbright Program in Korea. All participants, including those who raised questions from the floor, contributed to making the event a wonderful platform for debate on a new direction for the Korean public education system. The key issue discussed was how to reform the system, which has made preparing students for university en-trance exams the top priority at almost every school.

Among the participants there seemed to be a fairly strong consensus that the race to gain admissions to a limited number of prestigious universities has im-peded schools from adequately preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century. Many expressed concern that the traditional public education system is incapable of providing human capital that meets the demands of an expanding global economy. Professor Yong-Lin Moon, the former Minister of Korean Educa-tion, addressed this issue as the first speaker of the symposium. He stressed that human capabilities can-not be measured by a one-dimensional university en-trance examination. In order to properly measure a stu-dent’s creative potential, he argued, multiple standards of evaluation should be introduced into the education system, while also giving students more freedom to chart the course of their own educational path.

The second speaker, Professor Seung Hoon Lee from Seoul National University, provided a stimulating counterpoint. According to his view, market competi-tion is actually highly beneficial to the public education system. Therefore, the much lamented race for admis-sions to prestigious universities should actually be encouraged and expanded. To achieve this objective, he proposed that Korea focus its resources on expand-ing the number of premier academic institutions to as many as twenty.

After the two thought-provoking presentations, those invited to sit in on a discussion panel presented their opinions. Professor Young Hwa Kim from Hongik

University expressed her concerns toward Professor Lee’s provocative policy proposal, while Ms. Sun-Duk Kim, a columnist from Dong-A Ilbo, was more favorable towards the economic-based stance. Also during the discussion, Dr. In Whoe Kim, an Emeritus Professor from Yonsei University, explicated the new demand for creative human capital, and Professor Do-Chul Shin from Sookmyung Women’s University emphasized the need to circumscribe the influence of central govern-ment on public education in order to give more control to local authorities.

Following the first panel discussion, faculty from dis-tinguished schools shared how they helped students achieve exemplary success along multiple dimensions, including admissions into top universities. Mr. Jaewon Do from Geochang High School spoke forcefully about the importance of respecting the individual differences in student personalities. In contrast, Principal Jong Mo Kim from Hanil High School illustrated the benefits of incorporating traditional elements into the public school curriculum. Principal Chung-il Yun from Korean Minjok Leadership Academy ardently defended his school’s strict academic emphasis, while Mr. Wondeuk Lee from Sangsan High School presented evidence to show that improving the quality of public school education could quell the feverish demand for private tutoring. Lastly, Mr. Jin-chae Park from Yongjeong Middle School ex-plained his school’s efforts to nurture creativity and ex-cellence, while never losing sight of preparing students to be better citizens.

Audience members at the symposium listened at-tentively during the discussion and many jumped at the opportunity to express their own views on how to improve public education. The positive, upbeat at-mosphere left observers feeling confident about the future success of the Korean public education system in the 21st century. A follow-up symposium will be held on October 8th, 2010 as part of the Fulbright Korea 60th anniversary festivities. Please visit our website http://60.fulbright.or.kr for more information about this and future events.

Seoul Symposium Focuses on Korean Education in the 21st Century


ETAs Volunteer at Refugee CentersBy Elizabeth So

While teaching duties are a significant part of the Ful-bright English Teaching Assistantship program, most grantees find the time to engage in extracurricular projects. ETAs have a particularly long history of vol-unteering with North Korean refugees. Several years ago, a group of ETAs started teaching at the Heavenly Dream School in Cheonan that caters to the academic and social needs of North Korean refugee teenagers. Margaret Mahoney, an 2006 and 2007 ETA alumna, recounted the implications of ETA involvement: “Con-tributing to the success of people around the world, functioning as a cultural ambassador, and opening the door for other people to do the same is what Fulbright Korea stands for.” This year, four ETAs continue the efforts started at Heavenly Dream School.

Knowing that refugees often face psychological hard-ships and struggle to compete academically and in the workforce, Mahoney wanted the young refugees to reflect on their own identities and their hopes for the future. With this aim, she taught a “self portfolio” project with fellow 2006 ETA, Cara Chebuske. The pair helped students answer questions about their goals and dreams, while combining English with artwork and photos. Mahoney reflects, “I think that students really enjoyed the project. It’s always fun to have something tangible to show for your studies.”

Current ETA Daniel Park and seven other ETAs meet nearly every other weekend at a refugee center based in Seoul in order to teach English classes to North Korean refugee children and their parents. The stu-dents are eager to increase their language skills and motivated by the commitment of their teachers. Park says, “We are there to work with refugees—to under-stand their situation better, to understand the complica-tions of adaptation, and to help them in any way.” Park describes how their help extends even beyond the classroom. Most classes are followed by lunch outings to foster jeong, the Korean concept of profound friend-ship, between students and teachers. The students feel a sense of validation to see foreigners who care so deeply about their situation.

The students are not the only ones who benefit. Both

past and present volunteers reflect on how they have been positively impacted by working with students who are able to find success after experiencing such incredible adversity. Mahoney says, “So often in life, we hear stories about atrocious regimes destroy-ing the lives of people, like that of North Korea. We hear these stories and we think, ‘That’s too bad.’ But Heavenly Dream School flips that passive comment on its head and makes us as people think, ‘What can I do to change it?’ That’s the spirit we need right now and that’s what Fulbright embodies.”

1) ‘08 ETA Michael Athy works with a North Korean refugee; 2) Students enjoy arts and crafts time.

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Aimee LeeFulbright Junior Researcher, DesignSpider Paths on the Paper Trail: Contemporary Possibilities for Hanji

Hanji, Korean handmade paper, has a history on the Korean peninsula that reaches back over one thousand years. Lee gave a brief history of the craft, demonstrated how hanji is made, explored its presence in the contemporary art world, and used material demonstra-tions to exhibit related crafts.

Fulbright Forum Snapshots

Josie SohnFulbright Junior Researcher, Film Studies

Dr. Danny WeddingFulbright-Yonsei Distinguished Scholar, PsychologyMore than Running on ‘Marathon’ (Dir. Chong Yunch’ol, 2005)

Sohn discussed the representation of autism in a South Korean feature film, Marathon, based on the true story of a twenty-year-old autistic athlete. Dr. Danny Wedding respond-ed to the presentation and briefly discussed autism as a clinical condition.

Katherine LeeFulbright Junior Researcher, EthnomusicologyThe Drumming of Dissent during South Korea’s Democratization Movement

During the height of the democratization movement in South Korea, the sound of drums and gongs were ubiquitous at scenes of protest. Lee examined how political meaning was aligned with the percussive sounds of p’ungmul in the 1980s.

In 2009, the research of ten Fulbright scholars was featured in nine Fulbright Forum presentations. Fulbright awards for Americans in Korea are available to scholars and professionals for both lecturing and research activi-ties. The KAEC will grant over 200 awards to Koreans and Americans during the 2010-2011 academic year.

2009Franklin RauschFulbright Junior Researcher, HistoryThe Legitimacy of Force: The Discourse of An Chunggun’s Killings of Ito Hirobumi

Rausch examined the discourse surrounding Catholic nationalist and pan-Asianist An Chunggun’s killing of Ito Hirobumi, the first Resident-General of Korea during the Chosun Dynasty. Through this study, Rausch explained how we can better understand the way in which force was perceived and legitimized during both the days of high imperialism in the last years of the Chosun Dynasty and today, as well as the conflict and ambiguity that surrounds its exercise.


Helena Meyer-KnappFulbright Senior Scholar, Political ScienceHeroes, Martyrs and Restless Spirits—War Heritage for the New Generation in the U.S., Korea, and Japan

Meyer-Knapp compared surveys, photos, and videos collected from historical sites that reveal the patriotic sentiments of younger generations in Korea, Japan, and the U.S.

Erin LeeFulbright Junior Researcher, International RelationsEconomic Reform in North Korea: Substance vs. Symbolism in China’s Influence over North Korea

Lee explored the Sino-DPRK relationship and its future international implications includ-ing China’s adept use of diplomacy with North Korea, which has positioned Beijing as the most likely candidate to bring North Korea out of its shell; however, China’s potential as an agent of transformation is arguable due to its mixed motives regarding the future of the Korean peninsula.

Carla StansiferFulbright Junior Researcher, Art and Architectural HistoryThe Mysteries of Goryeo Dynasty Shell Inlayed Lacquerware

By the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 A.D.), Korean shell inlayed lacquerware emerged as a unique and highly refined art form. Stansifer discussed this fascinating artistic technique and the particular characteristics of the Goryeo style lacquerware.

JodiLynn MurdochFulbright Junior Researcher, Theater StudiesArchiving the Repertoire: Observations on the Capture of the Ephemeral

The Korean folk masked dance-drama of talchum was nearly lost during the Japanese occupation in the first half of the twentieth century. Throughout her year of research, Murdoch physically engaged in talchum, and presented her observations during the forum with the support of video and still images.

Misty EdgecombFulbright Junior Researcher, Creative WritingSmall Fish: Searching for Wartime Seoul and the Birth of International Adoption

Edgecomb recounts her father-in-law’s historic adoption of Korean orphan Choi Kyung Hyun, or Jimmy. Through great struggle, Phillip Raynor, an unmarried American solider, adopted Jimmy and became one of four international adoptions recognized by the Ameri-can government in 1953. This adoption paved the way for thousands of American families to adopt from overseas and forever changed the definition of family.


By Amy Benes

For 500 lucky South Korean children, 2009 was a year marked by visits from enthusiastic volunteers, holiday celebrations, and generous contributions. Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission (KKOOM), which means “dream” in Korean, is an organization dedicated to bettering the lives of South Korean orphans. Found-ed in 2007 by Fulbright Korea alumni, KKOOM devel-oped as an extension of an ongoing volunteer project originally started in 2004 by ‘04 ETAs Aimee Jachym and Erika Senneseth at Samsungwon, an orphanage in Gumi, South Korea. Today, thanks to the support of grantees and donors alike, KKOOM has grown to sup-port five orphanages throughout Korea.

KKOOM kicked off the year by funding volunteer-led projects at three orphanages in Korea. In April, KKOOM also facilitated the donation of funds from John Legend’s benefit concert, “Night of Charity for Children.” At the concert, Legend performed with Korean R&B singer T Yoon Mi Rae. Event proceeds supported orphanages throughout Korea as well as

Legend’s Show Me Foundation, which funds programs to eradicate poverty in Mbola, Tanzania. Money raised at the event allowed KKOOM to purchase three new water purifiers for Samsungwon, valued at approxi-mately three million won.

Furthermore, many volunteers connected with Ful-bright Korea organized several events throughout the year, including an end-of-summer party in September and a holiday party in December, both held at Sam-sungwon. Over 25 volunteers participated in the Sam-sungwon Christmas party, where each child received a Christmas present purchased by volunteer shoppers.

“Even though the presents felt like a small contribution, it was amazing to see how much receiving that bag full of candy and trinkets meant to each of the kids,” said first-time volunteer and current Executive Assistant Emily Kim Goldsmith. “I wish I’d volunteered last year!”

KKOOM is a U.S.-based, 501c3 tax-exempt organiza-tion. For volunteer and donation opportunities, visit http://www.kkoom.org.

Alumni-Founded Program KKOOM Reaches 500 Orphans in 2009

1) ‘08 and ‘09 ETA Matthew Rooney teaches children a popular holiday song with help from Santa Claus; 2) ‘09 ETA Daniel Park dresses as an elf for the annual KKOOM holiday party; 3) A student makes a Christmas card; 4) ‘09 ETA Ashley LaFontaine and ‘08 ETA Emily Kim Goldsmith pose with Santa Claus.

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Exchange Program Brings Korean Teachers to the U.S.

In January, the Fulbright U.S. Studies Institute Program for Korean Elementary and Secondary School Teachers of English arranged for 30 Korean English teachers to visit the U.S. for a seven-week, Texas-based American society and culture exchange program.

Since 2002, the KAEC-administered program has sent more than 200 Korean English teachers to Texas. Program participants have a unique opportunity to take intensive language courses, improve public speaking, instruct American middle and high school classes, and live with a host family in addition to studying various teaching methods.

Exchanges such as this contribute to the over-arching goal of the Fulbright U.S. Studies Institute Program for Korean Elementary and Secondary School Teachers of English, which seeks to provide an avenue for meaningful pedagogical and cultural exchange while offering insight into the academic lives of American students. For more information about programs offered by KAEC, visit http://www.fulbright.or.kr.

1) Program members visit

the Alamo; 2) Author and

University of Texas at

Austin profes-sor Dr. Elaine Horwitz visits with the 2010

group.

Reconnect

Help document Fulbright Korea’s 60 year history by sending the following to [email protected]:

• Written Reflections• Photos • Videos• Web Links• Publications• Accomplishments

Reflect

Texas

Join our Social Networks Online! Search for “Fulbright Korea Alumni Relations” on all of

the following:

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http://twitter.com/Fulbright_Korea

http://www.linkedin.com/in/fulbrightkoreaar

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seoul-South-Korea/Fulbright-Korea-Alumni-Relations/181588346796


Attention Alumni

STATE ALUMNI is the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs official web-site for more than 1,000,000 alumni.

Interactive, dynamic, and password-protected, alumni.state.gov offers alumni from all U.S government-sponsored exchange programs a place to:

• Network• Share ideas and stories • Participate in Q&A Live discussions• Utilize valuable resources such as grants, jobs, and research databases• Access current news, academic journals, and other publications

Build upon your exchange experience by accessing the STATE ALUMNI global community. Visit https://alumni.state.gov today.

Infusion magazine is Fulbright Korea’s annual source for recent grantee news, events, art, poetry, journalism, photog-

raphy, and research. Grantees from 2008 and 2009 program years are encouraged to submit their pictures, reflections,

creative work, and research.

The submission deadline for the 3rd edition of Infusion is March 12, 2010. Submissions and questions can be sent to

[email protected].

Submit to Infusion Magazine

Photography • Reflections • Research • Art • Poetry • News • Events • Journalism • Creative Work


Are you in contact with other Fulbright Korea alumni members? If so, you can help KAEC expand the alumni community and build an even stronger network by completing the form below. Feel free to forward this newsletter to fellow alumni as well.

Fulbright Korea to Publish History BookKAEC Executive Director Jai Ok Shim and Deputy Director Dr. James F. Larson are coordinating the writing and editing of a comprehensive English history of the Fulbright Program in Korea, with significant input from former Executive Directors Horace H. Underwood and Fred Carriere. We invite former Fulbright grantees, both Korean and American, to send us reflections, reminiscences, documents, photographs, or web links that might help to enliven and inform this history. Please send your contributions to our Alumni Coordinator Lisette Garza ([email protected] or 02-3275-4024) within the next two months to ensure their consideration.

Name: _______________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________________________________

E-mail Address: ________________________________________

Submit

Fulbright Korea QuarterlyThis newsletter is published by the Korean-American Educational Commission for the Fulbright Korea alumni community.

Co-EditorsAlexandra AndersonVincent FloresLisette GarzaEmily Kim Goldsmith Emilee Lehenbauer

Layout & DesignAlexandra Anderson Amy Benes

ContributorsAmy BenesVincent FloresEmily Kim GoldsmithNikki GuarinoElizabeth SoDr. Sung-Wook Jung

Help Us Expand Your Network

This form can also be completed on our official anniversary website, http://60.fulbright.or.kr.

Attention Alumni

Korean-American Educational Commission Fulbright Building168-15 Yomni-dong Mapo-Gu Seoul, 121-874 Korea

General Office: 82-2-3275-4018Alumni Relations: 82-2-3275-4024Office Fax: 82-2-3275-4028


fulbright korea alumni quarterly: volume i issue i

Documents

fulbright korea quarterly4

successes of fulbright

fulbright building

william fulbright

american alumni

alumni accomplishments

korea plans

alumni news