As Korea’s biggest international summit kicks off Monday, the massive preparations involving thousands of people and countless man-hours would not be possible without the backbone of the events: the volunteers.

And many of them have a story to tell, explaining their own reason for helping out at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit.

For Hwang Tae-ha, volunteering as a Media Liaison Officer was simply a natural and somewhat unconscious step, after he felt the shock of a life-changing event 11 years ago.

“I was in the U.S. when 9/11 happened and one of my friends that I had met through volunteer work was onboard one of the planes that hit the World Trade Center that day,” said the 23-year-old.

Hwang has since set out on a peace-keeping mission of his own. For him, making the decision to join Korea’s peace-keeping force in Lebanon during his mandatory service in the Korean military was a natural course.

“Because my body always felt the shock of (9/11) I think I was always compelled to do things related to peace,” said the Soongsil University student.

So when he heard that the summit needed volunteers, he jumped at the chance.

“First of all, it’s fun volunteering for things like this and it feels like I am living to help others.”

Others have closer experience with the immense potential impact of nuclear power and have developed a new found fear, respect and interest in the energy source.

Kwon Ki-moon was studying at Waseda University in Tokyo when the devastating earthquake and tsunami ravaged the country’s northeastern seaboard, setting off a nuclear crisis last year.

“Through that incident I started to consider nuclear power and everything related to it,” said the 21-year-old.

And the issues that ensued after the nuclear crisis erupted also shaped her perception of media and the need for transparency, which is why she applied to work as an MLO.

Kwon referred to how Japanese government officials took fire from the public after reported attempts to downplay the extent of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crisis.

The disaster not only sent Kwon to volunteer for the summit, but also changed the course of her life. She changed her major to international relations, and prepared her thesis on nuclear security.

For Kim Kyu-yeong, she simply set out to experience Korea after living in Argentina for the past 10 years and before starting college at Ithaca College in the U.S.

“I wanted to live in Korea to see what it’s like to see the Korean culture and I was lucky enough to have run into this summit,” said the 18-year-old, the youngest of all the volunteers.

All three will help some 4,000 journalists from all over the world including South Africa, Italy and Argentina.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has also dispatched 620 volunteers of its own to help those visiting with all general information outside of the summit, including transportation.

Lee Jung-taek, a veteran volunteer for the capital for events including the 2010 Group of 20 summit, is a firm believer that such global events will boost the nation’s image.

“I am very proud of the fact that something like this is being held in Korea,” said the 65-year-old.

“And I thought that if I could help with even the smallest amount I should absolutely help out with the event,” he said.

Alongside the 748 volunteers setting out to help the summit run smoothly, the three are taking pride in serving as civil diplomats.

Volunteers include those fluent in not only English and Chinese but also Arabic, Russian, Turkish and other languages.


By Robert Lee
(robert@heraldcorp.com)