The “Beyond the K: 2023 Global Korean Culture Ambassadors Induction Ceremony” for Honorary Reporters and K-influencers was held last May 19 at the KOCIS (Korean Culture and Information Service) Center in Seoul and via livestream on the Korea.net YouTube channel.
This year, there are 4,536 Honorary Reporters from 129 countries and 1,930 K-influencers from 105 countries. As I start my third year as an Honorary Reporter, I feel privileged and ecstatic to be one of the many Global Korean Cultural Ambassadors who will share their love and passion for Korea through content creation.
Since I am not in Korea, I watched the Induction Ceremony via the YouTube livestream. Here are some highlights from the ceremony:
Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yongman gave a congratulatory speech to this year’s batch of Honorary Reporters and K-influencers. (Screenshot from Korea.net YouTube channel)
Congratulatory Speech by Vice Minister Cho Yongman
The Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yongman emphasized the role of Honorary Reporters and K-influencers to connect the world through our common love for Korea. He also expressed gratitude and his unwavering belief in the Honorary Reporters and K-influencers to spread Korean culture further worldwide. He also explained the theme of this year’s ceremony - Beyond the K - expressing “how Korean culture goes beyond national borders and is embraced by people worldwide”; regardless of where you are from, Korean culture is part of the daily lives of many people.
Since I first joined the Honorary Reporters in 2021, during the pandemic, I felt honored when Vice Minister Cho recognized the vital role of Honorary Reporters and K-influencers in connecting Korea to the world during the pandemic through the content we produce. This made me reflect on my motivations for joining the Honorary Reporter program for the third year - to passionately share my love for Korea, build connections with a like-minded community of Korean lovers, and to further grow my interest in all things Korea.
Some Honorary Reporters and K-influencers shared their impressions about Korea during the ceremony. KOCIS Director Kim Jangho shared his thoughts on the role of Honorary Reporters and K-influencers in disseminating information about Korea. (Screenshot from Korea.net YouTube channel)
Interview with Honorary Reporters and K-influencers
Listening to the various stories of my fellow Global Culture Ambassadors made me feel inspired to create content and feel more connected with the Global Korean Cultural Ambassador community. Even if we are in different countries with unique backgrounds, knowing about their interests and motivations made me look forward to meeting other Honorary Reporters and collaborating with them as we go along our K-journey. Quoting Karina Hur, a newly-inducted K-influencer who joined the ceremony in person, she also hopes to “create a great community together and share our passion for Korea”.
I’m sincerely grateful to Korea.net for the opportunity to further develop my skills in creating content and for giving me a platform to share my passion for Korea through articles and illustrations. The Induction Ceremony gave me a deeper sense of commitment and community in connecting the world through Korean culture.
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