An Interview with TEDxSNU

On January 21, members of Journalism Club 5th batch gathered at Seoul National University (SNU) to interview the TEDxSNU club. TEDxSNU club is composed of SNU students who wish to follow the main motto of TED, “Idea worth spreading.” Below is the interview with TEDxSNU.

Kim Dan: What is TEDx, and how TEDx came into the world?

TEDxSNU: First of all, TED is short for ‘Technology Entertainment Design’ which was closed conference at the beginning, but after Chris Anderson took over TED, it became worldwide and spread into the media and the ‘Idea worth spreading’ became the motto. TEDx means independently organized TED event. TED gives permissions to areas where people want to organize and open a TEDx event. You can think like a mini event.

Jung Hyun-Jung: What is TEDx license, and how can we register it? 

TEDxSNU: To open a local event, we(TEDxSNU) need TED’s approval. TED has its own strict regulations, so we have to sign or do something that shows we will follow those rules. Through these strict inspection processes, TED will be able to know that we are ready to open this event. After signing, sometimes we have an interview, or they give instructions to correct a certain part. These steps go on for 8 weeks, then we get TED’s approval so we can make the local event. Anyone can register for the license on the internet. I think this is the attraction of the TEDxSNU.

Lee Yu-Won: What is TEDxSNU and how did it make?

TEDxSNU: TEDxSNU is the one of many TEDx events. The word behind the TEDx is symbolizes the region which is the base for that event. Therefore, TEDxSNU is the event that foothold at Seoul National University. It held the first TEDxSNU speech on March, 2011. To follow the motto of TED, “ Idea worth spreading, students of Seoul national university gathered together and organize an association.

Lim Ji-Heon: Can you explain about teams of TEDxSNU?

TEDxSNU: There are 5 teams in TEDxSNU. First one is a sponsor team that cooperates with companies to make a TEDx conference. Second, there is a design team that designs logos and posters of TEDx conference. Third one is the editing team that creates ideas with speakers and makes the ideas to speeches. Fourth team is a promotion team that advertises us. The last team is strategy team which gets advices from outside and gives ideas to us.

Kim Jung-Hyun: How does the topic of TEDxSNU selected?

TEDxSNU: At first, all organizers put their opinion about the topic, considering their interest or social issue. After we gather all opinions, we have a discussion to select one which we think the most appropriate.

Kim Min-Ji: What was the most interesting topic that you had on TEDxSNU?

TEDxSNU: This year, we had TEDxSNU with the topic named ‘Link’. And in that event, we had lots of people doing different things and jobs for the speakers with some help from others. So, as a result, we could hear lots of important and subjective opinion from lots of different people. So I think the topic named ‘Link’ was the most interesting topic that I had on TEDxSNU.

Kim Dan: What is the most important part when you are organizing TEDx events?

TEDxSNU: I think that not only for TEDx events, for all group activities, it is important to listen to other people’ opinion and voices. In TEDxSNU, there are like 30 people working and organizing together. If people only speak their own opinion and thoughts, we could not make a good event. So it is very important for TEDx organizers to listen to all opinions and to make the best conclusion by compromising and make a synergy effect.

Cho Yeong-Seo: Out of all the guest orators you had, who was the most significant person, and why?

TEDxSNU: When we had a lecture with the topic “Link”, Mr. Gun Gu-Ik came as our guest, and gave a speech. I personally think he was very memorable. Now I’ve got to introduce him to you, don’t I? Well, I’m not sure if you know this, but Mr. Gu-Ik is the MC for the show “Attentive Listening” on EBS channel. He had an issue that definitely grief-struck him, and it’s a very sad story. Mr. Gu-Ik’s son died because of school bullying. He gave people, including us, a truthful lecture about this. It was very moving, and many people cried, even people who already have heard this speech once. It probably tugged everyone’s heart. His words were good enough to be remembered for a long time.

Lee You-Won: What is the most hard or difficult activity from organizing TEDxSNU?

TEDxSNU: There is spon- team which gets in touch with companies and organizations for help. As a student, the chance to contact with companies or groups for asking fund is not common things. It is a good opportunity to undergo those experiences. However, to talk about events what we are going to plan, and asking for financial help without come fact to face is not that easy thing. It is hard to appeal and attract them about our project. Also, if they reject our suggestion, it is a commonplace affair, but always feels upset. Therefore, asking for helps to business and waiting for their response is the most difficult thing.

Song Ji-Min: While you liaise for speakers, what was the most memorable episode?

TEDxSNU: Usually, we send mails when we liaise like “We host a ceremony with this topic, so can you speak for us?” Then almost of them reply, and it can be refusal answer or more. Always that moment makes our heart palpitated because we can’t know what kind of answer will be in. But when there is reply with an agreement like ‘Oh, you guys are doing really good thing. I want to join it.’ It can be the happiest moment. And it is the most memorable moment.

Kim Min-Ji: Is there personal knowhow for organizing TEDX SNU? If there is, what is it?

TEDxSNU: It is hard to say that it is a knowhow but as you know, TEDX SNU is run by someone who wants to do it. So I try to get rid of things that disturb us from running TEDX SNU and I help other organizers to think wider and deeper.

Cho Yeong-Seo: How does it feel to work in TEDxSNU?

TEDxSNU: First of all, we are doing this club because we want to, and there are many feelings mixed up while doing it. However, one thing is for sure. I am positive all people in Tedx clubs have experienced heart fluttering. Before we do the lessons, we feel kind of eager, but a little worried too. It’s like a school field trip. You have a schedule, but you might not follow it, so it’s very unpredictable. It’s pretty nervous, but I think it’s still worth it.

Cho Yeong-Seo: What kind of ability is helpful while doing TEDxSNU? 

TEDxSNU: There are many of them actually, but I say the most important is to be cooperative. It’s hard to be alone, so you have to sustain good relationships with friends, and that requires social abilities. Also, you should have a strong mind and perseverance too. When we try to bring in guests, most of the time they give us rejection letters, and when you get that, you feel very empty, hurt, and in vain. However, you can’t just give up right? So you need a mind that tries to look things up brightly and is firm. There are of course many more, but in reality, I think not one person have all of these abilities. That’s why there is a thing called a team. People with little parts of good things come together as one team, and it’s really important. You have to share your good parts. That’s when all these abilities come together.

Song Ji-Min: What can be TEDxSNU’s special advantages?

TEDxSNU: I think our organizer’s composition is our best advantages. Because I think our organizer have more sense of responsibilities and protean career that lead our team than other TEDx organizations. So I think it can be our big advantages

Jung Hyun-Jung: After doing the TEDxSNU activity, do you have any changes in personal visions or in life?

TEDxSNU: Now, when I meet a person, I keep thinking about how to make this into a lecture. If I hear a funny story, I think that if we make a topic and do it like this, it will be a great lecture. It’s a bit scary, but I feel like this a lot. Even though it doesn’t show on the outside, if we meet the speaker, he/she has many precious and amazing stories in the inside. ‘What story will this person have”, “What thought will this person have” thinking about these questions made me feel a lot.

Kim Dan: Lastly, do you have a word for the readers’ of Smart&Story?

TEDxSNU: First of all, thanks for the interests and attentions for TEDxSNU. We hope that our interview could help Smart&Story’s readers in any ways. Also we would be thankful if the readers keep having interests on us.

journalismclub@chungdahm.com

BY Lim Ji-Heon Galmoe Middle School

     Kim Dan Daemo Elementary School

Jung Hyun-Jung Seocheon Middle School

Cho Yeong-Seo Mogun Elementary School

Lee You-Won Sangil Middle School

Kim Jung-Hyun Bansong Middle School

Song Ji-Min Hansan Elementary School

Kim Min-Ji Bonghyun Elementary School

Is the spread of the Korean Wave advantageous for Korea?

 

BY Jung Hyun-Jung

Seocheon Middle school

 

 

Many Korean dramas and entertainment programs, such as “You Who Came from the Stars,” and “Running Man” have become extremely popular in China.  At first glance, this might seem like a big success for Korea, but in actuality, it causes more problems than it solves.

The rights to one Korean program, titled “Daddy, Where Are We Going?,” have recently been bought by Hunan Television, a popular Chinese television station. The Chinese adaptation is a massive hit, drawing in about 75 million viewers per episode each week. Not surprisingly, the majority of the profits for the show have gone to China. When some television stations in Southeast Asia decided to pick up the show for their network, they purchased the rights to show the Chinese version of the program instead of the original Korean version.

If Korea wants to enter into the Chinese market to get a piece of the pie, Korea will have to coproduce with China. However, if coproduction increases, the secret ‘know-hows’ of Korean production will spill into China. Additionally, working together with China will lead to increased production costs and actor fees, which in turn, could prevent Korea from being able to make programs without China’s financial assistance.

Many people often forget that there are two faces of the Korean Wave entering China. While it will help Korea to gain popularity in other countries, we need to keep guard. As the famous proverb tells us, it is no use to lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen. Korea should control coproduction with China before it is too late.

 eli484@naver.com