Hyeonseokâs Story Unfolds
A Journey of Education in Cambodia
In June 2025, I traveled to a rural region near Siem Reap, Cambodia, as a member of Angels for Journey, determined to listen first and learn from students whose hunger for knowledge humbled me. We visited three rural schools in Siem Reap, teaching English, leading discussions, and sharing Korean culture through traditional games. We donated phones, funds, and books to students. Afterward, as a youth project coordinator for Lumen Education's book donation initiative, I helped my team gather over 2,500 books from Korea, Saint Louis, and Utah, publish our own book about Cambodian culture, and build three village libraries.
I later led online classes teaching Korean language and culture to students in Cambodia and Sri Lanka.
The proudest moment came when a Cambodian student I supported, Sokchanra Hun, enrolled at Reed College. This is only the beginning of my work toward educational equality
Going back to my school, I am trying to gather books once again for students in Cambodia and further expand this inspiration for all the children.
One of Our Online Classes for Cambodia, Lumen Education
One of Our Online Classes, Angels for Journey
Busan UN Cemetery
In June 2024, driven by a growing interest in war after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, I visited the Busan UN Cemetery for the 74th memorial ceremony. Moved by the service, together we designed and sold "Freedom Isn't Free" T-shirts to raise funds for a wreath, donated in honor of a fallen soldier, and published an article about the cemetery in the Leaders Times.
We brought the initiative to my school, presenting on the Korean War and the cemetery and selling 20 shirts, which funded 20 wreaths for fallen soldiers.
I returned in 2025 and again in 2026 for the 75th and 76th ceremonies, laying the wreaths our school funded and interviewing veterans. I also visited the UN Peace Memorial Hall and Busan Provisional Capital Memorial Hall, and compiled the work into a documentary video.
Activities
A Problem in My Parentsâ Restaurant
Serving tables at a family sushi restaurant, I noticed sixty plates discarded each night and decided to change.
Patent, Giving Back to My School
Wanting to give something back to the school that shaped me, I designed a pencil that ends in a seed instead of an eraser.
Research About Microrobotics
Comparing light and sound as ways to steer a microrobot, and discovering the best answer is a combination of the two.
School Clubs
In the small rooms of the school, students learn and do what they like.
Coursera for Self Study
Studying with Coursera, I deepened my understanding of the interest.
Timidlly, Experiencing Start Up
Stepping into a real company for the first time, I learned many things as an intern.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
From what I learned in Busan, I came to Japan, Hiroshima, to learn and see what the war and nuclear war have resulted in.
Volunteering at Keimyung College University
During the volunteer, I discovered that helping is the fastest way to learn what people are actually missing
Promoting my city, Daegu
To show and announce the hidden parts of the city, I decided to write a poem with a picture
North Korean Defector Artist, Chung Guk Ahn
Meeting an artist who left North Korea and gave his life to art, searching for what it truly means to for him