By Olga Pynenkova

Junior Editor, GSIS Newsletter

With the exhausting final exams behind and the holidays and long winter break ahead, it is time to reflect on what this fall semester has been like. As we all know, student life at Yonsei GSIS is not only about studying but also about extracurricular activities that everyone can join. Human Rights Hub (HRH) has organized a variety of events and trips over the past four months that have helped students not only raise their awareness of human rights issues but also expand their knowledge of Korean culture and history, get to know each other better, and last but not least, have fun.

DMZ Field Trip

HRH and NKHR organized a field trip to the DMZ in Paju in December, drawing many students despite its proximity to finals. Participants visited the National Memorial for Abductees, Imjingak, and Odusan Unification Observatory, gaining insights into the Korean War and its impact on displaced families and abductees. At the observatory, they viewed North Korea through binoculars and explored a moving exhibit of over 5,000 drawings and descriptions by forced migrants reflecting on their lost hometowns. The trip offered a profound opportunity to learn about Korea’s divided history and hear firsthand stories from relatives of abductees who still hope for their loved ones' return.

Database Center for North Korean Human Rights Field Trip

In November, HRH and GSIS students visited the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB), an NGO documenting human rights violations in North Korea and supporting victims. Students learned about the center’s role in the Universal Periodic Review, a Human Rights Council mechanism evaluating human rights in UN member states. They also explored a powerful exhibit featuring defectors' audio and video testimonies about daily struggles under the regime. A particularly moving display highlighted ordinary phrases like "I'm so tired," paired with the severe punishments North Koreans faced for such remarks. The visit offered a sobering glimpse into the challenges faced by those living under North Korea’s oppressive system.

Events in support of LGBTQ+ rights: Drag Show Nights & Podcast with NOVAsia

Since one of the main topics of HRH activities this semester was also the rights of LGBTQ+ persons, events such as Drag Show Nights took place several times in one of the venues in Itaewon. First of all, for students, such field trips were a great opportunity to meet other queer people or allies from the university. In addition, these events were useful not only in terms of providing students with an opportunity to relax and have fun, but also in terms of drawing their attention to the life of the Korean LGBTQ+ community, which continues to suffer from violations of their rights and discrimination in various areas of life. In such conditions, it is important to at least increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ persons, and Drag Show Nights contributed a lot to this goal, attracting many people each time. The same goal was also contributed by the podcast, prepared jointly by the HRH and NOVAsia teams and dedicated to the problems faced by representatives of the LGBTQ+ community in Korea and other Asian countries– it will be released soon.

In the spring semester, HRH plans to increase the number of its team members and hold even more events that involve students in the human rights agenda. So stay tuned and join us!