August 25, 2022 ㅡ Asia Society Korea held its fifth annual "Voice of Youth" Research Presentations on Friday, August 25, 2022. The applicants, representing some of the country’s top universities, submitted research papers covering four areas of exploration: Arts & Culture, Education, Policy & Society, and Business & Economy.

After a difficult and highly-competitive selection process, five deserving finalists were chosen to present their research at this week’s event. Research topics explored by these students included an in-depth analysis of foreign relations with China, a closer look at competing discourse between the LGBTQ+ community and Protestant institutions on the establishment of an anti-discrimination law, and the significance of art residences in Korea and their contribution to the domestic art scene.

Eight distinguished judges were in attendance to evaluate the research:

• H.E. Maria Castillo Fernandez, Ambassador, EU Embassy Seoul
• H.E. Vu Tung Nguyen, Ambassador, Embassy of Vietnam
• H.E. Joon Oh, Board Member, Asia Society Korea
• H.E. Eric Teo, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore
• H.E. Akiva J. Tor, Ambassador, Embassy of Israel
• Young Joon Kim, Board Member, Asia Society Korea
• Mason Richey, Senior Contributor, Asia Society Korea
• David Tizzard, Senior Contributor, Asia Society Korea

The online event saw all five participants perform exceptionally well, delivering informative research results and thought-provoking discussion points to the judges. Each presentation and research report was then assessed and graded in terms of its contents, planning, applicability, delivery, and sustainability.

Asia Society Korea has long fostered talented young minds, helping them refine and develop their academic pursuits beyond the boundaries of school. It brings us great pleasure to continue the Voice of Youth program with such dedicated participants, and it remains an honour to work alongside such esteemed judges.

We are proud to announce the winners of this year’s event. In a near unanimous decision, the first prize was awarded to Youngwoo Park for his sophisticated analysis of competing discourse on the anti-discrimination act utilizing Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus and cultural capital.

• Winner: Youngwoo Park, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Bachelor of Area Studies
• Runner-up: Dylan Motin, Kangwon National University, Ph.D. in Political Science

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