The person we are introducing this time is Seo-hyeon, who has been with MAP since 2 August 2019 and is, by her own account and everyone else’s, MAP’s mood maker. While preparing for the 14 December event <2019 GO MAP GO: Thank You> (<2019 GO MAP GO 고맙고>), we asked the (volunteer) activists to film short videos introducing themselves. In that video, Seo-hyeon described her important job title as “mood maker of the MAP office every Friday.” As I made the video, I thought she really is. There were many times when I could laugh thanks to Seo-hyeon when I was worn out by too much work. We are glad to introduce the many colors of Seo-hyeon to you.
Q. Please introduce yourself briefly.
A. I am a university student who is lazy but, because of a timid personality, needlessly diligent, and who is finally (!) about to graduate after ten semesters. My life goal is to live as things flow, and I think I have lived fairly faithfully to that goal so far! My modest wish is to try to let my life flow a little more nicely.
Q. Please tell us about the things Seo-hyeon likes!
A. Autumn, deep sleep, quiet trips, watching (life-changing) dramas, and conversations with close friends
Q. What led you to start volunteering at MAP?
A. I first learned about “refugees” while studying abroad as an exchange student in Germany. Seeing local friends take classes while also volunteering in related work, I felt ashamed that I had never “properly” studied anything since entering university. So after returning to Korea I worked with refugee single mothers at The Refuge pNan, and because I wanted to deal with refugee issues at another organization as well, I applied to MAP.
Q. What work do you do at MAP?
A. I currently work at MAP as the “Human Library coordinator”! The Human Library is an event in which a refugee becomes one “human book” and tells readers the story of their life, and it aims to promote communication between refugees and Korean citizens. So far I have promoted the Human Library to offices of education and libraries across the country, managed the schedule of human books, and taken part in connecting interpreter volunteers and in interpretation and translation work.
Q. Is there a scene that you remember most from your time at MAP?
A. I think it was around the end of August. The goal for that day was to send out Human Library promotional materials to supporters and school supervisors. But in the middle, a printing error occurred, guests came, and many other things happened, so time gradually ran short. But as a result of all MAP activists showing tremendous division of labor, and running to the post office at tremendous speed, we managed to reach the goal before the post office closed at 6 p.m.! Even thinking about it again leaves me out of breath, but it was just as enjoyable, and it felt truly moving when the mail we sent in that way eventually led to our attending the national sharing conference on democratic citizenship education hosted by the Ministry of Education.
Q. What is the special charm of MAP?
A. I think MAP’s greatest charm is working while sitting close together and laughing together. Working at MAP, I have never once felt upset or bored. Even when time was short or there was far too much to do right away, we could always laugh and joke, regain our energy, and finish the work. In one word, MAP’s charm for me is “together.”
Q. Finally, please tell us anything you wish for MAP or want to say.
A. I hope MAP keeps its charm and value unchanged and continues its enjoyable and meaningful activities. And I have no doubt that it will.
