Dear members.
The Seoul sub-chapter first-ever elections were successfully held and the results are in! We are excited to announce the new leaders of Seoul for 2017.
Youkyung Lee, Programming Director for Large Events and Tea Talks
I will bring my experiences from the past two years helping the board and Seoul members successfully host the first two N3Con in Seoul. I look forward to another great year with AAJA-Asia.
Youkyung has been working as a business and technology reporter for the Associated Press in Seoul for more than four years. Before that she was a technology writer for Yonhap News Agency’s English news department.
Brolley Genster, Programming Director for Educational Programs and Workshops
The most beneficial part of being an AAJA-Asia member over the past three years for me has been the ability to learn skills from and experience new places with the members of the sub-chapter here in Seoul. One of our young sub-chapter’s assets is that it is comprised of members with such diverse backgrounds and experiences that we can all learn from. In running for the Programming Director for Education Programs and Workshops position for 2017, I am committing myself to leading programs that will benefit and grow the skill sets and opportunities of our members to help them professionally and ensure that their memberships are worth every penny. I will work with the chapter to identify the wants and needs and do my best to provide programming for everyone.
Brolley is currently the Culture Editor at the Korea JoongAng Daily. He has been in Seoul for four years, and has been an active member of AAJA-Asia for the past three. He is a big fan of going to live sporting events, Krispy Kreme donuts, pajeon when it rains, reading magazines, Kim Soo-hyun’s bowling career, the Bodega Boys, Biden-Obama memes and getting lost.
Mark Zastrow, Director for Social Events and Mixers
Ever since I moved back to Seoul last year and started coming to AAJA events, the Seoul subchapter has always been a wonderful, open, and supportive community for me. The social events have been a great way to make connections, meet interesting people, and most of all, relax with friends and a drink or four after rushing to meet some awful deadline. In the past 18 months, I’ve been to a lot of AAJA social events. I’ve always had a lot of fun, and I want to thank Eunji, Carina, and Taehoon for putting these on. I hope to keep the good times rolling with a steady calendar of mixers and social events where newcomers can feel as welcome as I did. Thanks for your consideration!
Mark Zastrow is a science journalist, and has been based in Seoul since 2015. He has written for Nature, New Scientist, NOVA Next, Retraction Watch, Sky & Telescope and other outlets. He received his bachelors degree in astrophysics from the University of Minnesota and masters degrees in astronomy and science journalism from Boston University. He is currently a full-time freelancer, a some-time photographer, a lapsed private pilot, and a devout Formula 1 fan.
Gavin Huang, At-Large Board Member I
I have been associated with AAJA ever since high school, when I participated in the organization’s J Camp program for minority high school students. After graduating, I officially became a paid member of the association and have been part of the New England and New York chapters while studying in college and working at internships. It was natural, then, that I would find myself with the Seoul subchapter when I moved here for work just over a year ago, and ever since, I’ve contributed what I can to the organization, whether it’s been helping with graphic design work for the N3 Conference or planning the trivia event for the annual holiday party. Given my wide range of skills in multimedia but also relatively short amount of time with the Seoul subchapter, I believe playing a supporting role as an at-large board member would be the best fit for me. I am interested in contributing my talent to help the subchapter grow by helping out with professional workshops and social events.
Gavin currently deputy business editor at the Korea JoongAng Daily, where in addition to editing, he also manages the paper’s social media pages and co-host a podcast on Korean news. His previous experience in journalism spans across mediums, as I have worked on documentaries, television newsrooms and magazines.
Elaine Ramirez, At-Large Board MemberII
Get ‘er done!
Elaine is an editor and writer based in Seoul, South Korea. She cofounded a web magazine in Chile and directed a print magazine in South Korea. She has written and edited for newspapers and magazines in New York, Santiago and Seoul.
Sunho Kwon, Student Relations Coordinator
During my college years, I have been participating in many international conferences/forums with other students from different parts of the world, for which, I think I have the right set of skills in terms of connecting with students and developing a fruitful relationship with them. And more than anything, I have a great passion to learn new things and how to properly address issues that I have never dealt with before. it’s a challenge and I see a great value in facing challenges.
Sunho is a senior at Chung-ang University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in business administration but have a great interest in being a part of NPO/NGO’s operations and making contributions to their path to serving their purpose in our community. He is anticipated to graduate next summer.
Haeyoon Kim, Translation Coordinator
Since I am stationed in PyeongChang on weekdays, I may not be able to offer all of the interpretation services required but I will definitely find someone who is capable and available to help provide smooth communication during the AAJA events.
Currently hired as an interpreter/translator for PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games organizing committee,
Haeyoon has interpreted for several AAJA events including N3CON 2016.
Jihyoung Son, Job Search Coordinator
It has been such an honor to be AAJA member as a local college student since late 2014 and participate in major events of AAJA, some of which I gratefully took up duties at. The events and the people I met in Seoul sub-chapter have offered me a wide range of opportunities to leap forward. Now it is probably time to repay what I had received back to AAJA, by putting forward what I had been through as a student member for the last two years and coordinating with AAJA Seoul sub-chapter Board Members.
Jihyoung’s bio:
Intern reporter at The Korea Herald (2016)
Contributing writer to N3Con Magazine (2016)
6th N3Con logistics committee co-chair (2016)
Freelance news assistant for Jean Lee, Geoffrey Cain, Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio (2015)
5th N3Con volunteer staff (2015)
The Asian Games News Service Reporter at The Korea Herald (2014)
Undergraduate student at Hankuk University of Foreign Students (2009~)
Ha-young Choi, Fundraising Coordinator
Based on my experiences in community activities, I will contribute to AAJA Asia Seoul to organize various events by fundraising.
Ha-young a journalist for The Korea Times. Working at the city desk, she tries to find unseen angles by casting light on social minorities and ordinary people’s voice.
Nayoung Kang, Social Media Team Director
I want to make the Seoul chapter even bigger and better by connecting people and getting them engaged through social media, events, and activities. My job is basically connecting people and telling stories, and I want to use these skills to bring Seoul’s journalists and media professionals together in a network that makes the city shine as a major media hub in Asia.
Nayoung is a Korean American from New Jersey who has been living and working in Seoul since 2010. She has worked in various industries and capacities, but all of my jobs have involved writing and editing. Currently she works at a PR agency, representing tech clients. Her idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon is a bike ride along the Han River wrapped up with a picnic in Seoul Forest with friends.
Soee Kwon, Social Media Coordinator I
I would like to learn more about new media on journalism side. As I work closely with YouTube everyday, I get to realize how journalism is heavily rely on new media these days. Also, since I learned a lot about YouTube and its data past 2 and a half years, it will help me to perform good on social media coordinator position.
Hi! My name is Soee and I majored in Journalism from CalState Northridge in the States. I am currently working at ICONIX, the animation studio of Poror the Little Penguin and The Little Bus Tayo. I work at New business team and managing Pororo and Tayo’s YouTube Channels, do new media marketing and produce contents for YouTube and IPTV. We do make over 2 hundreds-million views per month through YouTube and it’s very meaningful because we deliver contents for children around the world. I hope to continue to pursue my career through new media.
Kianna Mckenzie, Social Media Coordinator II
Using my qualifications as both a past recruitment chair and leader of the Korea-America Student Conference I have been given the opportunity to learn more about the bilateral relations between both Korea and America. AAJA Asia Seoul goals are to make newsrooms more ethnically and racially diverse and ensuring fair and accurate coverage of the Asian community and I feel I can contribute to this because of the fact that I have the experience of being within the Asian community although while not being completely Asian. I can provide a different outlook and perspective making sure that the newsrooms have a more ethnically and racially diverse yet accurate image of the Asian community. The Asian community is something I hold dear to me and with all of the experiences and aspirations I have I hope to help AAJA Asia grow more.
Hello, my name is Kianna Mckenzie and I am currently a third year on exchange at Korea University. My major is Media and East Asian Language with a concentration in Korean. The past two summers I have dedicated my time to the Korea-America Student Conference having been both a delegate, a chair, and a roundtable leader. Certain qualifications acquired since I had the opportunity to create a conference, recruit both speakers and future delegates, and lead a roundtable has given me the ability to be a leader, an exceptional listener, to effectively create events, be interactive, and the having the ability to counsel others.
Simone Jeong, Photographer
Feel, Dream, Think, Act & Share, this world is what we make of it. Nothing more and nothing less. So let’s make it the best we can!
Simone is a freelancer who has written for the Dutch newspaper, Dutch travel magazines, University guides and she has been a professional reviewer for TBSefm in Seoul South Korea.
AAJA Asia’s Seoul VP Taehoon Lee will serve as the chair, AAJA Asia’s Secretary Carina Lee will serve as the treasurer, and AAJA Asia’s at-large board member Eunji Kim will serve as the secretary for the Seoul subchapter in 2017.
Congratulations to all the winners of the elections and newly appointed officers for the Seoul sub-Chapter! Your term will also be one year starting Jan. 1 2017.