Interview with Young-Hyou Park (CS of EU)

Young-Hyou Park, currently enrolled as an undergraduate at Yonsei’s Underwood International College, is the Committee Secretariat of the EU of YMUN 2012. He has been lucky to live abroad and encounter various cultures, especially while studying in Hong Kong. Such an ambience has fueled him to get interested in areas related with foreign matters and eventually into Model United Nations. He considers his past conferences at MUN as the highlight of his high school years.

1.) Do you have any MUN experiences you’d like to share?

My first MUN experience was AMUN2009. I was the delegate of Sweden in GA1. Compared to other MUN conferences such as YMUN or KMUN, AMUN GA1 was a relatively a small committee. However, at the time, to a beginner like me, the size did not matter too much. On the first day of the conference, I was confused of the ROP and was overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the committee and hence, made a lot of mistakes. For instance, I raised an irrelevant Point of Inquiry so the chair advised me to get back to the seat without getting a chance to respond. I was so embarrassed that my ears turned red and got notes from other delegates to cheer up. While researching and preparing for the AMUN, I was very looking forward to it, but after the first day of the conference, it turned out to be a total nightmare. However, starting from the second day, by listening closely to other delegates, I started to understand the ROP and the flow of the debate. Though I made mistakes again on the second day, I got confident with the committee and onthe last day, my resolution passed after a heated debate.

2.) What are some challenges you faced when participating in MUN?

 One of the common challenges I faced when participating in MUN was getting familiar with the Rule of Procedures. Because different MUN conferences take different ROPs, it is often confusing and difficult to get through the conference without making a single mistake with the ROP. Another challenge was getting approval of the resolution I was working on from other delegates. As delegates form big groups, it is difficult to get approval from other groups as they often have clashing arguments. Also, such activity often takes place from the second day afternoon, when it is very grueling both mentally and physically, after going through many debates, wearing formal attire that is quite uncomfortable.

3.) What aspect of MUN do you consider most valuable?

 I believe that getting an opportunity to debate deeply about a single matter in English is the most valuable aspect of MUN. Throughout our high school years, we rarely get a chance to debate and study deeply about practical and real-world matters and almost never debate about such topics in English. However, since MUN gives an opportunity to do so, I think that it is the most valuable feature of MUN.

4.)  What are your top 3 tips for a successful YMUN experience?

GET YOURSELF INVOLVED!!

- After all, any and all types of activities that happen throughout the conference require active participation of each and every delegate. If one does not get involved during the conference, I truly believe that there is nothing that can be earned other than the YMUN 2012 certificate of participance.

LISTEN CAREFULLY

-Since a large part of the conference is debating, it is essential that one listens carefully to others. In order to persuade others, one must first understand the argument of other delegates’ speeches, to do so, one must concentrate when others are speaking during the conference.

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF MISTAKES

-Especially for beginners, many of the delegates do not participate actively because they are afraid of making mistakes and worry about being laughed at. However, one can only truly enjoy and improve after overcoming mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes and if you don't participate simply because of this fear, you are making a REAL MISTAKE;)

5.) Any last words for this year's YMUN delegates?

 For experienced MUN participants, I truly hope that this conference will become the highlight of your MUN career. As for novice delegates, I truly hope that YMUN 2012 become the most memorable MUN conference where you had learned a lot.

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