In a globalized world, many Korean people leave Korea and go to other countries to study. On the contrary, many foreign students come to Korea to learn. Especially, many foreign students will study in Chung-Ang University from this semester. But there are many difficult things around them. Even though many foreign people live in here, conditions are very poor. To overcome these things and help each other, they made an organization by themselves two years ago. It is KISA (Korea International Students Association). Chung-Ang Herald (CAH) met Sumit Das, a new president of KISA, to offer Chung-Ang University’s students a lot of related information.
CAH: Nice to meet you, Sumit! Could you introduce KISA to readers?
Sumit: Of course! KISA is the first organization for foreign students in Korea. In Korea, there are many inconvenient problems for people like us. We come together once a week. When we gather, we exercise , eat member’s cultural food, or teach about cultural customs. Even though the circumstances we live in are very different, we can understand and recognize the burdens we share with each other. ISA (International Student Assembly) is a representative cultural program. Moreover, our members volunteer in KOREA.
CAH: Did you ever volunteer in KOREA?
Sumit: Yes. At first, KISA was made to help each other. However, we started to see Korean society. We began to help Korean people, who have a hard life, forfor example, farmers, North Korean refugees (students), the victims of the landmines in the Mintongsun area, and so on. Personally, the volunteer work we did at the cultural School for North Korean Refugees was most meaningful. I could feel happiness. In fact, I had not done any volunteer work in my mother country, Bangladesh. But, as I helped them, I could know how to live and how to make other people smile.
CAH: I know that KISA has done many things for foreign students. Can you tell me more about them?
Sumit: In fact, many foreign students experience hardships here. When they first arrive for school, they face problems about simple house services and language. Also, when they register at school and apply for courses, almost all documents are written in the Korean language, and impossible to read. So, they usually miss their classes. Furthermore, some essential things to living here are in short availablity. Things such as medical (care) insurance or resident registration services. However, KISA has changed these things little by little. KISA asked the school to take careful care of us, and the schools acknowledged our opinions. Seoul National University has made almost all of their documents in English and decided to add English lectures.
CAH: But I thought that there are some insufficient things in KISA?
Sumit: Yes. I agree with you. From the time that we founded KISA, we have tried to make it bigger. To have many foreign students able to participate in KISA, we held many meetings in other universities campuses. At first, we advertised our plans and many people responded to our trial. We were very optimistic. However, we were not successful in some universities. Eventually, we were running KISA in three schools: Seoul National University, Ewha Womans University, and Korea University. But, I will change and reform the present KISA this year.
CAH: In that case, your leadership may be most important to KISA in 2007. How will you lead KISA? And is there anything you would like to say to our readers?
Sumit: This year is very significant to KISA. KISA will endeavor to improve our influence in many universities. I hope to give many foreign students the opportunity for taking part in our organization. However, we are planning many meetings in about ten universities. We will go to Chung-Ang University, too. In there, we will advertise our group and gather new members. In addition, we communicate with Korean students. In globalization, all people can be friendly with each other. With ISA and athletic meeting, we will share each other’s feelings. KISA is open to all people. Do not forget this fact! We will wait for you!
