By Honorary Reporters Dana Tugambekova from Kazakhstan, Isabelle Pia Sison from Philippines, and Theresia Kurniawan and Fitri Amalia from Indonesia

Four reporters from Southeast Asia share their stories of friendship formed through a Korea.net invitational trip to cover the 2019 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-ROK (Republic of Korea) Commemorative Summit in Busan.

Theresia Kurniawan
In her fourth year in the program, Theresia Kurniawan continued to meet talented journalists, comic artists, photographers and influencers from around the world, with many of them now her friends. One of them is Dana Tugambekova, whom she met in Busan in 2019. "I was amazed when I learned of the backgrounds of the trip participants as most of them were professional journalists," Kurniawan said. 

"Dana, in particular, caught my attention with her enthusiasm and passion for writing as shown in her introduction during our welcoming dinner. I later found her an easygoing person and a great travel mate. We explored the Haeundae area together every night."

Their interest in Korean culture and language quickly brought them closer together. Both study at the Korean Cultural Centers in their respective countries. Unlike the Indonesian, who frequently visited Korea, the Kazakh was in Korea for the first time when she went to Busan. The former shared tips on Korea based on her experiences, while the latter, a seasoned journalist, returned the favor by sharing her journalism experience with Kurniawan, a newbie in the field.

The four Honorary Reporters pose for a photo with Jee Chang-sun (far right), director of the Planning and Management Department at ASEAN Culture House in Busan, and interpreter Song Min-jae (far left). (Park Jung-keun)

Dana Tugambekova
This Kazakh joined the Honorary Reporters team in 2019 after hearing about the program from another Honorary Reporter on social media. "When I joined the program, I wasn't aware of the opportunity to travel to Korea, so being chosen for an invitational program to cover the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit was a surprise for me," she said.

When Tugambekova arrived in Busan, she said she met "amazing people" from the Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt and Bulgaria on her first day. "However, I was impressed that Fitri Amalia from Indonesia was not only an Honorary Reporter but also participated in all events of the Korean Cultural Center in Jakarta, learned to play the traditional Korean instrument gayageum, and was a supporter of the region spanning Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province," she said. 

"(Amalia) is a truly inspirational person and I was amazed by her kindness, wisdom, modesty and huge interest in Korea. Everyone knows that Indonesians are among the world's friendliest people and Fitri is definitely one of them. She always seems to have a smile on her face."

Fitri Amalia
"I rediscovered my passion for writing through Korea.net." This is what this Indonesian said about her impression of Korea.net. Though not a professional journalist, she worked for her college magazine as a correspondent and jumped at the chance to join Honorary Reporters in 2019.

That same year, she got the opportunity to visit Busan through the program and met fellow Honorary Reporters, including Isabelle Pia Sison from the Philippines. Amalia said she was very impressed with Sison's deep knowledge of Korea, her bachelor's degree from Kongju National University, and the Filipina being an active, friendly and smart friend. 

The four Honorary Reporters pose with planning and management director Jee Chang-sun and interpreter Song Min-jae at ASEAN Culture House in Busan (Park Jung-keun)

Isabelle Pia Sison
This Filipina's favorite city in Korea is Busan. While covering the ASEAN-ROK summit in 2019, she said she formed unique memories with her new friends in places she never visited before despite attending university in Korea.

Sison, a newbie in the program at the time, said her conversations with Kurniawan inspired her to set a vision and goals as an Honorary Reporter. The Indonesian told of her application process for the program, and Sison said this inspired her to continue promoting Korean culture through mass communication.

Kurniawan said her favorite experience as an Honorary Reporter was the 2019 induction ceremony at the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, where she met fellow Honorary Reporters from all around the world, her favorite Korean YouTuber and the Korean first lady.

After hearing this story, all four Honorary Reporters pledged to see each other again at the next ceremony, but the pandemic prevented that. They said, however, that they remain hopeful of seeing each other again in Korea soon after the crisis ends.

(From left) Dana Tugambekova, Isabelle Pia Sison, Fitri Amalia and Theresia Kurniawan (Park Jung-keun)

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.