By Honorary Reporter Dayviana Diaz from Cuba

Photos = Korea.net DB, Cheong Wa Dae, Dayviana Diaz

The history of Korea.net's Honorary Reporters began in 2011 with an inaugural corps of 50 who promoted everything about Korea around the world. They eventually grew into the big family that they are today, and first lady Kim Jung-sook has taken heightened interest in them.

In May 2017, her husband Moon Jae-in was elected president and in 2019, the first lady first embraced Honorary Reporters. With President Moon's term set to expire in May, this is a look back at her history with the program.

On May 20, 2019, the eighth class of Honorary Reporters was inducted in a ceremony, with 591 from 73 countries joining. The first lady invited 99 of them to Yeongbingwan Guest House at Cheong Wa Dae.

First lady Kim Jung-sook in May 2019 expressed her gratitude to Honorary Reporters in a ceremony for them at Cheong Wa Dae. (Korea.net DB)

Elena Kubitzki from Germany, who attended the event, said, "Having the opportunity to meet the first lady at the 2019 induction ceremony was a great honor. I was surprised how Korea values people like Honorary Reporters, who love and want to promote Korea. It was a touching and motivating experience."

In 2020, the ceremony for the 10th class was held, and I was one of the new members. Under the theme "Discover K-healing," the event welcomed online 2,154 recruits from 103 countries but just 12 representatives residing in Korea could attend in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the 2020 induction ceremony, first lady Kim Jung-sook sent a video message to congratulate the newest Honorary Reporters and called them "messengers of hope." (Korea.net DB)

This year, Honorary Reporters wrote about their experiences amid COVID-19 and how Korea coped with the pandemic, as well as sharing strategies for coping with isolation through "K-healing." To mark their efforts, the first lady sent letters of appreciation and gifts to several lucky Honorary Reporters.

One of them was Marianna Szucs from Hungary, who said, "I felt exceptionally proud and honored when I received gifts from first lady Kim Jung-sook for my articles on COVID-19. Her signature on the letter showed how much she cared about us."

On May 20 last year, the induction ceremony was held again but mostly online with a few physical attendees due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the first lady attended in person. She greeted the 11th class of 3,432 Honorary Reporters from 105 countries and the second class of 1,224 K-influencers from 76 states.

Laura Velazquez from Mexico, who took part in the ceremony online, said, "Participating in the 2021 induction ceremony filled me with satisfaction for having the incredible opportunity to meet the first lady as a representative from Mexico. It meant something very important to me and reiterated the importance of my role as an Honorary Reporter."

On Jan. 19 this year, the first lady held the event "K-culture, Colored with the Nile" in Cairo, Egypt, with Korean content creators, Honorary Reporters and K-influencers.

Alaa Atef Ebada from Egypt, who attended the function, said, "I never expected to meet the first lady in Egypt. She was very humble when saying we were doing a good job to connect Egypt and Korea. Meeting her made me feel appreciated and loved."

After two years in this program, I believe that first lady Kim Jung-sook is my greatest inspiration to do my best regardless of adversity. It has been my privilege and honor to be what she called a "messenger of hope" as an Honorary Reporter.

kalhong617@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.