By Honorary Reporter Laura Cristina Lopez Velazquez from Mexico

Photos = Ivana Alzaga

Ivana Alzaga from Mexico on Dec. 10 was named the top Honorary Reporter among Spanish-language members of the program at Korea.net's annual awards ceremony for Honorary Reporters and K-influencers. 

A native of Guadalajara, Alzaga is a college student majoring in marketing and international business who joined the program in 2021. Her articles are mostly on historical topics related to Korean culture as well as interviews with artists like painter Nam Jung-ye and sand sculptor Ji Dae-young. Her award allowed her to visit Korea for a week.

The following are excerpts from a Dec. 21 interview with her via a Google Meet video call on her experience in the program and trip to Korea.

What impact has the Honorary Reporter program had on your life?
I've learned so much about Korea and made friends all over the world. I've also discovered my love for writing.

How do you select the topics for your articles?
I usually get inspiration from browsing the internet. When I find works that interest me, I contact their creators to ask for interviews. I've been lucky enough to receive positive responses from them. I also enjoy writing about historical topics that interest me and are informative to others. The key is to go beyond expectations by studying a topic as much as I can.

What was your favorite place to visit in Korea?
I liked Gyeongbokgung Palace the most since I'm a big fan of Korean historical dramas and had always wanted to try on Hanbok. I also enjoyed my visit to Namsan (now N Seoul) Tower, though the snow made it difficult to see a panoramic view of Seoul. My favorite activity was a Korean cooking class taught by the famous chef Kim Soo-jin, where I learned to make bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables, beef and red pepper paste).

What was it like visiting the Korea.net office?
I and the other Honorary Reporters got to meet Kal Hong, manager of the Honorary Reporters program who explained the work process such as how she selects articles that are original, creative and relevant. I also met the nice and friendly Spanish-language coordinators Angie Hong and Kim Hyelin.

What advice do you have for those dreaming of visiting Korea?
My interest in Korea began in 2013 but I didn't get to visit until 2022. If you dream of visiting Korea, it's OK to take your time in reaching your goal. You'll probably get there sooner than you think.

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.