By Honorary Reporter Oshini Navodya Jayamuni from Sri Lanka

Photos = Oshini Navodya Jayamuni

Last year, I participated in many activities related to Korea. The following five were my favorites. 

Honorary Reporters 

I was commended at last year's awards for Honorary Reporters and K-influencers.

The Honorary Reporters program last year was full of amazing opportunities and memorable moments. I learned a lot about Korean culture while researching my articles and was motivated by my Korea.net coordinators and fellow reporters to write from different angles. I also interviewed famous people to share their stories.

In addition, I competed in a Hangeul calligraphy contest and had my work featured at the K-wave Festival exhibition "Gateway to Korea." I also joined workshops and ceremonies as a webinar participant, and at the year-end ceremony, I was named a special Honorary Reporter, something that boosted my confidence.

Talk Talk Korea contest

I entered several categories in last year's Talk Talk Korea contest.

Talk Talk Korea was one of my most exciting events related to Korea last year. I had entered since 2019 but never won anything. Last year, however, I won a prize in the photography division and submitted entries in the webtoon, calligraphy, and Cravity music video categories. I enjoyed every bit of the process despite not winning in the other divisions.

Korean literature review contest

This was my illustration for the children's novel "The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly."

In competing in a Korean literature contest, I was deeply moved by the stories. "The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly" was my book of choice for the drawing section and I loved reading it. Author Hwang Sun-mi painted such a vivid picture in the reader's mind and inspired me to create an illustration based on several memorable scenes from her book.

K-pop fan party

"K-pop Cha Cha 2022" was a K-pop fan party sponsored by a K-pop store based in Sri Lanka and the Korean Embassy in Columbo.

I attended on Oct. 30 the annual "K-pop Cha Cha 2022," organized by a group of enthusiastic K-pop lovers in Sri Lanka. Held for the first time last year at BMIH CH Mihilaka Madura, the event was officially sponsored by Lanka K-pop Shop and the Korean Embassy in Columbo. 

The event featured K-pop stalls, beautiful photo booths and message boards set up for visitors. My friends and I took pictures at the photo booth and wrote encouraging messages on the boards. Also featured were a VCR concert, pop quizzes and fan-organized performances. I also took part in a performance at the event, singing a mashup of 24 K-pop tunes over the BTS song "Boy with Luv," and saw a few close friends.

Trying Korean food with friends

I ate this delicious Korean lunch with a friend at Kang's Kitchen in Columbo.

One of the best ways to connect with Korean culture is through food. Since I hadn't eaten Korean food in a long while, I went to a famous Korean restaurant in Colombo, Kang's Kitchen, with my friend. Since we are both vegetarian, we ordered for lunch vegan bibimbap (rice mixed with meat, vegetables and spicy red pepper paste), doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), dubu kkanpunggi (spicy fried tofu) and tteok kocchi (rice cake skewers). We enjoyed the rich flavors over a pleasant conversation and K-pop blasting in the background. As a vegetarian, I'm amazed over the myriad of ways Korean cuisine can still be enjoyed despite its vast variety of meat dishes.

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.