By Honorary Reporter Preeti Rawat from India

Photo = Srija Paul

King Sejong Institute Foundation in Seoul organizes annual contests in Korean speech and writing to mark Hangeul Day on Oct. 9. These events are for students at King Sejong Institute (KSI) branches worldwide who compete for the grand prize: a scholarship to study in Korea.

This year, the final round of the Sejong Hakdang Outstanding Learners' Invitational Training Program was held on Oct. 10 at the broadcast network KBS in Seoul. Of 2,417 applicants and 168 KSI students who made the final cut, Srija Paul, 19, from India claimed the grand prize in the speech category.

In an email interview from Oct. 12–15, Paul shared how she prepared for the competition, her prize-winning speech and plans for the future.

Briefly introduce yourself.
I'm a university student majoring in English literature and work as a Korean-language instructor with the Korean corporation I-KETS. I was the first runner-up in the New Delhi regional round of the K-pop India Contest in 2020 and this year. This year, I won the grand prize in the speech category of the Sejong Hakdang Outstanding Learners' Invitational Training Program.

How did you develop an interest in Korea?
My interest in Korea and its culture began through music. In 2017, my friend introduced me to BTS. Discovering an unfamiliar language and music style, I strangely wanted to go back to it. Today, I've come this far only because of my love for the country. 

Why did you learn Korean?
I began learning the language because I wanted to understand the lyrics of K-pop ballads. After I started understanding the lyrics, their messages resonated with me and this is why I want to become a singer in Korea. I enter the K-pop India Contest every year and do covers at times. 

What was your journey through the contest like?
The preliminary rounds were held at the Korean Cultural Centre in New Delhi. We had two topics to choose from: "Korea as I and Koreans See It" and "The Korean City I Want to Visit and an Introduction of My City." I chose the first and placed second. In the interview round with a panel of professors from reputable Korean universities, just 10 finalists made it.

The final topic was "The Dream I Want to Achieve and My Challenges" because the judges wanted to hear each student's story and what their hopes and aspirations were. Overall, this was an incredible opportunity to learn and interact with Korean-language learners around the world and spend a meaningful time in Korea.

Describe your winning speech.
I talked about my destiny from how I discovered Korea by coincidence to how it became an inseparable part of my life. I shared my dream of becoming a singer in Korea and my aspiration of sharing a stage with singers like Paul Kim and Jung Seung-hwan. Most importantly, I told the audience that if they truly love something, they can make their dream come true.

 

Did you at all expect to win?  

I had no expectations as I simply wanted to enjoy the moment and speak from the heart, and that's what I did. Strangely, I wasn't nervous while going on stage and presented my speech well. My win -- the biggest in my life so far -- has motivated me to work even harder.  

How was your seven-day trip to Korea?
We had a fixed schedule. We were divided into five groups and moved together to tourist spots in Seoul. We had little time for personal travel but half of the group left on Sept. 11 while others had their flights leaving the next day, so we had one more day. I traveled using the subway for the first time, went to Hongdae to see my friend, watched busking, went to noraebang (karaoke box) took pictures at a photo booth and ate a delicious meal.

What was your impression of Korea and which activities did you enjoy most?
I was happy and teary-eyed when I landed in Korea; my dream had finally come true. I was mesmerized by the country’s beauty. Additionally, everything was so organized there and the roads wide and clean. My favorite activities were wearing Hanbok and visiting the aquarium at Lotte World.

What are your plans?

My dream is still to become a singer in Korea, so I'll keep trying to improve my music skills and study Korean harder until when I'm considered a native Korean speaker. I want to immerse myself into the daily lifestyle and become part of it. If I achieve this dream, I want to create music that brings Korea and India closer to connect people on a deeper level. And I want to keep learning and spreading knowledge of the Korean language and culture to others.

msjeon22@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.