By Honorary Reporters Fetty Asihta Kencana Putri from Indonesia and Preeti Rawat from India

Hanum Nur Aprilia from Indonesia on Nov. 8 was named one of this year's best Honorary Reporters at the K-Wave Festival held at CKL Stage in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

Pursuing a master's in media and communications at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do Province, she said her experience as an Honorary Reporter sparked her curiosity, expanded her perspective and guided her towards her intended career.

In an email interview with Aprilia from Nov. 17-20, she said she discovered Korea.net through her sister, who encouraged her to apply in 2023. Having visited Korea multiple times and constantly receiving travel requests from friends, Aprilia said she she could reach a broader audience by sharing her experiences on the platform.

She added that she sought to reconnect with her passion for writing, which had waned due to the rise of visual content.

Honorary Reporter from Indonesia Hanum Nur Aprilia on Nov. 8 receives her award as one of the year's top Honorary Reporters. (Korea.net's Flickr)

In her acceptance speech, she called the award an affirmation of being on the right path. She said she pushed herself to grow by exploring new formats, topics and challenges, evolving from travel stories and personal reflections to reporting and interviews, confirming her desire to pursue this field.

These are Hanum Nur Aprilia's articles posted on the Korea.net website. (Screenshots from Korea.net)

"Fellow Honorary Reporters often ask how I manage to write articles quickly. When attending an event, my approach is to use the writer's perspective, including observing interesting moments, identifying key points and mapping out the structure in my head," she said. "So when I eventually get ready to write, most of the framework is already there."

Being in the program also allowed her to attend cultural events. "Accompanying the CDA (charge d'affaires) of the Korean Embassy in Indonesia for the opening of the Oullim Korea Festival is something I never imagined experiencing. Also, the program's workshops and Networking Day have been incredibly valuable. They allowed me to learn from industry professionals and connect with people from countries who share a love for Korean culture," she said.

As part of a cultural trip, Hanum Nur Aprilia visited the office of the Korean Information and Cultural Service and Gyeongbokgung Palace. (Margareth Theresia and Hanum Nur Aprilia)

Aprilia said she wants to contribute to the program not just by sharing stories but supporting fellow writers. "Sincere intentions and steady effort eventually find their way," she added.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article was 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.