SMT interviewed Kim Minkyung (KIM), the representative of Songwoo this year.

SMT Introduce Songwoo briefly please.

KIM Our club does historical geography.  We have a history of half a century.  The main activity we do is field study and research.  We start on a journey in summer vacation.  For this, during the semester, we hold seminars and study about the history related to the spot we want to visit.  We discuss about historical events which are easy to ignore.  Through research and field study to the whole country we want to understand our history and cultural properties, gain profitable experience and improve our knowledge of geography and history.

SMT In this summer vacation, where have you been to field study?

KIM In this summer, twelve members went to Andong and Yeongju from August 9 to August 11.  We visited Pusoksa, Hahoe village, Dosanseowon.  There were lots of difficult events during field study.  For example, it was hard to reach the transportation system, so we had to walk for more than six kilometers.  Sometimes, we had to often change our itinerary because of lack of the allocation of the cars.  In spite of these kinds of events we had a pleasurable, worthwhile time.  Not only did we gain experience of cultural knowledge and history, we learned from each other through a group life.  Also, at night in the place of abode, we played games every night.  We’ll never forget it.

SMT Please, tell about research activities and other activities during the semester.

KIM We hold seminars every week.  In spring semester, the subject is the main events of modern and contemporary history.  The subject of the autumn semester is up to each memeber.  Also in spring semester, we welcome new members and go to M.T., we make a pub during festival and through the money we earn, we can go on a field trip.  Another main activity is a suburb field trip in the autumn semester.  Last year we went to Changdeikgung, Changgyeinggung, Jongmyo Shrine.  The general meeting at the end of the autumn semester is one of the big events of our club.  We invite our seniors, report our activities we did during a year and introduce new executives.

SMT Which point are the merits of taking a group field trip through the club as opposed to an individual trip?

KIM Actually, it’s easier to change itinerary for convenience when someone is traveling with friends or family.  However it is important to move and act following the itinerary we made before, so making the itinerary is quite important and needs lots of research.  Through this working of making a plan carefully, we can raise our leadership and independence because we have to be a guide for other members. 

SMT Lastly, introduce the good points of Songwoo and give a short comment to Sookmyungians please.

KIM Many Sookmyungians think that our club is too academic and there is not much of fun.  Also, some people think that it would be difficult to learn history, but our members are in the stance of learning and as time goes by we can get more knowledge.  We hope Sookmyungians would join us if they are a little interested in history and cultural properties.  Do not hesitate to join our club!

Yeohyang

SMT interviewed Hwang Jiyeon (Hwang), the Sookmyung representative of Yeohyang last year.

SMT Please introduce your club, Yeohyang to Sookmyungians, and explain about the characteristics of your club.

HWANG Our club name, Yeohyang is short for ‘Yeohaeng Hyangki (Travel Scent).’  Our club has three mottos, “go together,” “go to know” and “go to cheap.”  Recently, undergraduates traveled a trip abroad a lot being in university.  Travel club has many merits like that we can travel together with new people who are interested in travel like me and because of a group travelling, the money for trip is cheaper than when trip members are few.  Domestic exploration and foreign exploration all progress studies about destination before traveling.  Study is a form that travel participants examine and announce about the country’s history, religion, food and language.  And what I want to emphasize is that the travel preparation is done only by graduates.  Although we receive a little from a travel agency, we prepare ourselves from selection of travel agency and an airman to make concrete plans for trips.  Our main activities are ‘Kkeori’ which do a lot of culture experiences, a general meeting, M.T., and domestic exploration during semester and foreign exploration during vacation.

SMT In the case of foreign exploration, you have a long time abroad.  What is the toughest thing or the best thing during the traveling?

HWANG Foreign exploration usually takes about a week and sometimes more.  It is a lie that I never feel physical burden, but I always return falling in love with the country’s charm.  Especially, in case of Eastern Europe, I went to Vienna of Austria, Prague of the Czech Republic, Krakow of Poland and Budapest of Hungary.  The four cities are in the same Europe, but the atmosphere of each city is different.  Also we make efforts to experience everything as undergraduates do, like eating the actual place’s foods and doing leisure sports at a cheapprice.  And when we went to the Cambodia, we volunteered at a meal volunteer work company targeting Cambodian children.  If that travel was a package tour with friends, I would not have this full volunteer experience.

SMT Do domestic exploration and foreign exploration’s traveling expenses impose a heavy burden on the club members?

HWANG Domestic exploration’s traveling expenses cost about forty thousand won.  That price contains all the traveling costs, so this is very inexpensive, as you know.  Foreign exploration costs more than domestic exploration, usually about one million won to one million and fifty thousand won.  But I think the cost problem is up to your priorities.  In my case, if I have a destination want to go, I push my fortunes and go the destination during vacation.  One of my friends wants to travel a lot so she studies hard to win a scholarship.