Project Summary: Won Gold Prize (2nd Place) out of 32 undergraduate participants in the Lee Soo-hyun 20th Memorial Book Review Essay Contest with the essay "Expansion," exploring Korea-Japan cultural and scientific exchange beyond political controversies.
This essay contest focused on commemorating Lee Soo-hyun, a Korean student who heroically saved a Japanese man on Tokyo subway tracks in 2001, sacrificing his own life. The essay analyzed the book "Lee Soo-hyun, January Sunshine - Commemorating the Beautiful Youth Lee Soo-hyun on the 20th Anniversary" and proposed measures for advancing Korea-Japan relations.
The essay examined Lee Soo-hyun's legacy as a symbol of friendship between Korea and Japan, analyzed contemporary diplomatic challenges, and proposed practical measures for strengthening bilateral cooperation through cultural exchanges and youth engagement. The award included special recognition from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs with an invitation for a 10-day Japan visit (canceled due to COVID-19).