Issuu

ISSUE 1

XXIV

SEOULITE CONTRIBUTORS 2021 Editors-in-Chief

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Katie Lee, Christine Yi

Aimee Choi, Rosa Suh

Charlotte Jun, Chelsea Kim, Clair Kang, Grace Lee, Jennifer You, Lauren Kim, Lin Chiang, Lindsey Lim, Shinheng Jason Lee, Sophie Choi, Yunseo (Irene) Nam, Rachel Yoon, Jenny Seo, Jiyu Hong, Sijeong Bang

Copy Editors

Layout

Isabella Kim, Riwon Ahn Layout Editors

Ellen Ryu, Emma Im, Eunice Rhee, Jasmine Cho, Kaylee (Minchae) Kim, Luna Moon, Seojin Park, Yujin Lee, Jennie Koo

Yuzine Yi, Claire Kim

Photo

Photo Editors

Alex Cho, Anna Lee, Ashley Kim, Celine Yang, Chloe Cho, Dana Chung, JK Kim, Kristina Kang, Seoyoon (Kris) Son, Teresa Chang, Yoon Choi

Managing Editors

Rachel Lee, Alice Lee

Advisor Ms. Wendy Grant

LETTER FROM THE EICs Dear readers, As editors of Seoulite, the official press publication of SEOMUN, we are honored to serve delegates, chairs, advisors, administrative staff members, directors, and other participants throughout the 24th SEOMUN conference. We hope that all delegates will have the opportunity to gain new insights and engage in fruitful debates on worldly matters. Over the next three days, our team of reporters, photographers, and layout artists will be covering various aspects of SEOMUN—ranging from debates on technological advancements to lighthearted anecdotes from delegates—in our upcoming issues. In the face of the pandemic last year, our Seoulite team managed to successfully publish all four issues amidst the virtual precariousness and physical distance that separated conference participants for the first time. This conference, we will strive to do the same; to collaborate internationally with all delegates, and to weave together the stories of those at SEOMUN once again. With that, we would like to ask the delegates and chairs for three things: First, please take the time to take a look through our daily issues on issuu.com. We promise to fill our pages with diverse and engaging content throughout the conference. Second, please feel free to offer your uncensored personal opinions if a press member approaches you for an interview. Lastly, if a photographer requests that you take a quick photo of yourself via Zoom or email, please spare a few minutes of your time to do so. We would like to include as many delegates as we can in our issues despite having an online conference, and our photographers would greatly appreciate your cooperation! We wish all delegates the best of luck. Happy SEOMUN XXIV! Katie Lee & Christine Yi Editors-in-Chief

JUKEBOX JEWELS

SEOMUN XXIV: The lonely rhythm of hope

SEOMUN has returned, buckling delegates’ seatbelts for a rollercoaster of emotions and flying thoughts. MUN is more than an academic undertaking; it’s an emotionally strenuous journey that takes sleep-deprived delegates to the corners of their hearts, boiling their frustration at times while bringing them joy and excitement at others. Like MUN, music is often an incredibly emotional experience that is used to express our deepest emotions. As such, we at Seoulite chose three songs that describe the psychological ups and downs of this year’s SEOMUN.

NOBODY - MITSKI The epitome of loneliness. The go-to song for the singles of the world. Yet, this song isn’t exclusive to describing romantic relationships; with MUN going virtual again, delegates enduring sessions alone in their homes can relate to the painfully desperate message of “Nobody” of simply wanting someone near them. The combination of disco beats and melancholy chords capture the turbulent experience of delegates as they engage in fervent debates while brooding in isolation. With the highly social spirit of MUN reduced to three days of confined screen-staring, delegates immerse in Mitski’s sorrowful yet comforting echo: nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody…

POMPEII - BASTILLE

Based on the destruction of the eponymous city, “Pompeii” by Bastille is symbolic of the doubts and futility surrounding our hard work. Delegates could probably relate to the resounding cries asking, “How am I gonna be an optimist about this?” when faced with the daunting tasks presented by online conferences, perhaps even closing their eyes in a futile attempt to simulate the excitement of face-to-face debates. The nostalgic melodies of “Pompeii,” a song many delegates probably listened to in their childhood, further adds to the longing delegates feel for conferences before the pandemic. Due to nostalgia’s tendency to encase everything under a rose-colored lens, perhaps even the boring and tedious parts of in-person conferences may seem wonderful to a delegate sick of Zoom.

LOOK AT THE SKY - PORTER ROBINSON

Written by Rosa Suh & Aimee Choi Layout by Ellen Ryu

“Look At the Sky’’ by Porter Robinson is a bittersweet reflection on growing up: losing your childhood innocence and feeling weighed down by new responsibilities and knowledge. Growing up with the unprecedented and unpleasant changes brought about by the pandemic has only exacerbated this. Staring at a Zoom meeting for hours until the pixels blur together, delegates may question why they are even doing this in the first place—what is the point of MUN when everything seems to be going to crap? But even so, a part of us remains on the lookout for change. With a cheerful synth underlying whispery vocals, “Look At the Sky” epitomizes the theme of this year’s SEOMUN: “A Ripple of Hope,” our fragile yet enduring desire for an opportunity to do something good, hoping that our efforts will ultimately be worth it. It is undeniably difficult to retain this desire. But with the help of other delegates, perhaps it is easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The light that reveals the vast blue expanse of the sky.

STUFF DELEGATES SAY

Layout by Ellen Ryu

GA I: PROPOSES NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT FOR WORLD SAFETY On the first day of SEOMUN XXIV, the General Assembly I (GA I) began their talks on reducing the number of nuclear weapons to assure global safety. Delegates started the meeting with their opening speeches, making evident the controversy that surrounded worldwide disarmament. Many contended that these weapons needed to be eradicated fully, while others chose to argue that disarmament was not a valid step. “Power imbalance is unfavorable, but it is highly important and is the backbone of international relations,” said Jay Choe, the delegate of Russia. “If it was not for nuclear weapons in history, the outcome of many wars could have potentially been terrible. Though we, like other nations, envision a world where nuclear weapons are no longer used to threaten and hold power against other nations, a level of armament is still necessary for the maintenance of certain aspects of international relations.” However, unlike the pro-nuclear weapon stance that Russia took, many other delegates disagreed that such artillery was a backwards step from peace. Many delegates, particularly Alex Chu, the delegate of Cuba, firmly advocated the goal of eradicating these arms completely to better international relations whilst also taking into consideration their nation’s past issues with nuclear arms. “Although our ultimate goal is complete nuclear disarmament, placing restrictions and regulations on the usage of nuclear weapons is a more achievable goal

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at this time,” Alex said. “In the past, Cuba was caught in nuclear warfare between two nations possessing nuclear weapons, and to prevent such conflicts in the future, the goal of nuclear disarmament must be attained.” Other delegates, though, expressed a concern for the limitations a total ban could place on technological developments using materials also included in nuclear bombs. Ferris Haukon, the delegate of the Republic of Korea, desired regulations that would not hinder progress towards a more advanced world. “There must be regulations on the materials required for building nuclear weapons,” Ferris said. “This limits the amount of disagreement from countries that are opposed to complete global disarmament while still preventing the construction of new nuclear weapons. Additionally, regulating these materials rather than banning them outright allows for non-weaponized innovation to continue and decreases the chance of illegal trade.” Despite the desires of several delegates to find an agreeable solution, reaching a consensus on the resolution was difficult. Delegates especially engaged in fervent debates on whether proposed solutions were too extensive during the lobbying sessions. As a result, the discussion became extremely heated as the time to discuss the resolution came to a close.

GA II DISCUSSES INVESTIGATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY On November 5th, delegates from General Assembly II (GA II) discussed information investigation and communication technology for economic purposes. By tackling various sub-topics like cybersecurity, education, and trade, resolutions focused on encouraging economic growth were made. Erin Burm, the delegate of the United States of America, urged the need for all governments to improve cybersecurity across the civilian and government in methods such as providing mandatory education revolving around how to strengthen personal cybersecurity to government officials, employees of companies, and those of the youth through pedagogic organizations. “The delegate of the United States of America would like to advocate for the creation of policies that demand private companies to enforce rules that help increase cybersecurity,” said Erin. “These rules would promote stronger passwords that secure personal information, hire professionals to ensure cybersecurity, and create partnerships between governments and corporations such as McAfee, Palo Alto Networks, and LexisNexis Risk Solutions.”

mend policies within governments to enable the environment for digital trade to embody features like the transparent sale of products internationally and mandate record keeping of products by private companies submitted to national governments. “The theme ‘A Ripple of Hope’ to me means that in this world right now where many of us feel hopeless, there is still hope for us. A ripple effect takes place when one thing impacts many other things around it. When there is a small amount of hope within us, eventually it will spread throughout all of us,” said Anant Argarwal, the delegate of Armenia. I feel that in order to keep evolving as humans and the world, we must continue to make the services that we have better and that includes information and communications technology. Technology is a big part of today’s world, and we must utilize it to the best of our abilities in all ways possible, which includes the economic status of the world today.”

Furthermore, all delegates agreed that the resolution must encourage the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISACC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the Telecommunications Information Society (TIA) to collaborate with the More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs), accordingly contributing to restructuring the education system of Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs). “We could diversify teaching and learning methods, including actions that enable Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool to improve learning and teaching,” said Bobin Park. “We could further enhance education efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity for economic development by making ICT a subject, for example, computer studies, and make use of ICT as an expanding learning opportunity.” As delegates progressed through the debate, free trade was mentioned as one of the most crucial aspects of this conflict. Delegates stressed the importance of increasing forms of free trade to exchange ICT products and services. Delegates suggested decreasing tariffs on ICT exports or imports and com-

Written by Chelsea Kim Photo(s) by Rachel Lee Layout by Emma Im

GENERAL ASSEMBLY III ADDRESSES CONCERNS REGARDING POPULATION AGING

On the first day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the General Assembly III (GA III) focused on the first agenda regarding the social aspect of population aging, especially within developed nations. Delegates suggested multiple solutions to this problem, such as tackling the root causes of population aging. Delegates started the conference strong by openly communicating their opinions and inquiring ways to improve the resolution on their countries’ behalf. Many delegates underscored the urgency to address the issue of population aging through the support of social systems. Hyren Gan, the delegate of the Netherlands pointed out that establishing such systems will help increase birth rates in developed countries in particular. Hyren also emphasized the necessity of providing the elderly an opportunity to tackle the underlying consequences that result from population aging. “The Netherlands has staunch support for increasing the productivity of older populations, as well as stimulating birth rates in developed nations,” Hyren said. “We believe that a better social support system for new parents can help the mitigation of societal issues faced by population aging. The promotion of vocational training for the elderly could also help with their empowerment.” As the discussion continued, more delegates seemed to agree upon the solution of establishing social systems such as providing job opportunities to support the elderly. In agreement with the delegate of the Netherlands, the delegate of Colombia, Rachel Cho, expressed the urgency to impose solutions that allow the elderly to have access to job opportunities that could alleviate financial difficulties such as health

Written by Irene Nam Photo(s) by Yoon Choi Layout by Yujin Lee

care. However, Rachel stressed that the resolution contained multiple flaws and emphasized the need to make changes. “For Colombia, it is expected by 2034 that it will become an aged economy. We surely believe that there need to be solutions implemented to solve this issue,” Rachel said. “I think that solutions such as giving simple job opportunities to elders above the age of 65 would be effective. However, I think that our resolution right now is not enough and requires more work by the delegates to revise it.” Other delegates suggested different solutions to address the issue at hand. The delegate of the United States, Kevin Lyu, suggested that another solution that could be potentially more beneficial than providing the elderly opportunities: raising awareness among the public In order to resolve issues regarding maternity, especially when problems arise regarding familial relationships, spreading awareness is crucial. Kevin further stressed that artificial intelligence (AI) could be another solution in improving the condition of workforces. “The delegate of the United States believes in solutions such as extending maternity and paternity leaves,” said Kevin. “Additionally, he supports raising awareness to the general public about the current circumstances within a nation, as well as implementing artificial intelligence to solve the issue of the lack of young workers in the workforce.” Despite some disagreements on which clauses to add and elaborate on, many delegates agreed that the resolution was sufficient since ultimately, the resolution incorporated effective solutions that aimed to address the issue of population aging.

ECOSOC DISPUTES FORCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE On the first day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) began constructing resolutions to the agenda regarding the economic effects of climate change on consumers and producers of materials. Additionally, delegates strived for methods to tackle the reduction of pollution and prevalent long-term issues. Overall, delegates stressed the crucial cautions they should practice in order to minimize the harm. They highlighted the connections between agriculture, market, and tourism: areas vulnerable to environmental flaws that may face severe challenges in the future. Environmental harms are highly visible in many nations, where the deteriorating conditions of these cities urge government action and change in lifestyle among citizens. It is believed that the issue at hand is too great for there to only be a change in the economy. The change in agricultural methods into a more innovative and environmentally-friendly direction is essential to achieve sustainability. These changes will ultimately transition into a more sustainable society. “The focus of governments should be on ensuring that climate change is mitigated so that all global citizens can continue calling the Earth their home,” said Megan Wang, delegate of China. “Agriculture causes climate change for many reasons. Lack of agriculture, as such, is not the issue, but rather it is the excessive amount of it.” The least Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) face more difficulties from climate change because many of them rely economically on the production of resources, not services. As these resources are threatened by climate change, so are their livelihoods. In response, delegates proposed solutions to support different facilities for these communities and

react effectively to the impacts of climate change. “I think climate change is especially crucial to those LEDCs as of now because a lot of LEDCs depend on tourism and agriculture, but those industries are vulnerable to climate change,” said Junseo Lee, delegate of the United Kingdom. “However, I do think that later on, the impact of climate change will be much larger. I would say the main solutions would be focusing on large corporations and governments that pollute the environment and everyone trying to lower their carbon footprints individually.” The delegates were also concerned about the various health problems resulting from changes in the environment. This includes extreme heat, the sea levels rising, and the quality of life slowly decreasing as a result. “The lack of agriculture is affecting how much food is getting to areas, especially affecting LEDCs,” said Jueun Kim, delegate of the Republic of Korea. “I think one solution is to create a system that creates better incentives for companies to emit fewer carbon emissions through tax breaks and reductions, and punish other companies emitting high amounts of carbon dioxide. This will dramatically decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, slowing down climate change.” The resolution focused on valuing all nations’ perspectives on the economic and social impacts of climate change. It revolved around balancing the priorities of agriculture and various industries, achieving successful maintenance, and consistent efforts despite the steady warming of the earth.

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SC CONVENES ABOUT MYANMAR CRISIS On the first day of the conference, delegates of the Security Council (SC) convened to discuss the rightful governance and security in Myanmar. While removing all military power from Myanmar is deemed impossible, nations joined together in order to find solutions to the crisis that would ensure the citizens’ safety while applying enough pressure to the military. Though seeking to reach common ground, delegates had different stances in relation to the issue. “The delegate of Tunisia’s solution for solving such a crisis is by having more countries add more sanctions to businesses,” said Khun Cho Thar Lwin, delegate of Tunisia. “The Burmese military leader’s relatives have been involved in numerous projects overseas, and sanctioning those might allow the leaders to not continue their actions.” Khun Cho proposed a solution to add sanctions in order to control the government of Myanmar. This would be a step to effectively regulate the oppressive military of Myanmar by targeting the country’s economy. However, this proposal received much criticism as it was already attempted many times in the past but did not yield much progress for the improvement of human rights in Myanmar. “Another solution the delegate of Tunisia proposed was for the nations to recognize the National Unity Government of Myanmar,” Khun Cho said. “This will allow the winning party of Myanmar to represent the country in official events.”

Written by Sophie Choi Photo(s) by Chloe Cho Layout by Kaylee Kim

Khun Cho proposed yet another solution to the crisis—for nations to recognize the National Unity Government of Myanmar, a group of elected lawmakers and members of parliament which included representatives of the National League for Democracy and various minority parties. Through this recognition, the country would gain better representation and stronger support from the other countries. “Furthermore, as part of the European Union, France has imposed sanctions on deputy ministers and the attorney general of Myanmar for violating human rights and restricting democracy,” said Yeonseo Lee, delegate of France. “This delegate strongly believes in the immediate end to the repression in Myanmar through negotiation and dialogue with its military, as well as preventing further harm by implementing a global arms embargo.” Yeonseo proposed a slightly different take on the issue by arguing for direct confrontation with the military, as she felt that sanctions brought too slow of a progress and did not yield much support for the citizens of Myanmar. She was for negotiations and compromise with the Myanmar military, as this would encourage faster action. In this way, delegates had different solutions for this same crisis of the security in Myanmar, but they were able to gather these ideas and combine them into one resolution.

HSC EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING RWANDAN GENOCIDE On the first day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the Historical Security Council (HSC) began constructing resolutions to address several agendas regarding the peace and security of international relations. Seeking innovative solutions to issues with conflicts, the committee strived to gain a more comprehensive understanding of world issues and attempted to prepare for similar situations that may occur in the future. Delegates focused on the issue of the Rwandan genocide and successfully proposed solutions like humanitarian aid, peace talks, refugee camps, and legal punishments. Many delegates emphasized the urgent need for international cooperation to ensure the freedom of Rwandan citizens. Furthermore, several delegates touched upon the idea of troops having successful deployments to at-risk areas. Delegates agreed that having the presence of United Nations(UN) members and international guidance was a promising approach to end the genocide and encouraged member nations to collectively draft measures to alleviate the tensions. “We had in the past played a major role in escalating tensions, so we hope to be a bridge for them this time, to alleviate these tensions, and for the genocide to come to a close in Rwanda through this conference in 1994!” said Ema Eguchi, the delegate of Belgium. “Our plans would be to firstly, have international cooperation on this alarming crisis through conferences, the addition of peacekeeping troops in Rwanda and a possible arms embargo on

Rwanda. We also would like for a peaceful deployment of our troops.” Other delegates made opposing statements. Joseph Kim, the delegate of Rwanda, argued against the ideas that other nations are stating. Putting emphasis on the idea of not regarding to the Rwandan genocide as a “genocide,” the delegate looked for a peaceful solution to the conflict. “In my perspective, I do not moderately agree with the term ‘Rwandan genocide,’” Joseph said. “Instead, I believe that it was merely a civil war that caused a lot of casualties for both Hutu and Tutsi groups. I will try to remain on the perspective of the Hutu group, and am willing to have a peaceful resolution without targeting specific ethnic groups.” With the overarching goal of developing solutions for the future, several delegates have the stance of driving out the opposition of the Rwandan genocide and supporting activities like refugee camps such as the delegate of France. “Humanitarian aid for the target group, a ceasefire agreement, and funding for the strengthening of the UN peacekeepers are necessary in order to solve the issue at hand,” said Erica Lim, the delegate of France. “But my goal, to be frank, is to drive out the moderate Hutus and the Tutsis. France has worked with the Rwandan government and therefore feels the need to support them. Using refugee camps as an excuse, the delegate of France will drive out the target group.”

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BRINGING WATER SECURITY INTO THE LIMELIGHT The three basic human needs— water, shelter, clothing—intersect all social, economic, and political activities. Among these three, however, freshwater is a crucial resource for humankind that fuels these activities more than others: energy, agriculture, and even hygiene. Driving society’s most essential industries, water security carries substantial implications that will shape the future of our lives. While the development of strategies and technology for water resource management is making progress, its actual implementation lacks legitimacy. Water security, defined by the United Nations Agency of Water as “the capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of water with acceptable quality necessary for sustaining livelihoods,” is a major framework of society that needs to be evaluated and reassessed. An adequate water supply is especially essential for a rapidly growing population. Research from the UN shows that global water use over the last century has been growing at twice the rate of population increase. With the massive migration of people into urban areas in the past few decades, cities are unable to provide minimum water services to their expanding communities. Further issues stem from urbanization as well, such as the contamination of surface and groundwater, which threaten the low amount of freshwater available for usage. Not every effect of the global water crisis, however, is due to human activity. Water-related natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, and land-slides, are also significant pieces of context to patterns in global change. Additionally, according to studies done by Sustainable Water Partnership, more than 1.1 billion people have inadequate access to clean drinking water globally and approximately 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation facilities. Like such, water shortages can lead to detrimental outcomes, including but not limited to ecosystem degradation, worsWritten by JENNIFER YOU Layout by EUNICE RHEE

ening health, and destruction of livelihoods. In order to achieve water security, it is imperative to protect vulnerable water systems, mitigate the impacts of water hazards, and manage water resources in an equitable manner. There is a need for holistic approaches to address the significance of stronger infrastructure and more active governance. In the US, the transition from the Trump administration to the Biden administration aids in reviving environmental protection, which had been weakened due to former President Trump’s attempts to garner support from home builders and ranchers. Furthermore, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio and Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano promised that they would build a stronger foundation of water protection with innovative and scientific technology methods. For global water security, however, there is a need to shift from the status quo and conventional models in order to yield more resilient systems that will safeguard water services around the world. Understanding water security requires diverse perspectives that look beyond the immediate short-term impacts certain strategies bring. It is an element that touches upon all aspects of life that calls for more than merely attention from governments and policies. Water security is fundamental to achieving sustainable economic and human development and, therefore, is necessary to be addressed as a priority. On a global scale, it dominates as one of the many environmental struggles society strives to tackle across complex and intricate dimensions. While it continues to be a major concern, only time will determine its gravity on not only the natural environment, but human wellbeing as well.

ADDRESSING THE PRECARITY OF THE GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY With the rise of the pandemic, ensuring food security to all is becoming increasingly challenging. A multitude of pressing problems ranging from malnutrition and hunger to low income continue to worsen the ongoing struggles and deprive humans of basic subsistence rights. Often linked with poverty and political instability, food insecurity has taken a huge toll on the exponentially growing population, adversely affecting people across the globe. The imminent threats can be categorized into three aspects: food availability, food access, and food utilization. Considering this multifaceted problem, transformative approaches to help ensure food security are necessary. Global trends have shown that farmers have faced economic strains as they have only tight profit margins within their industry, and government restrictions of transport have impeded access to goods. Meat and dairy have been primary examples of perishables demonstrating food loss, as these products have a likely chance of being contaminated when not properly handled and stored, and this, in turn, raises food safety concerns. Moreover, the accommodation of social distancing due to the pandemic is hard to manage without a loss of profitability, leading to poor working conditions, hygiene issues, and low pay. Withstanding the health risks that come alongside it, farmworkers sacrifice much in attempts to stabilize the food supply. The virus has exposed the inequalities compounded by trade disruptions and dwindling food production in populous areas. Hence, the well-being and health of people have been taking a turn for the worse. For example, the prevalence of food insecurity in India, one of the most

populous countries in the world, has concerning implications for the livelihood of many Indians. In order to target some of these problems, The Right to Food Campaign (RTFC) in India is in effort to seize entitlement to food-related issues that have been working for sustainable development. Furthermore, many developing countries in Africa are also suffering from these global issues, as disrupted trade and transport restrictions further exacerbate the unstable food system. This, combined with hyperinflation due to political maladministration, makes the food crisis unrelenting. The lean season has especially impacted people in South Sudan, who have greatly reduced food production and provided low crop yields. Without stability, they are currently faced with severe acute food insecurity and malnourishment. More disturbingly, society is on the verge of food-system failure as the surging demand for food peaks at an all-time high. To counter this, stringent policies and initiatives should be made for forthcoming years, gradually making their way to achieving food security for a sustainable future, particularly ensuring basic rights for marginalized and severely disadvantaged communities. United effort and global cooperation are necessary to combat the challenges of malnutrition and environmental collapse despite the difficulties placed by the pandemic. In order to progress towards practical, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture systems, countries should cooperate with one another to promote global food trade and secure funding to bridge the significant gaps currently existing between countries.

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WHA PASSIONATELY DISCUSSES COVID-19 & ITS EFFECTS MOVING FORWARD On the first day of the conference, delegates of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) joined together to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the safe and smooth integration of refugees worldwide. The delegates acknowledged that the pandemic noticeably worsened the refugee crisis and proposed solutions to the wide array of problems refugees face. “In May 2020, UNHCR signed an agreement with the National Council of Physicians Order, focusing on the significance in improving the access to medication, mental health and specialized care for refugees and asylum seekers in Morocco,” said Irene Snow, delegate of Morocco. “Therefore, the delegate of Morocco would strongly support the UNHCR to assist other refugees with access to medical services and work with respective governments for a successful and safe integration.” The delegate of Morocco claimed that nations must focus on medical care for refugees in Morocco in order to combat the fallout they received from the COVID-19 pandemic. She claimed that the most important step in resolving the refugee crisis not only in Morocco but all around the world was to implement appropriate and accessible medical service to refugees in need. Especially in the pandemic, medical care for refugees is crucial in order to ensure the health and safety of those who are most exposed to the disease. “This delegate wishes that member nations can cooperate with relevant NGOs in order to create better infrastructure for refugees,” said Eddie Chu, delegate of the United States (US). “Disease

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surveillance mechanisms must also be strengthened through the help of international organizations like the World Bank to detect early signs of COVID-19 and prevent its spread.” Other delegates proposed measures in the implementation of better infrastructure and facilities for refugees. Apart from adequate health care, the delegate of the US argued that mechanisms must be instilled for the purpose of detecting disease within communities of refugees. With this tool, people infected with the disease would be able to be identified and isolated in order to prevent spreading to others. The delegate asked for the cooperation of international organizations in order to organize and implement this innovative solution. “This delegate believes that international cooperation is the cornerstone to solve this issue,” said Ian Lam, delegate of Venezuela. “Organising wsupport to build more sustainable and sanitary refugee infrastructure and increased awareness of the existence of xenophobia in many countries through education due to COVID-19 are among the feasible solutions.” The delegate of Venezuela concluded that cooperation among nations is key in solving the issue of the effects of COVID-19 on refugees worldwide. Sustainable infrastructure must be implemented all around the world, prejudice and xenophobia must be combated through education, and health care must be improved globally. All these solutions are only able to be achieved through collaboration and compromise.

UNHCR DISCUSSES EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON REFUGEES On the first day of conferences, the World Health Assembly (WHA) began fruitful discussions on many topics, including the grave dangers of air pollution in many metropolitan areas. The main focus, however, was on the aftermath of COVID-19 and how to prevent such a pandemic from happening again. Delegates discussed solutions such as the equitable distribution of vaccines, the building of governmental agencies and infrastructure to efficiently end the pandemic, and how such infrastructure can feasibly prevent pandemics into the future. “[The aftermath] is important because post-COVID-19 season would still have the danger of spreading the virus around the global community,” Kevin Chung, the delegate of Finland said. “Plus, I think the risk of pandemic would rise as people are less careful of virus infection as they gain more freedom after the covid season.” The gravity of the situation at hand, even after moderately successful vaccine rollouts, is still one of great danger and gravity. The delegates lamented that, while progress had been made, it was simply not enough and that lives were still being lost. They emphasized the importance of proper organizations and policies to effectively mitigate COVID-19 and keep people safe going forward.

“I think that not only dealing with COVID-19 but also making better protocols and preparations before these pandemics strike is crucial for a safer future,” said Cecilia Yoon, the delegate of Italy. “A life-with-COVID future seems inevitable.” Even with the dire, seemingly inescapable consequences of the pandemic, the delegates are still hopeful that positive change in the world can be made. The change that they’re looking to make is not just related to the circumstance at hand pertinent to the pandemic, but also going forward to prevent future pandemics. “Developing necessary infrastructure, such as constructing hospitals could help curb health crises,” said John Kim, the delegate of the Russian Federation. “However, I think that a more global scale of change, such as creating a new committee under the UN about easing future pandemic pressures is much more effective as it can help minimize the negative impacts of future pandemics on a bigger scale, not just within national levels.” All in all, the WHA delegates have many ideas as to how they can improve the quality of health in the world, especially in relation to COVID-19. Ultimately, the solutions they come up with for this life-and-death situation will be a topic of great discussion this weekend.

Written by Sophie Choi Photos by Dana Chung Layout by Jasmine Cho

CSW STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF GENDER EQUALITY IN DEVELOPING NATIONS On the first day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) instigated a lively discussion on women’s rights and the empowerment of women. CSW made an effort to renew global standards of women by spreading awareness of gender inequality and the livelihoods of women across the globe. Three main agendas were promoted: women’s political participation, women’s representation in the workplace amidst COVID-19, and sexual or domestic abuse of women. Delegates successfully communicated their stance and proposals in their opening speeches. Although delegates had different stances based on the circumstances of their respective nations, most delegates came to a consensus that facilitating women to participate in political sectors and activities was indispensable. Acknowledging the importance of the issue in developing and transitioning countries, delegates agreed on the need to address the lack of resources and opportunities for women to participate in politics. “In terms of gender equality Rwanda has a good rate, they included women in some governmental sectors, but due to the lack of resources and knowing the country as one of the poorest it makes it hard for the country to obtain gender equality,” said Galkisage Farah Michelle Fernando, delegate of Rwanda. “If every delegation has a concrete resolution that corresponds to their country’s economic situation, women could still have their chances to be part of the government.”

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Other delegates had opposing views. Although they recognized the importance of the inclusion of women in politics, they stressed the significance of prioritizing ongoing economic, political, and social issues in the countries before attempting to achieve gender equality. “Qatar believes in including women in these situations but does not deem it necessary to prioritize the involvement of women in these important events,” said Tenzin Gyeltshen Wangyel, delegate of Qatar. “In transitioning nations, bigger things are more important like the access to clean water, safety of citizens, and education.” Moreover, the overarching number of delegates that contributed to and revised the resolution agreed that the only way to make progress regarding the issue of women’s rights would be through continuous efforts and support from the UN. In order to maintain and develop into a better world for everyone, delegates hope that more countries will advocate for women’s equality in the future. “The goal of the Resolution is to create workshops, worldwide webinars, and educational videos to promote opportunities for women to learn about politics,” said Galkisage Farah Michelle Fernando, the delegate of Rwanda. “This would be maintained in the future as the UN monitors the whole process. This delegate would prove how every delegation would be a part of this to help for a brighter future under each delegation’s country’s law.”

HRC DISCUSSES PREVENTING SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION On November 5th, delegates in the Human Rights Committee (HRC) began their discussion on the topic of preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in less economically developed countries. First beginning with opening speeches, many delegates asserted that immediate policies such as education needed to be implemented to solve the issue. “As the international community places more emphasis on human rights, it is imperative that people recognise the numerous human rights violations that have occurred against sexual minorities,” said Brandon Choi, Republic of Korea. “People are segregated, abused, tortured, and executed due to their sexual orientation and identity. Many of these nations have suppressed the proper investigation into these human rights abuses. We need to support measures, then, that will ratify LGBTQ+ rights as human rights.” The majority of the committee expressed similar sentiments to the delegate of Korea, stating that LGBTQ+ rights were often disregarded on a widespread governmental scale. Other delegates, however, highlighted the individual challenges LGBTQ+ faced as a result of societal stigmatization. “Discrimination of gender and sexuality takes a heavy toll on individual lives,” said Ethan Suh, delegate of Japan. “For example, in a recent incident on October 27th 2021, a teacher was fired for being gay in Oregon. Moreover, teenagers face

these same problems in school through both online and physical forms of bullying, as they are harassed by others because of their sexual identity. Even in this day and age, such persecution is a huge problem present in society.” Other delegates, however, rather than focusing on the current situation of the LGBTQ+ community, emphasized the solutions to societal and governmental mistreatment. The issue at hand that was most pressing, argued Johan Barth, the delegate of the United Arab Emirates, was what policies to attempt and whether they would be feasible in the first place. “The best way to avoid discrimination is improving education and upbringing,” said Johan Barth, delegate of the United Arab Emirates. “The majority of discrimation is due to a lack of knowledge on the topic, or being raised in society where being part of the LGBTQ+ community is ‘wrong.’ Ensuring that countries make being part of the LGBTQ+ community a social norm will ensure that future generations do not discriminate and eventually progress to a world where everyone is equal.” All in all, the HRC worked collaboratively on drafting their issue to achieve their common ideas on a shared resolution. Despite some minor differences in their outlook that appeared, much of the conflict was resolved quickly to implement the prompt action necessary to preserve gender and sexuality rights.

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SPC DISCUSSES THE CLIMATE REFUGEE CRISIS On November 5th, delegates from the Special Conference (SPC) addressed the climate refugee crisis, ensuring refugees’ access to healthcare and establishing worldwide platforms for online education and remote communication in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs). Zinna Kim, the delegate of Turkey, actively contributed to the fruitful debate by consistently emphasizing the need for collaboration between key member nations. Zinna also highlighted the need for other notable United Nations (UN) agencies, such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), to collaborate with them in order to facilitate an effective debate. “Special conference focuses on mitigating issues of the different refugee crisis in the midst of the pandemic,” Zinna said. “What’s special about this is that we’re providing ‘the ripple of hope’ to the refugees that are facing complex problems of climate change, accessing education, and accessing healthcare.” Much like Zinna’s resolution, Eric Kim, the delegate of the Russian Federation, also focused on resolving the climate refugee crisis by suggesting ways of collaboration. He urged the amalgamation of disappearing countries, specifically with countries that are nearby, to prevent an overwhelmingly excessive amount of change from occurring. He further explained that there must be an integration of land instead of a forceful merge of culture to accordingly create a situation where both cultures are respected and an easy-to-adapt environment is provided for the climate refugees. “I would recommend nations to be highly respective, to not only make climate refugees comfortable but also incentivize other climate refugees to migrate,” Eric said. “This would additionally preserve the human rights and provide privileges to refugees affected by climate change in ways such as them being granted the protection against refoulement, the discussed measures that ensure the refugee’s fundamental right to be informed, right to be consulted, and rights to practice their respective culture and religion.” Eric underscored the implementation of the cap-and-trade system to reduce pollution and continually decrease emissions through a total of three phases, that being 15 years per phase, in order for sustainable development and preservation of Earth. Eric suggested measures including creating a stronger cap for each country in phase one and limiting it to those that are G20, using methods that allow

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countries to bank or sustain the amount of emission cap not used for future years and commence an emission trading system. “We must create a stronger cap for each country in phase 2 through means such as including all member nations, allowing countries to still bank any amount of cap left, and devaluing the price of emission caps trading,” said Eric. “Furthermore, they must widen the scope of the cap to include all pollutants, create a linear reduction factor of four pollutants per year, and limit the usage of any ‘banked’ caps.” Overall, the SPC had a heated and successful discussion as they examined the diverse conflicts existing within the climate refugee crisis. Although there were occasional misunderstandings that arose, the delegates were able to come to a final resolution that convinced them that a framework concerning refugees should be created to ensure refugees’ safe transportation and recognition of human rights. The resolution promotes the need for education and public awareness of information and cooperation required to solve the climate refugee crisis. “I think one of the most interesting things about today is how the delegates are all very passionate about discussing these complicated issues,” said Zinna. “All of the delegates have been contributing to the group and providing authentic perspectives. I am really pleased to see that everyone is very motivated - even through a virtual space.”

SPT DISCUSSES DIPLOMACY ISSUES IN NORTHEAST ASIA On the first day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of Six Party Talks (SPT) began constructing resolutions for an effective resolution on the regional tensions in Northeast Asia. Delegates divided into breakout rooms and worked on three different agendas: diplomatic tensions caused by the placement of the new Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) defense system in the Republic of Korea (ROK), territorial disputes of the Liancourt Rocks, and complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Regarding the first agenda, delegates worked on a resolution for settling diplomatic tensions caused by the newly implemented THAAD system in the ROK. Several delegates, namely the delegations of the ROK, the United States (US), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and China, worked collaboratively on the resolution, listening to each other’s unique perspectives on the issue. The US, being a strong ally of the ROK, proposed to keep the THAAD defense system. “The United States of America believes that the mechanism at hand, the THAAD defense system, is used by the ROK only as a form of defense from any form of North Korean attack,” said Keanu Park, delegate of the US. “The US plans to keep this system in check and discuss with the other delegations on the solutions to reaching a peaceful compromise.” As the discussion shifted to the second agenda, delegates constructed a resolution on how to dispute the territories of the Liancourt Rocks. Delegates of the Russian Federation and the ROK participated in this matter, although the Russian Federation is not directly involved in the conflict. Nonetheless, the delegate of the Russian Federation spoke in hopes of peace and equality between the two nations. “The Russian Federation is only indirectly involved in the dispute over the Liancourt Rocks, so their stance is much more flexible,” said Ethan Cho, delegate of the Russian Federation. “This delegation would highly appreciate it if the ROK and Japan came to a consensus in order to further peace in Northeast Asia.” The final agenda addressed in today’s conference examined the denuclearization of the DPRK and the use of nuclear weapons within and outside of the Korean peninsula. Delegates of DPRK, China, Japan, and the US helped construct this final resolution. The delegate of DPRK, being the target of the discus-

sion, intensely argued for the continuation of North Korea’s nuclear weapons for the DPRK’s economic and political progress as a nation. “[The DPRK] wants nations to stop infringing upon North Korea’s sovereignty and let them continue their developments with safety measures,” said Vir Kapoor, delegate of DPRK. “Other nations should deem to understand the circumstances, and lingering into the development will only slow down the progress.” The delegates spent the first day of SEOMUN XXIV finalizing a resolution while considering the different perspectives of nations. They not only focused on the individual progress of nations but also considered how each decision would affect the other participatory nations. Though there were a couple of disagreements, eventually, delegates of every agen-

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ENV WORKS TO PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY Delegates of the Environmental Commission (ENV) gathered on the first day of SEOMUN XXIV to discuss various agendas regarding the impact of human activities on the environment, including biodiversity preservation, sustainable urban development, and the environmental harms of the Olympic Games. As environmental issues continue to appear in headlines, delegates shared a variety of creative, complex solutions to these urgent issues. Of the agendas, one particularly important one was on deciding measures to protect the biodiversity of endangered areas. Biodiversity, the biological variety of living organisms in a certain area, is the foundation of entire ecosystems by maintaining a stable balance of clean air, clean water, waste treatment, and more factors. Due to its importance for the natural world, delegates were tasked with creating specific clauses to ensure its safe preservation. “I think preserving biodiversity reflects this year’s theme in both a literal and figurative way,” said Catherine Lee, President. “When it comes to marine biodiversity, for example, we can literally create ripples in the ocean. This symbolizes the hope for us to save biodiversity before the impact is irreversible.” The clauses raised by delegates were found to be slightly unclear and based on inferences when reviewed. Still, there were efficient discussions to revise them and still find feasible solutions. The delegates for this agenda focused on solutions like more calls for spread of awareness, increased endorsements for electrical vehicles, and plans to diminish chemical waste from Least Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs). “I think some of the important points of discussion was the discussion of LEDCs, since they are at

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a much higher risk for the negative impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity as well as some of the discussions on incentives,” said Nathan Jeon, delegate of Japan. “Because our clauses have to respect each nation’s sovereignty, it is a way to make our solutions more likely to be followed.” After working on their resolutions, delegates were able to finalize their findings for the debate. All three of the agendas had strong resolutions with feasible solutions looking to improve the accountability of nations in the current climate crisis. After having fruitful debates on the first day of conferences, delegates look forward to engaging in further discussions for the remaining days. “I certainly think the three agendas align in their effort to minimize the damage on the environment,” said Michelle Bok, Assistant President. “Especially with regards to the first agenda of endangered biodiversity, the issue is broad enough that it is relevant for all nations, and thus its causes must be readily addressed.”

ICJ DISCUSSES THE DANGERS OF THE WHALING INDUSTRY The International Committee of Justice (ICJ) began the first day of SEOMUN XXIV by discussing the legality of the commercial whaling industry in Antarctica. Japan’s whaling industry has been under fire in the past for their whaling practices, even though they stated that their last commercial hunt was in 1986. Australia first filed a complaint regarding Japan’s newest advances in whaling by stating that they breached the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). This problem is becoming increasingly worse in recent years. The discussion was divided, with judges on either side having similar resolutions. On the side of Australia, judges focused on the inhumane treatment of whales caused by the whaling industry. On the side of Japan, most judges talked about the loopholes in jurisdiction and obligation to. Judge Emily Kim began the discussion by citing that Australia did not have the jurisdiction to limit Japan’s whaling rights and emphasized that whaling is an important source of research. “The research that they extract from the lethal killing of these whales opens up more information about the environment that surrounds these whales,” Judge Kim said. “It helps protect these whales from environmental harm and study the sustainability of these whales.” However, several judges brought up the fact that lethal methods for this process of research were unnecessary. Judge Robert Han led the speaker’s list by stating that these methods were ineffective and only contributed to the hunting of more whales and commercial whaling by talking about the unnecessary lethal practices used by Japan. “Japan’s over-hunting of whales is so alarming because scientists have proposed several methods to mitigate, if not resolve, the num-

ber of whales taken for lethal sampling,” Judge Han said. “However, the Japanese government refused to incorporate these methods and continued their hunting of whales.” Judges discussed the dangers of overhunting, further revealing that approximately 950 stocks of whale endangered species are being hunted by Japan. If this trend were to continue, most judges said that the already small population of whales will continue to fall. An emphasis was put on the fact that instead of completely stopping Japan’s practices, a more feasible solution would be to limit their rights. “Whales occupy a significant role in the food chain because they contribute to the balance of the marine ecosystem,” said Judge Avni Varshney. “Since contemporary society is plagued by various environmental crises, it is of utmost importance that we do everything we can to protect our ecosystems so that they are stable and we humans have a secure future.”

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OPENING CEREMONY SYMBOLIZES A RIPPLE OF HOPE On the day of the 24th annual SEOMUN conference, delegates joined the virtual opening ceremony with both familiarity and anxiety. With the theme of SEOMUN XXIV being “A Ripple of Hope,” the Secretariats, director generals, and advisors set forth speeches encouraging delegates to push through these challenging times and appreciate the diligence delegates have shown in the past couple of years. SEOMUN’s ability to adapt, survive, and thrive has been demonstrated in the amount of progress made over the past few turbulent years: virtual conference venues, the inability to communicate in large groups, and the emergence of new political and social issues across the globe. Nonetheless, these struggles did not hinder delegates from improving and carrying on the annual conference. Responsibility, global connection, and most importantly, the collective desire to make the world a better place brought delegates together closer than ever. “Many seek to remove hope from this world, because as long as that small flame remains there will be an expectation of a better, greater future,” said Edward Yang, SEOMUN XXIV Deputy Secretary General. “And it becomes a job to make it so. Without hope, there is no change, as hope is the driver of change. You do not need to be some great activist or some great figure, to make this change. Every individual carries their own hope and SEOMUN will be a vessel for you to develop your own ideas and become your own vessel for hope.” Amy Keller, the High School Principal of Korea International School, acknowledged the possibility that such challenging and frustrating times could cause some delegates to question the necessity of MUN and overlook the work as contentious and non-essential. However, Principal Keller stressed the importance of remembering the purpose and legacy of MUN and appreciating what one can take away from such a valuable experience. These inspiring words reminded delegates and chairs across Asia to once again cherish the world MUN exposed them to. “It is very easy to be cynical today,” Principal Keller said. “The world is a strange mix of democracy, demagogues, despots, and dictators. One can easily fall into the trap of thinking that the future for us is not as bright as the one for our parents, and dimmer still for the generations ahead of us. Yet today, welcoming you into committees and conversations, understanding and

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appreciating the culmination of nine months of effort, cynicism is nowhere to be found. The opportunities are there for the taking, and if this is the group that is taking them, if this is the work that is going to get done, then I think we can be secure in the knowledge that yes, our world is being cared for, and our voices will be heard.” To conclude the opening ceremony, Hannah Jo, the Secretary General of SEOMUN XXIV, inspired the delegates and chairs with motivation to take action and be confident when participating in debates. Looking back at her five years of experience at SEOMUN, Hannah stressed the importance of maintaining a positive and determined attitude when facing unprecedented adversities. “In these times of division, disorder, and disease, we question ourselves: to what extent can we make a difference?” Hannah said. “The arc of humanity has always been towards peace, liberty, and justice through individual acts of courage and compassion. Here at SEOMUN, we envision a better tomorrow through resolution-writing and debate. However, discourse and written clauses are only glimmerings of a hope. It is up to us whether we can take action and transform this hope into a ripple across the world’s troubled waters, or we can let it sit cold within us.”

TIPS AND TRICKS THE DELEGATES LEARNED FROM VIRTUAL CONFERENCES Some actual useful tips would be to keep some kind of beverage or food that keeps you awake nearby - in my case, this would be any warm beverage, including soups. Also, since school is online, you can get away with a LOT more than class; use that to your advantage and grind other classes during less engaging classes and finish all your work before school ends; leaving you with a TON of free time.” - Seonho Christian Park, the delegate of the Republic of Korea.

“I just tried to sleep early and prepare for anything before the conference” - Thu Thu, the delegate of Afghanistan.

“One tip I’ve learnt is that the most efficient way of getting away with doing something else would be calling for a point of personal privilege or simply excusing yourself away to do something.” - Adhityo Darmansyah, the delegate of Nigeria.

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