Seoulite XXIV Issue 2

ISSUE 2

XXIV

SEOULITE CONTRIBUTORS 2021 Editors-in-Chief

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Katie Lee, Christine Yi

Charlotte Jun, Chelsea Kim, Clair Kang, Lauren Kim, Lin Chiang, Lindsey Lim, Shinheng Jason Lee, Sophie Choi, Yunseo (Irene) Nam, Rachel Yoon

Managing Editors Aimee Choi, Rosa Suh Copy Editors

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Isabella Kim, Riwon Ahn Layout Editors

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

Yuzine Yi, Claire Kim

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Photo Editors

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

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: A SINGLE COMPLETE PULSATION OF HOPE

In the times of division, disaster, and confusion, we question the extent to which we can make a difference. Man loses all hope in the times fraught with regulations and restrictions; the grieving experience becomes more overwhelming and challenging. As Edward Yang, the Deputy Secretaries General of SEOMUN XXIV said, “Without hope, there is no change, as hope is the driver of change.” During this crisis, it is important to grieve what has been lost, but finding meaning despite the wounds caused by the pandemic takes over the lead. In light of such, French philosopher Gabriel Marcel suggests that, in one’s experiences of trials or death, hope is the human person’s fundamental response.

당연한것들 THINGS WE TOOK FOR GRANTED - 이적 LEE JUCK “Things we took for granted” by Lee Juck is a song proposed to comfort people in the period of global crisis. Through the lyrics, Lee Juck delivers the value and longing of everyday life. Moreover, the sad and gentle rhythm of the song approaches us with a gentle but strong touch.

Delegates being confined on screen at home not being able to interact with friends and rivals sympathize with the melancholic lyrics of the song: “We didn’t know back then, what we were blessed with. Walking on the street, meeting friends, holding hands. It was too obvious for us.”

LIFE GOES ON - BTS Even the greatest artist of the era BTS couldn’t avoid the ‘Corona Blue Syndrome’. In recognition of the grief their fans experience with the strict regulations on concerts and social gathering, BTS proposed a song to console them. “One day, the world stopped without any notice. Spring did not know how to wait.” Spring being the season where flowers bloom, symbolizing a fresh new start, in the ordinary days we would have enjoyed picnics and field trips. However in the era of crisis, people had to stay in their homes, having virtual play dates with friends. The delegates of the SEOMIUN XXIV, with the covid-19 cases rising sharply once again, had to stay virtual as well. Hence, the delegates deeply sympathize with the lyrics of the song: “Everyday I’m so frustrated Feel like it’s still one. Somebody turn that clock back for me.”

여행 TRIP - 볼빨간사춘기 BOL4

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As the KG News published, the song “Travel” by BOL4 was ranked top in the Melon streaming chart for the past few weeks. In hopes of returning back to normality after the Korean government’s implementation of ‘With Corona’, people are looking forward to traveling in the near future. Before the rise of the pandemic, delegates from abroad traveled to Korea to participate in the SEOMUN conference. In hopes of being able to interact with international friends, the delegates sympathize with the rhythm and message of this song: “Let’s go to the airport today. Turn off your cell phone. Please don’t look for me again.”

seoulite

STUFF DELEGATES SAY:

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GA I RESOLVES DISAGREEMENTS OVER ISSUES OF FOREIGN INTERVENTIONS

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the General Assembly I (GA 1) convened to discuss the resolutions for addressing the issue of unethical foreign interventions in Least Developed Countries (LEDCs). The first amendment was submitted by the delegate of Belgium, which promoted the return of stolen cultural artifacts to their countries of origin as a gesture of goodwill to foster ties in other areas.

“At the moment, I don’t have a set opinion since I see both the benefits and complications of returning stolen art. The return of this art can be a productive way of furthering cultural cooperation, which may then turn into diplomatic cooperation, said Alex Gallo, the delegate of San Marino. “However, the question of who the art belongs to may also be hotly debated, potentially leading to questions and disputes.

Additionally, I’m not exactly sure if the amendment fits into the operative clause and the resolution as a whole.”

Some delegates, such as Alex, saw both the positives and negatives of passing this amendment.

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Written by Sophie Choi Photo by Celine Yang Layout by Yujin Lee

They believed that if rightfully returned, it could promote cooperation among countries, but this amendment could also ignite arguments over which country the artifact actually belongs to. Also, since the resolution was written for the issue of unethical foreign interventions in LEDCs, delegates questioned whether or not this amendment was relevant to the operative clause. However, other delegates argued that this amendment was indeed beneficial to improving relations between countries.

“Amendment 1 is an effective way to promote goodwill and positive relations between MEDCs and LEDCs by correcting the mistakes of the past and repairing historical conflicts,” said Ferris Haukon, delegate of the Republic of Korea. “It has a great idea for giving credit back to the countries that have gifted other countries with their original works and helping them regain awareness.”

Ferris was for amendment, since he believed that the returning of artifacts could reconcile past conflicts between countries and foster better relationships. He thought this amendment was relevant to the issue at hand, as it would be a step towards getting rid of harmful foreign influence in LEDCs. The delegate of Pakistan, Bach Hoang, also believed that the amendment would be helpful towards LEDCs.

“As the delegate of Pakistan, I believe that the amendment would indeed be beneficial to improving foreign relations between MEDCs and LEDCs, because we have seen in recent years how the return of former stolen artifacts have proved as an effective gesture of goodwill between former colonisers and their former colonial states,” Bach said.

Although there were some conflicting views on the passing of this amendment, delegates agreed on its potential, and the amendment was passed.

GA II CLASHES OPINION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTRASTRUCTURES On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of General Assembly II (GA II) began constructing resolutions to the agenda regarding infrastructure in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs.) Additionally, delegates tackled ways to ensure development and growth in nations that had been colonized

by European powers in the past. In order to improve the living conditions and infrastructures of these countries, delegates sought methods of change and improvement.

The resolution at hand focused on using technology as a way of improvement. Some believe that using technology can be both beneficial and harmful. For instance, delegates noted that the development of information and communication systems, essentially further access and materials, will be highly beneficial to LEDCs. However, they also noted that technology can be weaponized and harmful for the development of countries.

Delegates in favor of the resolution believed improved infrastructure would bring better information and connection for LEDCs. Strong infrastructure will not only bring economic benefits but social ones as well, as would-be students and adults are less limited to what the countries are providing. Alterations can ensure better education.

“Mexico strongly urges all delegates to vote for this resolution,” said Ian Song, delegate of Mexico.

“While Mexico is around the world average in terms of information and communication infrastructure, it could definitely improve on many aspects, especially in terms of providing more educational opportunities with advancements in technological infrastructure.”

However, some believe that these technologies will provide loopholes for hackers and that these developments will ultimately lead to More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs) further suppressing LEDCs. This form of neocolonialism could potentially expose the weaknesses of the LEDCs, which affects their ability to adapt to changes in public infrastructures.

“Cuba has been quite controversial on the topic due to the need of whitelisted hackers and the need to be open to allow the hackers in,” said Sean Lai, delegate of Myanmar. “This had made them one of the main opponents on the topic. For Myanmar, we have been finding ways to gather international funding to develop our information and communications technology.”

Other delegates supported the development of infrastructures because they can help with the financial situations of LEDCs. The proposed amendments would provide a hygienic environment and lead to better coping with the pandemic. This development in infrastructure can widen the access they have to medical care and make sure their public structures can be in a state of safety and modernity.

“Cuba fully supports this resolution as the nation supports the establishment of global systems in order to provide opportunities for economic development while simultaneously preventing the misuse of technology,” said Fasih Ali, delegate of Cuba. “The resolution does seem to be feasible, but it does require a few changes through amendments.”

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Written by Clair Kang Photos by Anna Lee Layout by Yujin Lee

GA III PROPOSES WAYS TO REVIVE ENDANGERED LANGUAGES

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the General Assembly III (GA III) had a fruitful discussion in an effort to create a satisfactory resolution to target a prevalent yet often overlooked problem across the world: the extinction of languages. The committee attempted to revive and spread awareness of endangered languages, specifically in developing countries, to ensure their longevity. The discussion was initiated by an amendment proposed by Anjella Kang Lee, the delegate of China, regarding the ways to preserve language diversity.

Anjella acknowledged the reality that the majority of the countries with endangered languages are Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs), which lack the necessary advanced resources to spread awareness throughout their respective countries. Considering this problem, she proposed the enforcement of offline advertisements through the guidance of non-governmental organizations.

“My amendment was regarding the feasibility of methods using technology and the internet in LEDCs and how it would not reach widespread audiences in these particular countries through these modes,” said Anjella. “So, I submitted an amendment changing the subclause to mention fewer technological methods to spread awareness in countries that lack the resources and rely more on offline methods such as information sessions, billboards, and newspapers.”

Many delegates supported this operative

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amendment, recognizing the urgency of the issue to help overcome the limitations and burdens LEDCs face. They particularly noted the problem of how online forms of communication and advertisement are used by only a small minority of the population in such nations.

“I support this amendment because I think that my country, Colombia, is very poor compared to the developed nations that have the financial ability to advertise using the Internet,” said Rachel Cho, the delegate of Colombia. “Therefore, using physical resources such as billboards and other materials would be effective for my country.”

On the other hand, some delegates held opposing stances, arguing that it will be costly to implement these methods of spreading awareness.

They claimed that there are many other effective ways these particular funds and money can be used.

For example, Danny Han, the delegate of Bangladesh, pointed out that LEDCs have numerous ongoing economic and political issues that should be combated with more large-scale solutions

“I am against this amendment because these forms of spreading awareness are ineffective, as these forms of advertising are costly and will not be long-lasting,” Danny said. “Plus, these countries are in need of money for new resources. The money should be used for other purposes instead of creating billboards and newspapers.”

ECOSOC TACKLES ILLICIT DISTRIBUTION OF NARCOTICS AND OTHER DRUGS

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) had a productive debate on amendments proposed by several delegates. Today’s session began with an amendment submitted by Alexander Myong, the delegate of Chile, linking back to the second agenda: preventing the manufacturing and illicit distribution of narcotics and other drugs. The discussion was triggered by the overflowing disagreements regarding the amendment.

In his amendment, Alexander highlighted the need to get rid of sub-clause C of the resolution at hand, attempting to keep the use of alcohol and other products and to raise the prices and tax values of multiple alcohol and narcotics products.

“[This delegate] believes that this sub-clause should be banned because of the failure of a prohibition that occurred in the past,” Alexander said. “The prohibition was essentially banning alcohol which ended horribly for the US economy. The clause is trying to reduce the access to cigarettes and alcohol, which is a step closer to banning them.”

Immediately after the submission of this amendment, an overwhelming majority of delegates raised their placards to express contention. Multiple delegates wished to discuss the flaws of this amendment, whether it was the content itself or the format of the amendment, which could potentially weaken

the resolution.

“The increase of taxes is a way to decrease demand as it is a natural law of supply and demand,” said Eric Cho, the delegate of Germany. “Increasing the price of products makes demand lower. When the demand goes lower, the supply will naturally go down. This is a two-in-one solution of reducing the demand and availability of drugs. The labels are just a form of propaganda for the country to strive for its country to move into a healthier nation. These labels can be a form of education for the future generation.”

Similarly, Paul Moon, the delegate of Russia, raised strong opposition to the proposed amendment regarding the abolishment of clause 1 sub-clause C. Instead of criticizing the content of the amendment itself, Paul Moon pointed out the harm this amendment would have on the resolution as a whole.

“Strikes are detrimental to resolutions, as it only serves to reduce the amount of action that they are able to achieve,” Paul said. “Instead, delegates that are dissatisfied with certain aspects of resolutions should always aim to amend or add.”

Over the course of this heated debate upon the delegate of Chile’s amendment,, the chairs of ECOSOC immediately recognized the extremely divided votes on the passing of this amendment. With just one vote for, the amendment did not pass.

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Written by Lindsey Lim Photo(s) by JK Kim Layout by Luna Moon

SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES RIGHTFUL GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY IN MYANMAR

On the second day of SEOMUN XVII, the Security Council (SC) conferred about conflicts circulating around the coup d’etat in Myanmar. Military forces deposing the National League of Democracy party from power, the West Bank and Gaza Strip based on the recent escalation of the land dispute, and Belarus’ unpopular leadership under President Lukashenko prompted large-scale protests across the country.

Through intense debates, delegates were granted the opportunity to freely exchange ideas in hopes of a better, safer community.

Janice Ngai, the delegate of Kenya, engaged in the discussion, expressing her perspective on the crisis from the vantage points of her appointed role and country. Janice strongly suggested the Burmese military forces terminate military persecution through measures of eliminating all persecution against the Rohingya and other social minorities, emancipating State Counselor Aung Sang Suu Kyi, President Win Myint Hlaing, and other ministers who have been either detained or arrested.

“In the Security Council, we mainly discuss crises that are related to international peace and security, such as the crisis in governance for Myanmar,” said Janice. “For many citizens, this topic and contributing efforts to aid them are the things that cause ‘a ripple of hope’ throughout their community. This is important because, due to globalization, these issues have a large impact on the rest of the world, especially with the mobility of resources.”

Yunseo Lee, the delegate of France, had synonymous suggestions with Aileen Chen, the delegate of India, who pointed out the need for big medical agencies like the World Health Organization to supply necessary materials for the improvement of the facilities in private sectors of health infrastructure. This would ameliorate the construction and act as a catalyst for the development of facilities. Yunseo encouraged member states to provide all refugee camps with physical health services such as emergency

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healthcare for victims of rape, torture, or other forms of physical harm that are of the Rohingya community.

Yunseo also advocated for modern and sanitary surgery rooms for those that are in need of surgery, and physical therapy for patients that seek help with managing pain and improving their movement problems.

“Member states could provide all refugee camps with basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter,” Yunseo said. “Member states could also collaborate with the United Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to supply the aforementioned humanitarian aid to the displaced and vulnerable people affected by the armed conflict. Refugee camps should also develop medical systems that offer individual and group therapy sessions for victims and witnesses of violence to help alleviate symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and provide therapy to victims of atrocities committed against the Rohingya minorities.”

The delegates conducted a well-rounded, effective debate and were able to come to a final resolution that exhibits deep concern about the coup staged by the Burmese military in overthrowing the National League of Democracy and detainment of State Counsellor Aung Sang Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and other innocent ministers facing trial. Their resolution additionally stresses the need for a longterm solution in terms of the political governance of Myanmar and acknowledges and further takes into account the interests of the citizens of the country.

“There hasn’t been any turning factor that changed my perspective about this topic greatly, but the specificity of the clauses from other delegates surprised me with the complexity of each solution presented by the United Nations,” said Tomoaki Riku, delegate of Mexico. “I greatly appreciated everyone’s immense efforts that they willingly put into our debate. This was definitely a learning experience for me, and I am, with no doubt, so grateful to have been a part of this passionate discussion.”

THE HSC REFLECTS ON PREVIOUS FLAWS TO CONSTRUCT A STRONGER COMMITTEE

The main topic of discussion of the Historical Security Council (HSC) on the second day of SEOMUN XXIV was the Rwandan genocide and potential UN solutions for the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi groups of Rwanda. In a time of great humanitarian crisis, delegates passionately debated on what the best course of action would have been. What caused the genocide in the first place though?

“[The Hutus and the Tutsis] started killing each other because they were physically different,” said Shimok Joseph Kim, the delegate of Rwanda.

“It was racism. I would say that racism was the terrible cause of this conflict.”

The racism-plagued tension between the two groups led to a civil war, which ultimately created the infamous genocide. Delegates unanimously agreed that the tragic Rwandan genocide was among the most cataclysmic humanitarian crises in recent history.

“The Rwandan genocide is probably one of the most catastrophic events that happened over the past few decades,” said Vivian, the delegate of Mozambique. “Yet, the UN failed to prevent it. Thus, it is imperative that we look back on the failures of the UN and improve on their proposed solutions.”

As many delegates pointed out, despite

the gravity of the genocide, the UN failed to prevent or even mitigate the genocide and its consequences. Given that the UN was and still is heralded for being a trustworthy organization, why did they fail to nip the situation in the bud, and in what ways did the HSC intend to act differently from their old counterparts?

“The United Nations failed to deal with the Rwandan Genocide because it was not quick enough to deal with the situation. If there were greater incentives to stop the Rwandan government from instigating crimes against humanity or even a direct military intervention into Rwanda, the deaths of the genocide could have been greatly reduced or even prevented altogether,” said Peter Mingunn Kim, delegate of the People’s Republic of China. “This council, therefore, advocates for greater action towards solving the crisis, whether through negotiations to prevent further military conflict, or bringing actual justice to those responsible.”

All in all, although the debate started out slow with few amendments being agreed upon, but eventually a resolution detailing a myriad of aspects in which the UN could have better dealt with the situation in Rwanda was passed.

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Written by Jason Lee Photo by Dana Chung Layout by Ellen Ryu

VOTER APATHY THREATENS DEMOCRACY

Today’s political sphere is shaped by public opinions. Lines between charisma and skill have become blurred, and while those qualities should work hand-in-hand, they are not synonymous. As a result, it is easy for voters to lose trust in politicians and become disillusioned to politics. According to data regarding presidential elections in the United States from 1980 to 2016, only about 57 percent of eligible voters have voted. That means an average of about 42 percent of eligible voters have not voted each year. For one of the most populated countries in the world, this lack of interest is alarming.

Voter apathy, defined as the lack of interest voters have in participating in elections or in solidifying their political beliefs, is what political scientists describe to be the reason behind this trend.

From first glance, voter apathy might not seem like a major issue. Potential voters may have other priorities in life or simply do not want to involve themselves in the political process. Electoral outcomes will be shared by everyone, whether they vote or not. In any case, it might be good for only the voters who are informed on pressing issues to vote. If they do not care, why should they be forced to contribute in an election they know nothing about? The answer is that if only a specific group of people vote, an inequality in the values of the voting population is sure to manifest.

Historically, wealthy upper-class citizens have been known to follow campaigns and show up on voting day. It is more likely for them, as well as older generations, to vote because they grew up in a time of great economic development and meanwhile, working class individuals most likely focus on their means of livelihood, such as paying rent or having enough food on the table. In this aspect, participating in the political process may seem out of reach for them, especially if there has not been any tangible change in legislation to help them in the past. It is also important to take into consideration voter suppression in modern sociWritten by Rachel Yoon Layout by Yuzine Yi

ety. Voters of certain racial, religious, or political groups can be dissuaded from voting due to tactics such as stricter voter ID laws, shorter voting deadlines, or changed electoral procedures.

These factors work together to create this disparity in the engagement of citizens of politics. The reason its prevalence has become so dangerous is that the voting population now underrepresents lower income individuals. There is a high possibility that the government that is installed might carry out the agendas of the privileged minority rather than the majority. From here, they can mold policies and laws to benefit a specific group of individuals, posing a potential danger to democracy.

So, how can this problem be prevented before it can be detrimental?

One proposed solution has been online voting. With in-person polling, it is harder for people to get to a location and find the time to vote. Online polling would allow them to vote at any location or time convenient for them. Younger generations are also more suited to this because they do not need to learn any new procedures. If online voting is too big of a jump, then simply spreading the election days over a longer period of time or compensating those in the workforces for time taken off to vote might prompt more working adults to vote. This leads to the idea of offering an incentive to voters if they partake in the election process. If one of the biggest causes of voter apathy is because people don’t see why it is necessary to invest in the US government, it is worthwhile to introduce stimulus to make it more attractive.

Overall, there are solutions that goernments can take to fight voter apathy and promote participation in political processes. While the socioeconomic disproportionality of voters remains, measures can and should be taken. Even if it is hard, the long-term effects of instilling these tactics will help to lay a foundation of trust in politics, one that has been lost to inefficiency and neglect.

LACK OF CYBERSECURITY DISRUPTS ELECTION INTEGRITY

Is every citizen’s vote accurately reflected in elections? Based on the landmark cases of election fraud and hacking in the 2010s, most citizens’ answers would be “no.” And yet, this directly goes against the founding principles on which the democratic society we live in is built. Over the past decade, the incorporation of technological advances into the electoral process has looked to facilitate voting for citizens. However, with this, cybercrime and cyberattacks have become increasingly common, where dangerous groups and individuals can illicitly interfere with and disrupt major political elections of their potential enemies.

When an American citizen hears the phrase “election fraud and hacking,” it is most likely that they would immediately think of the 2016 election that involved former President Donald Trump and Russian hackers. The election exposed how the Russian government had been employing political propaganda starting from 2014, creating political distrust in the American public. While Trump has denied the claim that this interference helped him serve in the Oval Office, it is an unquestionable fact that the actions of the Russian hackers had an effect, to some extent, on the results of the 2016 presidential election.

One of the most well known instances was a 2016 hack on the state of Illinois. This incident corroborated the assumption that Russia was purposely targeting America as its largest geopolitical enemy. Twelve Russians incorporated the SQL injection technique—a common method of cyber-trickery utilized to illegally infiltrate private information—to potentially steal the names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers from about 500,000 Illinois voters. Because no votes were altered and voting fraud was technically not committed, it was inferred that it was never the intention of the Russian hackers to directly change the result of the election. The main motive of the Russians was to evoke fear among Illinois voters and to sow discord among the public.

America is not the only country to have its political affairs meddled

with Russia. In more recent times, it was revealed that France’s 2017 presidential election was destabilized and interrupted by a leak that was published minutes before the start of the political ceasefire for the weekend on an infamous online message board 4Chan. Many had been worrying for months that a cyberattack like the aforementioned would take place and repeat the events of America’s 2016 election, where emails of Hillary Clinton’s top adviser were leaked on WikiLeaks.

Though there was no significant effect or explosive response from the French public—unlike the comparable situation in America—the online leak portrayed how fake news and online propaganda could sidetrack citizens from focusing on factually reliable information.

So what are governments doing in order to prevent or prepare for such cybercrimes that detrimentally affect election integrity? In the United States, the FBI launched extensive investigations to place charges on thirteen Russian Glavnoye Razvedyvatelnoye Upravlenie members for carrying out trolling campaigns on social media that harmed Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign while helping Donald Trump secure his position as the 45th president of America. The Justice Department followed suit and pressed charges against Russian intelligence officers for targeting the French presidential election, specifically Emmanuel Macron’s presidential campaign.

By looking at the detrimental effects cybercrimes had on America’s 2016 presidential election as well as France’s 2017 presidential election, it is clear that governments must address the lack of cybersecurity and how it has a significant effect on election integrity.

It is an undeniable fact that harmful intelligence groups serve as a threat to the political stability of countries in the Western hemisphere, and extensive measures must be taken to prevent such chaotic and disruptive events from occurring again. Citizens deserve to know that they can rely on their government for transparent elections and that no candidate has an unfair advantage over another.

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WHA ADDRESSES THE SOCIAL AFTERMATH OF COVID-19

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, the World Health Assembly (WHA) continued debating on the agenda addressing the rapid increase of the confirmed COVID-19 cases. Due to the ongoing pandemic, delegates agreed to find more efficient and effective solutions to prevent further disaster in the future. The committee also recognized the importance of forestalling future pandemics through more productive cooperation and communication among member nations.

Emphasizing the importance of unity during times of chaos, an overwhelming majority of delegates agreed that the operative clauses in the resolution were all well-intended and hoped for amendments to improve the resolution as a whole.

Conscious of the unequal distribution of vaccines around the world, some delegates focused on ensuring global, equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

“Regarding the urges to establish a global, equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines through different ways, this delegate believes that vaccines have already shown their effectiveness in preventing the spread of the disease and should therefore be prioritized,” said Siyun Cho, the delegate of Thailand.

“However, he believes that vaccines should not make citizens feel too comfortable in resuming their normal lives, as the recent ‘With Corona’ act has led to a rise in case numbers again.”

Other delegates had denounced the idea of global and equitable access to vaccines for COVID-19

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and future pandemics. With criticisms regarding the clauses of the resolution as a whole, Woochan Kim, the delegate of China, attempted to make changes based on his representative nation’s stance.

“This resolution as a whole definitely tackles the fundamental aspects of the aftermath of the pandemic,” said Woochan. “However, the wordings and a few of the clauses still need a little bit of work. The delegate of China especially thinks that the delegate of Thailand lacks in several aspects in the operative clause 3.”

Further opinions regarding the agenda went back and forth, such as those regarding vaccination rates, the creation of a global crowdfunding platform, and financial support for national healthcare systems and disease control departments. With vaccination rates plummeting, some delegates stated that limiting prescriptions of other medications may have a positive effect on the vaccination rates.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that it is very important to deal with its aftermath, as well as tackling future pandemic pressures,” said John Kim, the delegate of the Russian Federation. “Nations around the world should work together to solve this issue, not just within each nation, as pandemic is something that can end when everyone cooperates.

That being said, I believe that solutions such as making a committee about pandemics under the UN and creating a global crowdfunding platform would be very efficient.”

THE UNHCR FIERCELY DISCUSSES THE LIVES OF REFUGEES GOING INTO THE FUTURE Image

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, the delegates of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) intensely debated over the quality of life for refugees in today’s world and forward; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the integration of refugees worldwide, the development of technologies to empower refugees, and the role the United Nations were points of discussion for changes in refugee lives.

“Today’s debate about refugees is crucial because it is about how refugees can live alongside regular citizens. Many people have the wrong mindset that refugees are only a harm towards society and that they have no beneficial skillsets. Rather than isolating refugees and treating them as a whole separate group of people, I believe it is imperative that they are treated equally with the same rights as all of us,” said Eddie Chu, the delegate of the United States of America.

The delegates of the committee all agreed that creating better living conditions for vulnerable refugees was the most important topic of debate.

Especially due to the COVID-ridden status quo, a hot topic of discussion in the committee was how refugees have been detrimented by the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to the livelihoods of many around the world, but its effects on refugees have been especially detrimental. Firstly, due to fears of the spread of the virus, many countries have opted to close international borders, making it much harder for refugees to escape their

home country and seek protection in other countries,” said Wong Yifeng Gavin, delegate of France. “Furthermore, the sanitary conditions of refugee camps are an area of concern, and the limited testing facilities and vaccine distribution leave refugees living in these camps vulnerable to the disease. Finally, a large part of integrating into society includes finding a stable job to earn income to sustain a basic lifestyle, but with unemployment rates on the rise due to COVID-19 lockdowns, this has made it much harder for refugees to become employed and earn an income.”

Though COVID-19 has been one of the most harmful factors to the quality of refugee lives and mitigating the negative effects it has on refugees would greatly improve the quality of life, it is far from being the only aspect of refugees’ lives that could be better.

Another agenda of the committee focused on developing technology specifically pertaining to refugees.

“Technology can definitely help refugees better integrate into society, as technology is a global tool used for getting information and spreading knowledge. More importantly, technology allows refugees to learn the culture and language of society, helping refugees to integrate into not only the society and economy, but into the culture of the country,” said Ian Lam, the delegate of Venezuela.

With both resolutions on mitigating the effects of COVID-19 and improving technology easily passing, the debate was very successful as a whole.

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Written by Jason Lee Photo(s) by Chloe Cho Layout by Seojin Park

CSW DEBATES WAYS OF PROVIDING WOMEN REPRESENTATION

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) discussed the lack of representation for women in the workplace and how the pandemic has exacerbated this. Many delegates in the committee argued that developing nations are not including the voices of women in politics and that their skills are being undermined with childcare and domesticity. The proposed resolution tackled these issues with a variety of solutions that empowered women to overcome these barriers, such as providing financial support.

“The United Kingdom (UK) believes this resolution includes viable solutions that can effectively address the gender pay gap. Not only does it mention providing mental support and ensuring transparency towards pay wages, but it also includes planned financial assistance for women that are struggling during the pandemic,” said Mint Myat Theingi, delegate of the UK. “However, the UK felt it unnecessary to create the new committee of CSWW considering that CSW exists for that matter and it could be discussed within CSW, not wasting the resources that could already be employed.”

The pandemic worsened the extent of gender inequality, most notably in the workplace. The discrimination against the elderly and women is putting them in a position closer to the line of poverty and further from a chance to lead to future economi-

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cal improvements. Delegates argue that an improvement in the treatment of women will ultimately cause an improvement in all workplaces.

“The delegate of Kenya is planning to address the disproportionate effects of the pandemic women have had to face, which has widened gender inequality, particularly the wage gap between men and women,” said Alice Fu, delegate of Kenya. “The delegate of Kenya also seeks to empower women in the workplace, which encourages them to participate, speak up and increase their representation.”

Even with the mindset of wanting and promoting gender equality, not all countries are equipped to do so. Some developing countries need a boost from the United Nations, where they are provided with opportunities to make a change and are given the ability to put their thoughts into action. This can give them financial aid, education, and less limit to what the people are presented with.

“Afghanistan believes that some countries are interested in women’s rights yet still lack the realistic ability to implement and protect gender equality,” said Jason Rhee, delegate of Afghanistan. “Therefore, the delegate’s opinion is that the United Nations and international organizations should have a policy to actively support countries with the will to protect gender equality yet lack the resources.”

HRC ADDRESSES THE VIOLATION OF DEATH PENALTIES

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the Human Rights Council (HRC) began a passionate discussion in an effort to create an adequate resolution addressing the violation of human rights portrayed in death penalties.

The committee advocates to preserve and fortify human rights while spreading awareness on human rights violations, as well as attempting to convey solutions through productive discussions on these particular issues. The debate was initiated by an amendment proposed by Minjung Kwon, the delegate of Kenya, regarding the second agenda: Addressing the human rights violations in death penalties.

Minjung puts forward a crucial issue of the usage and promotion of certain chemicals and materials for execution, proposing that stern regulations and enforcement laws to restrict the use of these chemicals are necessary. Furthermore, the delegate recommends the government place limitations on how these methods of execution are being put into use.

“I have submitted an amendment to restrict the usage of chemicals or materials under safeguarding by constantly reporting and keeping records on how and where the chemical was used”, said Minjung Kwon, the delegate of Kenya. “I submitted the amendment to prevent widely-used methods of execution such as lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, firing squad, and hanging,”

However, many delegates held opposing viewpoints, as they stressed that this particular resolution did not provide any attainable solutions, rather merely summarized the issue at hand. Furthermore,

the delegates pointed out that countries such as Iran are in urgent need of solutions, which should be the priority of HRC.

“The delegate of Iran found that the resolution failed to respond to the problems of specific countries there this amendment seemed crucial in giving specific actions”, said Ian Park, the delegate of Iran. “From this delegate’s research, the delegate of Iran has found that including Iran and other Muslim countries are at the forefront of having the most death penalties. Because of this discovery, this delegate found that there have to be specific incentives to solve problems related to these countries.

Moreover, other delegates agreed upon the criticism and pointed out other external factors that deemed the amendment ineffective to the resolution, such as the fact that the amendment affected other cultural and religious components of the countries as well. To add on, delegates pointed out how this amendment will not prolong into future use.

“The amendment was calling for the restriction of various execution methods but failed to provide any feasible alternatives or incentives. Moreover, in countries that commonly use these aforementioned methods within a cultural and religious context, it restricted their freedom of right to religion”, said Ren, the delegate of Zimbabwe. “I believe that this resolution is for countries with death penalties and without death penalties to come towards a consensus in proceeding towards non-discriminatory and fair sentences but the amendment directly contradicts this by directly trying to intervene in countries’ justice processes.”

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SPC ENTERTAINS RESOLUTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

On the second day of SEOMUN, the Special Conference (SPC) engaged in a passionate discussion regarding the resolution submitted by Layla Cyhn, the delegate of South Africa. This resolution focused on creating an effective solution for the second agenda: ensuring refugees’ access to healthcare. Layla suggested multiple solutions to address the issue at hand, such as improving the states of the refugee camps, while other delegates proposed ways to refine the resolution.

As one of the co-submitters of the resolution, Zhezhuo Li, the delegate of China, stressed that the resolution is effective in addressing the problem of the climate refugee crisis and other consequences that result from climate change. Zhezhuo argued that solutions to resolve the current issue are establishing programs and convincing the upper class to aid and support organizations. Zhezhuo further emphasized the importance for other delegates to recognize the submitters’ effort to solve the problem.

“Overall, the resolution included very specific detail with the solution such as opening programs that will increase the number of individuals in the medical field and calling for high-income people to donate money for different charities,” Zhezhuo Li said.

“Every delegate in the group tried to do everything possible to allow refugees to receive treatment in a timely manner, whether it is for physical or psychological trauma, with a higher quality of life for any nation of refugees.”

However, other delegates disagreed with Zhezhuo’s argument and thought that the resolution needed more improvements. Although Kayla Lee, the delegate of the Republic of Korea, communicated that the resolution overall had lots of potential for

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development, she noted that the solutions suggested by Zhezhuo and Layla were ineffective since they could be challenging to implement.

“The resolution submitted by South Africa is a good first step towards solving the issue of healthcare, but more tangible and effective solutions should be amended to encompass and fully solve the problem,” Kayla said. “Nevertheless, I see a lot of potential in this resolution as it contains a lot of detail and specific solutions.”

The delegate of the Russian Federation, Eric Kim, expressed his concern regarding the resolution and agreed with other delegates. Particularly, Eric stressed that the resolution contained solutions that were impractical since there are no incentives that will convince organizations and companies to support and raise funds. Eric summarized that overall, the delegates should work together and aim to add specificities and incentives in order to address the issue effectively.

“I think the resolution lacks many aspects.

First of all, just looking at the operative clause, which states that there should be funds, there are no incentives mentioned that will help raise these funds; thus there is no reason for especially privatized companies to take part in this resolution,” said Eric Kim. “Overall, there is a lack in specifics, incentives, and how the organizations will ensure that these doctors are not pseudo doctors.”

Although there were some disputes regarding whether the resolution practically issued the problem, the delegates agreed that it required improvements in order to effectively solve the issue of climate change.

SPT ADRESSES DIPLOMATIC TENSION

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, delegates of the Six Party Talks (SPT) started by debating on the first clause of the resolution submitted by Keanu Park, the delegate of the United States (US), regarding the first agenda: addressing diplomatic tensions caused by the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) defense system in the ROK (Republic of Korea Army). The clause drew attention to improving the THAAD system, specifically to better the state of security for the ROK citizens. Keanu further emphasized that the clause would benefit other countries as well and attempted to convince other delegates to work together to address the issue.

“Between the nations of the SPT, there is a lot of pressure with the current agenda,” Keanu said.

“With this clause, I am trying to reiterate the responsibility that the USs has to keep and how it benefits all nations of the SPT since it puts more pressure on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK. Hence, it stops the DPRK from making risky moves and protects the ROK.”

Despite Keanu’s effort to improve the resolution, some delegates were able to identify parts of the clause that needed adjustments. Ethan Cho, the delegate of the Russian Federation, drew attention to several parts that were unclear. Moreover, Ethan stressed that the solution suggested by the delegate of the US failed to make any significant changes to the issue.

“I believe that both clauses submitted by the delegate of the US are not effective as they are not necessarily solutions to the issue,” Ethan said. “For example, there are no actual actions and initiatives set out. These clauses need a lot more improvements because they do not contribute to the resolution in their current state.”

Many delegates agreed with Ethan’s ar-

gument. For instance, Zara Burney, the delegate of DPRK, expressed that the clause required more developments. Zara further stressed that the delegate of the US should consider that resolutions must satisfy all the nations in order to be passed. She also drew attention to other alternative solutions that involve immediate actions in order to develop the clause.

“Overall, this clause is effective in expressing the viewpoints of countries like the US, Japan, and South Korea,” Zara said. “However, it needs more improvement to be effective for all countries involved.

Since this committee needs all nations to vote for a clause in order for it to pass, it is important that amendments are made so that the needs of all countries involved are met. Hence, I encourage the US to improve his clause including other solutions such as looking back at militaristic arsenals. ”

Due to disagreement among delegates regarding the clause submitted by the delegate of the US, they ultimately agreed to create amendments in order to effectively address and minimize the tension caused by the THAAD system within the ROK.

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ENV ADDRESSES THE ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

On the second day of SEOMUN XXIV, the Environmental Commission (ENV) had a heated debate on amendments proposed by a few delegates regarding the agenda of addressing the environmental harms of the Olympic Games, and the possible adjustments nations can make to improve the environmental status of the nation after the Olympic Games. The discussion was initiated with the amendment submitted by Nathan Jeon, the delegate of Japan. Discussing how to prevent environmental destruction and harm of a nation after the Olympic Games, Nathan proposed an amendment regarding the implementation of a new system to improve the process of recycling materials, decreasing the amount of unnecessary waste released in the environment.

“This amendment advocates the use of materials that can be easily disassembled and repurposed for further use, specifically shipping containers,” said Nathan. “My main focus of using shipping containers as building materials for the venue is because they can be easily disassembled compared to other materials and they can later be repurposed back as transportation vehicles.”

Regarding this amendment, other delegates fell into consideration of whether this amendment was resolving the problems raised in the agenda.

Delegates such as the delegate of Nigeria and the US especially spoke out using POIs in order to assess the amendment’s full purpose and its effectiveness in restoring the environment after the Olympics.

“The delegate believes that the sub-sub

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clause 1 for clause 2A still uses the fossil fuels to place the shipping containers along with the stadium and also during the disassembling process, which the resolution is trying to avoid as much use of not environmentally friendly energy,” said Pyae Phyo May, delegate of Nigeria. “The delegate of Japan also mentioned that the shipping containers should be recycled materials should be recycled for transportation, which the delegate of Nigeria believes is wasteful just to use for a one-time purpose.”

Adding onto the delegate of Nigeria, Justin Park, the delegate of the US, also caught a flaw in the amendment submitted by the delegate of Japan.

Justin sought to point out that the proposed amendment did not address the resolution’s issues properly, and instead, it showed signs of possible defects and harms it could do to the environment.

“[This delegate] believes this amendment should not be passed as disassembling stadiums after use is unrealistic,” Justin said. “This is because it would take a lot of fossil fuels in order to disassemble stadiums while this resolution is about decreasing the environmental damage of the Olympics.”

Throughout this productive discussion on the amendment, many delegates helped pinpoint its flaws. As the amendment submitted by the delegate of Japan was voted against by a majority, the amendment strictly did not pass. Though the amendment consequently failed to pass in today’s conference, it is true that the discussion was full of strong standings and arguments.

ICJ HOLDS TRIAL ON PAKISTAN’S DETENTION OF KULBHUSHAN JADHAV

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) convened on the second day of SEOMUN XXIV to hold a trial on Pakistan’s alleged violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR) in the killing of Indian national Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav. In April 2017, Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan on charges of terrorism and spying. Shortly after the death sentence was carried out, the state of India filed an official complaint to the court instituting official proceedings against Pakistan for Jadhav’s detention.

Historically, India had made 13 attempts to reach Jadhav who was in the custody of Pakistan, and Pakistan had denied all of them because India had refused to cooperate and assist in Pakistan’s investigation.

In terms of legality, India claims that it was denied consular access to Jadhav before the death sentence which deprived Jadhav of the protection accorded under the Vienna Convention.

“According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 36 of the VCCR should apply to all individuals from countries who have signed the VCCR,” said India’s International Law Consultant. “All nationals are entitled to consular access from their home states, and even those accused of espionage are no exceptions.”

Pakistan objected to India’s claim by arguing that granting consular access to an alleged terrorist that was threatening the national security of another nation was in itself an act of violation of the VCCR.

“The purpose of the VCCR is to maintain peace and security and promote friendly relationships among signed countries,” said Alexis Yumin Lee, delegate of Pakistan. “The obligations of the treaty must therefore be exercised and performed in complete accordance with the purpose. It is not fair for a party who has endangered international security to be given the rights to further undermine the security of other nations.”

Pakistan also presented a confession video of Jadhav to the court as part of the evidence to add credibility to the claim that Jadhav was a spy sent from India with intents of terrorism. The video, released on March 29th, 2016, documents Jadhav’s confessional statement that he is being charged for espionage, serving as a navy officer, and that all of his statements aren’t under duress.

“Pakistan fails to provide the court with the entirety of the confession video,” said Sachin Suresh Kale, the witness of India. “The entirety of the interrogation is highly preferred in all court cases, and edited confession videos make the confession extremely unreliable.

The fact that Jadhav also did not have the opportunity to consult a lawyer simply adds to the unreliability of the confession.”

With the trial still ongoing, the judges will spend the remainder of the conference discussing the stipulations of both nations to deliver final jurisdictions. The decisions made by the judges will serve as an important stage for future cases concerning not only consular relations between India and Pakistan but those of other nations.

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WHAT ARE THE DELEGATES DOING AFTER THE CONFERENCE TODAY? “After finishing the conference, I will take down notes about the criticisms about my resolution and make amendments to debate on the next day. I will also prepare speeches and other points I would like to mention to support my resolution tomorrow.” - Ian Park, the delegate of Iran in the Human Rights Council

“Even after the second session ends, there’s still the third session, so I think I’ll be busy preparing for that.

I’ll also be doing other school work, because that’s important as well.” - Junseo Lee, the delegate of the United Kingdom in the Economic and Social Council

“After this conference, I’m definitely going to try and get more rest. But, there is still one day after today, so I still need to read other delegates’ resolutions and make amendments as well. However, I am going to try and get more sleep to not look dead. In all seriousness, I’m hoping to make more friends after the conference and hope that my resolution actually provides new ways of addressing global issues.” - Eddie Chu, the delegate of the United States in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

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HOW DO CHAIRS PREPARE FOR THE SEOMUN DEBATE FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE? “When delegates thoroughly research their country’s stance, they will succeed in any MUN conference. Delegates should remember to keep their speeches within the boundaries of their country’s stance. Additionally, delegates should come to the first day with a prepared draft resolution. With their draft, they can effectively collaborate with others during lobbying sessions and save time for editing instead of creating new clauses on the conference day.” Andrew Choi, President of the World Health Assembly

“As a chair, I try to look over all the resolutions and try my best to give helpful feedback so that all the resolutions are good to go for debate. I also keep referring back to the Model United Nations Rules of Procedure (chair RoP) so that the actual debate flows naturally as much as possible.” Sieun Park, Deputy Assistant President of the World Health Assembly

“It is definitely important that you are well prepared in terms of background knowledge on the agenda and that you have some ideas for crafting the resolution. I would say it is nearly impossible to come to SEOMUN and have a fruitful debate without any prior planning and time taken for background research.

An effective debate for SEOMUN stems from the research and ideas you have prepared beforehand.” Michelle Heo, Assistant President of the World Health Assembly

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SEOULITE ISSUE 2

XXIV XXIV XXIV