Welcome to The UOS Times! My name is Samuel Parker and I’m coming on as the Senior Copy Editor. For nearly seven years, I have called Korea my home. Originally from the state of Vermont in the northeastern USA,I was drawn from a young age to the ‘mysterious’ East through my viewing of Japanese Manga and Kung Fu action movies. A short working holiday at an ‘English winter camp’ in Anseong in the winter of 2001 also fueled my nascent interest in Korean language and culture. Upon returning to the States, I developed such a zeal for the study of East Asia that I ended up choosing Asian Studies as my undergraduate university major in 2003.

While studying for my graduate degree in international education at Teachers College, Columbia University from 2009 to 2011, I prepared a thesis entitled “Bridging Educational Gaps: The Use of Technology in Leveling the EFL Playing Field in South Korea”. The subject matter of my research allowed me to delve deeply into the educational history and philosophy of South Korea since the Korean War era. In addition to my academic and job interests, I usually spend my free time reading and watching films. My wife and I live in Seongbuk-gu with our dog, Lucy.

Nowadays, The UOS Times is playing a leading role in the spread of vital information. For example, the most recent cover story dealt head-on with the problems surrounding last year’s student election. In a sublime Cover Story by Lee Ji-min and Ra Young-cheol, many important issues overlooked by students in the past were brought to the front and center. This took both courage and integrity on the part of The UOS Times reporters. Satisfying readers with great content in a language other than Korean is indeed a very challenging task. During my short time with The UOS Times, I have already become very impressed with how diligent the UOS staff is at seeking out difficult truths and not shying away from controversy.

 
Since “Korean Fever” exploded in the late 2000s, people around the world also become influenced and sometimes even obsessed with Korean culture. It has become embedded in everything from fashion styles to music to food to dramas on TV. Clearly, Korean culture is at the forefront of the globalized world. Taking this into consideration for their cultural contents section, The UOS Times does a good job of covering everything from the current cinema scene to restaurant recommendations. Students can also take a trip to Turkey, India, or another far-off and exotic place without leaving their dorm rooms by catching up on of the excellent travel articles published by The UOS Times’ senior editing board.

In the future, I hope to help The UOS Times grow as a magazine. Taking part in the editing of this magazine will help me to better understand the UOS campus culture and allow me to more deeply connect with the students in my classes. UOS students in general are hard-working, enthusiastic, and highly responsible. They have been influenced by the world of digital media since they were young and crave up-to-date and instantaneous information.

The UOS Times successfully rises up to these challenges through its stellar reporting on all aspects of culture and society. For those of you who choose to pick up this (free!) magazine, reading its excellent and in-depth English language content will enhance your perspectives on life and give you an advantage in your future career. Lastly, I would like to give a shout-out to the editor-in-chief, You Jin, and thank her for this wonderful opportunity to be included in The UOS Times. I feel very lucky and will always try my best to be fair and objective and hold myself to the highest level of journalistic standards possible.


Samuel Parker Senior Editor
adventuresam@hotmail.com
 

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