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Title [ICM's Pick] Participant's Reflection on the 2025 Model UNESCO Conference(MUNESCO)
Participant's Reflection on the 2025 Model UNESCO Conference (MUNESCO) [Jaeseok LEE]  1. Please introduce yourself briefly and tell us what your role was at 2025 MUNESCO. Hello, my name is Jaeseok Lee, and I'm majoring in Information Systems of School of Business in the Utah Asia Campus of The University of Utah. I am currently working as a Student Ambassador and an intern at the University's Career Development Center. At 2025 MUNESCO, I participated as a member of the Secretariat, responsible for overall meeting operations and assistance. Specifically, I chaired the Consultative Session, leading discussions. During the Main Session, I worked with the Chair to manage meeting procedures, ensuring smooth presentations and active discussions by delegates from each country. I also served as the MC for the Opening and Closing sessions, kicking off the event and guiding the overall program flow. Beyond simple operational assistance, I was in charge of setting the tone for the entire program and creating an environment where participants could fully attentively engage, which turned out to be a valuable experience for me. 2. What motivated you to participate in 2025 MUNESCO? Working out and exercising has always served as the driving for my life. Sports have been a compass that guides me to the right path in life, and through exercise, my life has become more meaningful and valuable with sports. I've had a passion for sports and fitness since my school days. And during my military service, I participated in team sports and bodybuilding competitions to improve my physical fitness, and this experience enabled me to experience the power of sports not only for personal growth but also for fostering healthy community and sharing and exchanging such energy among members. At the same time, while majoring in Information Systems in university, I learned the importance of data and information systems, and this sparked me to have a dream of building a future career in the field of sports, a field I truly love. My personal goal is to utilize my knowledge from Information Systems to become a data analyst who can help athletes in any field. I saw the potential of combining "sports and data" to create greater social value. My dream is to travel the world in the future, engage in international exchanges, and grow into a person with a rich story to tell. This is what motivated me to participate in MUNESCO's activities, which promote diversity and inclusion through sports. 3. What did you learn from your MUNESCO experience? And how do you think this will impact your future life or career? The most important lessons I learned from my MUNESCO experience is how important it is to have a diplomatic attitude and collaborative leadership. When we had to gather together with all the representatives from diverse backgrounds and discuss how to support marginalized communities, that was when I realized how important it is to respect each other's perspectives and be persuasive. Furthermore as a secretariat member, I was in charge of managing meetings, adhering to time management, procedures, and maintaining fairness and that experience instilled a strong sense of responsibility in me. I fully believe that this experience will directly benefit me in my future work in the field of information systems, as it will allow me to collaborate with and orchestrate various stakeholders when working on international sports data platforms or NGO projects. Also the diplomatic attitude will be particularly valuable when communicating with athletes and coaches from various countries as a sports data analyst. I now have a bigger dream to gain more international experience. I would like to gain more insight and ultimately grow into a person who truly contributes to society and in that sense I should attend more international conferences in the field such as the ICM and other model conferences. 4. What was the most memorable or interesting part of the meeting or program? Also, please share any improvements you would like to see to further enhance the program. As a Secretariat member, the most memorable moment was when the Decision Document was adopted on the final day. Back then after days of intense discussion and exchange of ideas, we came up with one single document based on our consensus and when I was together with all the other delegates who were applauding the results, I felt a profound sense of pride in the accomplishments we've created all together. It was truly moving to be in that moment enjoying the fruit of efforts and passion of all the participants. I was also impressed by how the delegations were communicating using position papers and note-passing. Seeing the position papers, which systematically outlined each country's positions, enabled me to sense the participants' sincerity and earnestness in preparing the papers and the real-time diplomatic communication using note passing allowed me to vividly feel the atmosphere of an actual UN meeting. I do think that it would have had been better if we had more time for the gathering and have more genuine interactions. I think it would have been an even more meaningful if we had more opportunity to get to know each other personally more deeply outside of the meeting. Overall, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Manager Seong-sik Cho, who led all activities so brilliantly, and to all the staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare for this event. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Hwarim YOO]  1. Please introduce yourself briefly and tell us what your role was at 2025 MUNESCO. Hello, I’m Hwarim Yoo and I am a student of Ewha Womans University, majoring in International Studies and International Development Cooperation. I have seven years of experience in Model UN. At 2025 MUESCO, my role was the facilitator and thus chaired meetings. On the day of the meeting, I presided over the sessions and facilitated active discussions among representatives from various countries. I particularly focused on applying the rules to ensure smooth discussion on each agenda item and fostering an atmosphere conducive to constructive consensus. Before the meeting, I conducted an orientation session, explaining Model UN rules to participants, and during an informal evening session, I personally guided the discussions and document writings. Lastly, I evaluated the participant’s overall performance and participated in selecting the award recipients. 2. What motivated you to participate in 2025 MUNESCO? Actually I participated in the 2023 MNESCO Secretariat and served as the Chairperson. Ever since I was a middle school student, I’ve dreamed of working for International Organizations or NGOs, and have been interested in international relations and development cooperation. I served as vice president of my school’s Model UN club and participated in various Model UN events. Thanks to such experiences I developed a desire to broaden my understanding of international conference management, and MUNESCO was particularly appealing because it allowed in-depth discussions on topics such as education, culture, and sustainable development, based on UNESCO’s agenda and structure. Through my participation in the 2023 Secretariat, I was able to cultivate a collaborative attitude and capabilities by interacting with participants from diverse countries and backgrounds and I also developed strong relationships with Secretariat staff and ambassadors. When I heard that 2025 MNESCO was looking for a Chairperson, I decided to apply once again, hoping to build on my previous experience and contribute. At the same time, I wanted to continue the good memories of 2023 and grow together with new participants. 3. What did you learn from this MUNESCO activity? And how do you think that lesson will impact you future life or career? The most important lesson learnt from this activity is now that I have better understanding on how to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds. Many participants did not major in political science and diplomacy or international studies, and many had no prior experience with Model United Nations at all. Maybe that was why initially we all had very different opinions from each other since we all had very different nationality, majors, and interests. However such fresh difference led to new perspectives and ideas, enriching our discussions. I was deeply inspired by how diverse experiences converged to form constructive and meaningful discussions. It was particularly impressive to see how, as the meeting progressed, the participants gradually became familiar with the discussion and negotiation, and how those who were somewhat passive at first gradually started to gain confidence and began to speak up, ultimately leading to the creation of a unified resolution. Witnessing all these gradual improvements reaffirmed the power of collaboration, mediation, and collective intelligence. I also realized the importance of having dialogue and collaboration with those with diverse perspectives. I strongly believe that this experience will serve as a valuable asset for me when seeking to solve problems with various stakeholders on the international stage in the future. 4. What was the most impressive or interesting part from the meeting or the program? Please share your opinion on how we can make any further improvements on our program. Other than the meetings, I enjoyed learning about UNESCO and martial arts through lectures and hands-on experiences. Some events that focus solely on formal opening and closing ceremonies and formal meetings don’t seem to be very interactive, but this time I really liked the fact that the organizers included some activities that enabled participants to broaden their understanding of the host organization and build stronger bonds with one another. Furthermore, participants experiencing Model UN for the first time often feel overwhelmed by the complex rules and the pressure of representing their country's position. However thanks to the consultative session system, participants had the room to practice presenting their opinions, discussing them, and documenting their ideas in a relatively relaxed and free atmosphere, which I think was quite positive, since it helped the delegates become closer to one another and quickly adapt to the unfamiliar environment and rules. One area for improvement, however, was that this year's schedule was a bit tight. As meetings progress, it's common for the schedule to be slightly delayed due to any unexpected issues or circumstances, and thus I personally believe that allowing a little leeway in the schedule will help ensure smoother operations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Minho KIM]  1. Please briefly introduce yourself and tell us what your role was at 2025 MUNESCO. My name is Kim Min-ho, and I participated in 2025 MUNESCO as a representative of Finland. I love sports more than anyone else, and my dream is to share and develop the unique power of sports with as many people as possible. I am interested in sports data analysis and international sports, and thus I am actively participating in related activities to pursue my dream. I am currently a student at Kyung Hee University's College of Oriental Medicine, and I strive to leverage my unique major to my own strengths. As a representative of Finland, I participated in 2025 MUNESCO and worked to produce the best resolutions for Finland and the world. From the perspective of a Nordic welfare state, I proposed and discussed policies to promote the rights of the socially disadvantaged and support developing countries. 2. What motivated you to participate in 2025 MUNESCO? I have always had various thoughts about sports, but I don’t think I had enough chances to share and exchange them with others. So what appealed most to me about MUNESCO was that we have the opportunity to hold high-quality meetings with diverse individuals on sports-related topics. I also liked the fact that tee meetings were held in English. As someone who has always been thirsty for utilizing my English professionally, I couldn't miss the opportunity to speak in English about my passion, sports. Furthermore, I decided to participate because it was an activity that, while small, could contribute to the advancement of sports. 3. What did you learn from this MUNESCO activity? And how do you think this lesson will impact your future life or career? By comprehensively considering the perspectives of various countries and organizations and deriving the best solution, I was able to learn how to view the issues from many different perspectives. By exchanging opinions and discussions with other countries and requesting cooperation and assistance from international organizations, I developed the ability to gather evidences, present logically, and, at times if necessary, make strong arguments. Furthermore, thanks to the guidance and facilitation of the Secretariat staff, I was able to fully grasp the Rules of Procedure (ROP) and the process of conducting a Model UNESCO Conference. I strongly believe that this activity will serve as an invaluable asset for my future. The experience of spending five days working with the amazing Secretariat staff and delegations in terms of both their capacity and characters will serve as a solid foundation for my future growth. I hope to remain friends with the invaluable people I met during this activity and to support each other's future endeavors. It was a truly meaningful time that enabled me to gain confidence in myself and, at the same time, inspiration and lessons from meeting so many outstanding individuals. 4. What was the most impressive or interesting part of the meeting or program? Also, please share any improvements you would like to see to further develop the program. I was impressed by the passion and talent of all the delegates throughout the conference. Despite having tight schedules packed with meetings that lasted from morning to evening and activities at the accommodations, the delegates were truly passionate for discussing and writing together to arrive at the best resolution and that was truly remarkable for me. Furthermore, most delegates demonstrated mutual respect and understanding even during such intense meetings, and I think those great attitudes were the key for the successful conclusion of the event. So in overall it was a five-day event which was definitely more than simply drafting resolutions to fostering positive interpersonal relationships since we fostered a sense of belonging and supported each other's future. One area for further improvement is that I do hope that the next meeting will provide longer time to draft the resolution. While there was ample time for the discussion, the resolution itself was somewhat hastily written, so I felt like we could have had done better with its quality and content only we had more time. I also hope the FIT FOR LIFE running event can be improved to accommodate more participants. However in overall it was a great honor for me to participate in this amazing activity. Thank you. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  [Minji JO] 1. Please briefly introduce yourself and tell us what your rule was at 2025 MUNESCO. Hello! I'm Jo Minji, a third-year student in the Department of Anthropology at Seoul National University. I participated in the 2025 MUNESCO representing Ukraine. The CIGPES plenary session aims not to present individual opinions on agenda items, but to present the positions of each country and advisory body, coordinate these different positions, and draft a resolution containing solutions to such topics. Therefore, I made sure to study thoroughly the agenda, "The Impact of Sport in Promoting Diversity and Supporting Marginalized Communities," and work hard to understand and represent the situation and position of Ukraine. 2. You participated in the 2024 ICM Global Youth Martial Arts Training last year. Is there any specific reason or motivation why you participated in 2025 MUNESCO as well? My previous experience at the ICM in 2024 was so meaningful and valuable that I was eager to participate in an event hosted by the Center again if I have chance. In my last year participation, I experienced sports firsthand while helping international students and for this year’s Model UNESCO Conference, I wanted to take a different approach so that I could understand my personal experiences and my existing thoughts on sports theoretically and academically. Through last year's activities, I was able to learn the prevalence of prejudice and discrimination in our society through the eyes of my international friends. However, while we were experiencing various sports including Taekkyeon, rowing, and Korean archery, we exchanged emotions and had genuine interactions and ultimately we learnt how to respect each other for who they are, getting rid of all those prejudice or stereotypes, and that experience helped me the confidence that we could solve social problems this way through sports. Therefore building on that experience, I tried to emphasize at this conference that sports can address social discrimination and foster a sense of belonging and self-esteem by bringing people from different backgrounds together toward a common goal. 3. What did you learn from your MUNESCO activities this year? And how do you such lessons will impact your future life or career? I realized that sports is a field where various stakeholders can cooperate and reach consensus without going through any sharp conflict. Personally I was in charge of Ukraine, and since the country is currently at war it is entangled in complex political and diplomatic interests. Therefore, while researching and organizing national positions, I wasn’t exactly sure whether we should treat each country within these politically charged frameworks. However I discovered examples of people in Ukraine using sports as a means for social integration and psychological therapy after being devastated by the war, and I found UN resolutions such as "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace" (A/RES/58/5) and "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" (A/RES/70/4), which all reaffirmed my personal belief that sports should not be used as a backdrop for conflict, but rather a platform for cooperation. Based on these thoughts, I actively participated in the discussions. Unlike typical Model UN conferences where delegates with aligned interests form a consultative body draft resolutions, this year, all delegates came together to pass a single, comprehensive resolution. This reminded me of the essential spirit and ultimate goals of sport as articulated by the UN, UNESCO, and the IOC, and it was a valuable opportunity to share these thoughts with other students. This experience helped me to continue pursuing my goal of understanding humanity through culture and sport and it also strengthened my aspiration to contribute in making the society a better place, which is my ultimate dream. 4. What was the most memorable or interesting part of the meeting or program? Please also share any improvements you would like to see to further develop the program. This MUNESCO gave all students a precious opportunity to actively express their thoughts and, going beyond the agenda, actively share our own perspectives and philosophies on sports and the international community, although we sometimes felt language barriers. It was enjoyable to discuss the social role of sports, borrowing the format of a UN conference, since sports is definitely more than mere a means of building physical fitness and physical activity. Many Model UN conferences focus on political theory, so it is somewhat true that unfortunately we tend to forget that our words will impact our own lives. However, discussing the topic sports with students who love sports was fascinating because it allowed us to draw on our own experiences and think concretely about how our discussions could impact people's daily lives not to mention our own lives. ※ Views in this interview are those of the interviewees. |
