Do you know about the ‘United Nations’?

United Nations is the biggest international organization in the world that has been established in October 24, 1945 in an effort to prevent any further tragedies on humanity like World War 2. Although the objectives UN supports and the activities it engages in are diverse, but the single belief that penetrates them all is clearly declared throughout the UN Charter.

The UN member nations have saved the future generations from the two war tragedies, secured basic human rights, promoted gender equality, formulated rules and standards for the various treaties and other implications of international law, and stimulated social progress and living standard enhancement.

Such a formulation of UN had to be gravely affected and violated by the Cold War international system with the U.S. on one side and the Soviet Union on the other. In the decision-making process, it became difficult to reach a mutually acceptable resolution amidst the incessant checks and blind oppositions, and it affected not only the bilateral “negotiation” between the two countries but also multilateral “cooperation.”

However, as the 1990s Soviet Union collapsed and Germany united, the international system entered a post-Cold War phase that enabled a more relaxed international communication that is not reliant on ideology or military confrontation. Thus, the need for previous issues handled by the UN like military decisions, territorial conflict preventions, and others reduced and the expectations the international society had for UN also changed. Thus, the responsibility of UN went beyond “national security” to also include “human security.” Environment, poverty, human rights, intellectual property rights, diseases, culture, etc. are issues, which arose as a result of rapidly changing international environment, that cannot be addressed within the boundaries of a single nation. Such issues cannot be resolved solely by ‘intergovernmental organizations,’ but more effectively with the help of ‘transnational organizations.’ UN holds a major role in the middle of these issues as it pursues goals beyond simple national interest, which reaches out to include the interests of all humanity and the future.

Do you know about ‘Model’ United Nations?

For Korea, international politics had been shackles that restricted its life as a nation. Strong intervention from Western powers and 36 years of colonization, along with the Korean War during the Korean War, Korea had to struggle its way through the complicated international politics for a whole century.

Fortunately, however, Korea no longer plays the passive role in international politics that is “restricted and shackled” but increasingly plays the active role as it “creates and influences” the rules in the international system, which is shown through Ban Ki Moon the UN Secretary General and the numerous Korean international organization officials under the organization. Many students and youths are now studying with goals beyond the narrow domestic perspective, but the broad international perspective. For such students, the world’s greatest international organization UN adds a serious promise and value.

Model UN is a concrete manifestation of such considerations. In a sense, it is an ‘academic play.’ It is ‘academic’ because the students should choose one issue among the thousands handled by the UN and study it together as they decide on which direction to go from there. And it is a ‘play’ in the sense that the results of the study will manifest itself in the form of a play on a stage. Several schools including Seoul National University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies autonomously organizes and showcases model UN, and there is an event called ‘National Undergraduate Students Model UN’ where students from all over the nation come together to compete and enhance themselves for a better world.

It can be imperfect, the content can be insufficient. However, the passion and enthusiasm exuding from the students as they work together for a better future is surely as intense as the UN headquarters in New York. The students will actively pursue their dreams as they realize their imperfections, but at the same time, learn their strengths and experience the dynamics and satisfaction of it all.

Do you know about the Model UN in ‘Seoul National University’?

Seoul National University Model UN is the biggest event of International Relations Major and has been established in 1988. Every second semester around November, enthusiastic students of model UN can be seen in the cultural center. Although the performance itself ends in after a relatively short 2~3 hours, the students spend their entire summer break preparing for the model UN. Through every meeting and practice, the students can tackle serious concerns regarding international politics and problems. In that process, they discover invaluable relations and innate gem-like abilities.

After the very busy final rehearsal on the day of the event, the audience starts to fill up the seats in front of the stage. With excited hearts, the event begins. The students continue the performance as they struggle with the anxiety of possible mistakes. But amidst the battle with adrenaline, the performance soon ends and they are congratulated with rounds of applause, sweet rewards of their sweat and effort. The satisfaction and celebration after a successful event is a feeling that only those who have experienced it can relate to.

We wish to invite you to that deeply moving moment.