#1 EPIK Spiders, After That!

Multimedia 2015 EPIK Young Leaders Conference

Minutes/Materials EPIK Journals Online Vol. 6

Events 2016 EPIK Young Leaders Conference

Hello? This is Jeong Yun-seok, who interned at the East Asia Institute and is now active as an EPIK Spider. I have always enjoyed studying since I was young. However, after entering university, I realized how solitary the path of scholarship can be. It is like a sailboat rowing upstream alone, as the saying goes, 'Studying is like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you will fall back.' Yet, through EPIK, I have come to know the joy of communication through scholarship.

Scholar and Organist

Until the late 19th century, the most complex and sophisticated machine created by humans was the pipe organ. Records indicate that the organ was invented in Greece in the 3rd century BCE, and an organ built in New Jersey, USA, in 1930 was equipped with over 30,000 pipes and seven manuals. Perhaps because of this, listening to organ music naturally evokes a solemn feeling.

In a way, the scholarship learned in school is similar to practicing the organ. During lectures, we learn methodologies refined by scholars over centuries, and we practice applying these methodologies through assignments. Just as organ playing must be clean, reports and papers must be logical and thorough. In this sense, a scholar researching in an ivory tower is like an organist playing alone beneath a grand instrument in a concert hall.

EPIK is Jazz

The biggest drawback of the organ, despite its size, is that it can only produce one type of sound. This is because each pipe can only produce a single note. Scholars can fall into a similar trap. While mastering the methodology of one field is important, if one only knows the language of that field, they will struggle to communicate with others. They become individuals trapped in their own pipes, speaking only one kind of story.

EPIK is a forum for communication by students, for students, and of students who empathize with these issues. EPIK stands for 'Exchange Panel for Interdisciplinary Knowledge,' and as the name suggests, its primary goal is for students from various fields to gather and freely share their opinions and knowledge. By contemplating annually relevant topics, differing opinions emerge, and through this, one can feel their perspective on the world broaden.

In this regard, EPIK is closer to jazz than a pipe organ. The grand piano and drums breathe together, and the electric guitar and saxophone converse with each other. Dissonance becomes the beginning of a new melody, and someone's improvisation becomes the overall motif of the song. This is the moment when studying, which seemed destined to be solitary, becomes enjoyable.

A Student-like Conference

EPIK was first conceived in 2009. While serving as part of the first executive committee, I remember Professor Kim Byong-gook advising me not to 'act like a professor.' Since then, EPIK has strived each year to host a conference that is truly student-like.

First, we decided to address topics that students could relate to. Therefore, without being overly ambitious, we posed bold questions through a shift in perspective. In the 2013 conference, observing the signs of conflict emerging in various aspects such as politics, diplomacy, and culture as the international order shifted to a multipolar system, we chose the theme 'When is conflict better than cooperation?'. Furthermore, in 2014, based on research indicating that 'early adopters' have a greater influence than 'innovators' in the diffusion of new technologies, we held a conference on the importance of 'followership' rather than leadership in international politics.

Researching and conducting studies on such topics is not always easy. It is not simply a matter of applying what is learned in school, but rather pioneering new fields. Even finding research results that can be cited is difficult. Consequently, reading the papers presented at the conference gives a distinctly different impression from papers published in academic journals. It is precisely because of these aspects that I have been able to learn so much through EPIK each year.

Spinning a Web

EPIK does not end on the day the conference is held. The reason participants are called 'Spiders' is that the numerous individuals who have passed through EPIK each become spiders, spinning webs across the globe. Therefore, even after the conference concludes, EPIK Spiders aim to share knowledge by engaging in activities within their respective fields. As many of you may know, the concept of 'Spiders' was inspired by Professor Ha Young-sun's assertion that we must become a 'knowledge-based complex nation' suited for the 21st century.

During my university years, I took a course called 'East Asian International Relations.' When I mentioned to Professor Thomas Christensen that I would be participating in a conference hosted by the East Asia Institute, he welcomed me warmly and shared that he had lectured at the 'US-ROK Alliance Conference' just a few months prior. This allowed me to approach him more closely and receive significant assistance with my thesis. Thus, becoming a member of EPIK Spiders feels like connecting not only to the network within EPIK but also to the networks above it. It is about maximizing the space to leverage my capabilities through EPIK.

The Condition of Young Leaders

The official name of the conference hosted by EPIK each year is the 'EPIK Young Leaders Conference.' However, we do not call the participants Young Leaders simply because they bear responsibility for the future of their nation or humanity. In fact, slogans like 'the historical mission of national rejuvenation' no longer resonate with the younger generation. We seek something that makes our hearts race, rather than something that merely moves us.

I believe the sole condition for becoming a Young Leader is the will to pursue one's passion in a field they love to the very end, and an open mind that respects others' opinions and shares knowledge. Furthermore, the EPIK Young Leaders Conference is an opportunity for young students to gather and develop into Young Leaders who possess these qualities. I, too, felt my heart race while serving as a presenter, discussant, and executive committee member through EPIK. If all those who have passed through EPIK cherish that feeling, the network of EPIK Spiders will ripple with hope and passion. These words are a compilation of the advice given to me by many supportive individuals around me, and I remind myself of them daily to stay focused. Let us move forward one step at a time without anxiety about our future and dreams. Fighting!