In this blog post, I’ll present my answers to each question from the personal statement I wrote for my application to the Department of International Trade, Finance, and Investment at Kyung Hee University, summarized as closely as possible to the original text.
Academic Experience
I have always personally enjoyed studying economics. In fact, whenever I received my textbooks, the first thing I would do was pull out the economics book to read it. Perhaps because of this, I consistently achieved excellent grades in economics exams, often scoring close to 100 points. However, I do not believe that these grades were achieved solely through textbook study. I’ve had the habit of reading newspapers since I was young. When I was little, it wasn’t easy to read because of the difficult vocabulary and content, but I simply imitated my father, whom I admired for always reading the newspaper in the morning. As a result, I often knew difficult economic terms better than my friends, and I tended to grasp the content in economics textbooks quickly. However, I felt that the textbook material alone was actually insufficient. I wanted to understand the content in the newspapers better, and to do that, I felt I needed to study the fundamental concepts a bit more.
That’s why I started reading ‘Mankiw’s Economics’. Even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to study ‘Mankiw’s Economics’—a book widely regarded as a must-read in economics—in great detail, I resolved to “read it all the way through.” Without letting it interfere with my high school studies, I would pull out ‘Mankiw’s Economics’ during breaks or whenever my studies became tedious. The complex economic theories were explained more simply than I had expected, which was a huge help in understanding the fundamentals of economics. Furthermore, once I grasped the basic principles of economics, I was able to understand the content in my textbooks a little better, and I could also make sense of the difficult articles in the newspaper more easily. By studying economics through ‘Mankiw’s Economics’, I realized that studying isn’t limited to just the content in textbooks. While preparing for school grades by focusing on textbook material is important, I came to understand that to study the fields I’m interested in and passionate about, I need to explore more in-depth, foundational approaches.
School Activities
Among my school activities, the one where I gave my absolute best and achieved the most significant results was the “Debate Competition.” During my sophomore year, a reading debate competition was held at our school. It was a debate competition where teams competed through a first-round preliminary and a second-round final to determine the winning team. We read the novel ‘Demian’ and debated the thesis: “The sole agent of human growth is oneself.” I teamed up with two friends, and after reading the novel, we prepared for the debate by discussing the affirmative arguments for the proposition “The sole agent of human growth is oneself.” In particular, I believed that the most important aspect of the debate was “how well and diversely we could use terminology.” This is because repeating the same words and phrases weakens one’s persuasiveness. Therefore, my friends and I compiled and memorized commonly used words, as well as terms and phrases from ‘Demian’. In addition, we prepared answers in advance for questions we anticipated as counterarguments to ensure we wouldn’t stumble during the debate. We also identified points where we could challenge our opponents’ arguments and prepared questions accordingly. After making such thorough preparations, I was able to express my opinions confidently and without hesitation at the school’s reading debate competition, and as a result, I won first place.
Starting an Economics Study Club Having consistently studied economics, I decided to start a club where like-minded friends and I could study economics together, read newspapers, and share our opinions. In fact, even the teachers were skeptical—they wondered whether students would actually be interested in “economics” itself and doubted whether the club would even get off the ground. However, I wrote a proposal outlining the expected benefits of studying economics and presented it to the teacher; by expressing my strong determination, I was able to organize the club. First, at the beginning of the first semester of my sophomore year, my friends and I gathered first-year students to explain the benefits of the “Economics Study Club.” We promoted how helpful it would be for students aiming to attend universities with business or economics programs by organizing our own competitions and debates. Far more first-year students joined the club than the teacher had anticipated, and quite a few sophomores also expressed interest in joining. After gathering the students, I explained the club’s semester-based events and study plans. The club’s fundamental goal was “to gain a solid understanding of economics and lay the groundwork to become experts in business and economics through discussions following newspaper readings.” To faithfully fulfill these core objectives, I planned regular club meetings, as well as internal economic debate and quiz competitions, and diligently prepared the events according to my plans. Through my activities in the economics study club, I not only developed my own skills in studying economics and engaging in debate but also cultivated my leadership abilities by planning and managing the club.
Consideration and Cooperation
My interest in economics led me to create a study notebook where I not only summarized textbook content but also noted relevant information I found in ‘Mankiw’s Economics’ and other economics-related books alongside the main material. There was a time when I was treated like a hero after sharing that notebook with my friends. I disliked the prevailing perception that economics was difficult, and I believed that with enough interest, the subject was actually quite accessible. That’s why I photocopied my economics summary notes and distributed them to my friends. It was a gesture of pure goodwill toward my friends, and they fully understood my intentions and expressed their gratitude. As I practiced “genuine sharing of knowledge” by distributing my notes, other friends also began summarizing what they had studied and sharing it with their peers. The small act of sharing I started gradually spread and grew into a larger movement of sharing. As the person who initiated this movement of sharing, I felt incredibly proud, and I realized that genuine sharing creates a positive cycle that gives rise to even more sharing.
Does friendship grow through arguments? No—it grows through consideration! There’s an old saying that “friendship is forged through conflict.” However, I don’t believe that conflict is necessarily the foundation for building friendship and intimacy. I do not believe that we must fight to understand each other’s true feelings or to become closer. Rather, I think fighting is a side effect of failing to engage in conversations based on understanding and empathy. If we had first engaged in deep conversations focused on understanding and empathy before fighting, the argument would never have happened in the first place. Arguments arise from relationships built without consideration. I have never once had an argument within my circle of friends. The same goes for my friends. This is because we made an effort to show consideration for one another first, and whenever we felt hurt or thought something was wrong, we resolved it through conversation. Through this circle of friends, I was able to realize the value of genuine relationships—relationships built on consideration and trust.
Reasons for Applying
From a young age, rather than simply telling me to study, my parents led by example. One example was reading the newspaper. My parents never once told me to read the newspaper or books. Instead, they showed me how they read the newspaper and books themselves, and they would discuss and share their thoughts on what they had read with each other. I began reading newspapers and books to join in those conversations. I started doing so because reading them simply seemed enjoyable, and I admired how my father and mother discussed their contents. As I read newspapers and books, the time I spent conversing with my parents increased, and they began to treat me not merely as a child but as an intellectual worthy of respect, guiding our conversations accordingly. Through these conversations, I was able to cultivate my own passion for learning, and, as I earned my parents’ respect, I came to understand just how valuable it is to be recognized as an intellectual. Furthermore, as I became more immersed in newspapers and books, I developed an interest in the economic topics covered in the news, and as I explored books on economics, I began to dream of becoming an economic expert with a global reach. My parents supported the dream I had discovered on my own and advised me to focus on exploring what I wanted to study and what kind of person I wanted to become in society, rather than simply looking for a job. Following my parents’ advice, I decided that I should study not for the sake of a “job,” but to delve deeply and to my heart’s content into the subjects I was passionate about. That is why I chose the Department of International Trade, Finance, and Investment.
Studying for the Love of It: Economic Logic I have studied purely out of a love for economics. Rather than simply poring over textbooks, I have pursued my studies independently, driven by a deep interest in economics and a thirst for knowledge. Additionally, to dispel the stereotype that economics is difficult, I organized an economics study group and worked hard to help my friends understand economic logic. In particular, by planning events such as economic debate competitions and quiz contests within the club, I was able to demonstrate the results of my own economic studies. I now feel that, moving beyond high school to university, I want to pursue even more in-depth studies. Specifically, I wish to delve deeper into not only the South Korean economy but also the logic of the global economy, which is why I applied to the Department of International Trade, Finance, and Investment. I do not intend to pursue my university studies merely to secure a job; rather, I wish to engage in deep academic study while acquiring a humanities-based foundation and practical education in the fields of international trade, finance, and investment. I hope to contribute to your university and society through my academic achievements, and I will do my utmost to develop the capabilities to excel not only in South Korea but also on the global stage, wherever I may be.
