Theme: Breaking Barriers

We are a team of dedicated coaches, committees, and youth leaders who provide ongoing, structured support in the areas of production, media, design, organization, and curation; whose energies and enthusiasm infuse this program with the courage, consciousness, and competency that are necessary to inspire tangible, enduring local and global change. This year, we have successfully organized our 9th community-based event, “Breaking Barriers”.

Korea International School Jeju
8 Global Edu-ro 260beon-gil, Daejeong-eup
Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea 63644
Jeju, Jejudo, 63644
South Korea

Chaeri (Iris) Kang

Student

Chaeri (Iris) is a junior at Korea International School Jeju. Moving to Jeju five years ago, Chaeri discovered the island's grand yet overlooked tragedy—Jeju 4.3—and began exploring the human intricacies within the lives of the Jeju people. Interviews and archival collections allowed her to engage more personally with the lingering pains of the community, yet the relatively low awareness of Jeju 4.3 raised a question that she has been grappling with: What place does this enduring silence and lack of action hold in the identity of the Jeju people? In her TEDx talk, Chaeri explores the unique reconciliation process of Jeju 4.3 and reflects on what it can teach us about memory, justice, and healing in our own communities and lives. With deep gratitude for those who have worked tirelessly to uncover the truth, she hopes her perspective will help bring Jeju 4.3 into global consciousness as a vital chapter of collective human history.

Derong Zhao

Student

Derong Zhao is a talented musician, athlete, and student at Korea International School Jeju. Derong is motivated through seeing those afraid of raising their voices in front of a group of audience. His aspiration lies great within his heart, having the desire to encourage those to overcome their fears of speaking up in front of others. Through his talk, Derong describes his personal experience with stuttering, and how he eventually overcame this speech impediment. While not all people experienced speech disorders within their lives, hypercompetition could be one alluring factor that might attract partial audience as the trend of such phenomena is not only prevalent in Asia but also beyond.

Hyunbin (Elin) Lim

Student

Hyunbin (Elin) Lim is a freshman at Korea International School Jeju (KISJ). She pursues her interest in sociology, focusing on themes such as leadership, personal growth, and social equality. Hyunbin actively engages in various leadership roles, seeking to enhance communication and foster an understanding of the world's diversity. In her TEDx talk, she discusses the often-overlooked perspectives of individuals with disabilities. Drawing from her personal experiences, Hyunbin addresses the facilities available to people with disabilities and explores their societal treatment.

Ian Yang

Student

Growing up in a world of perfect celebrities and unrealistic beauty standards, Ian Yang believed that “pretty” was the highest compliment we could receive—until seeing for herself how destructive the obsession with beauty can be. In this Talk, she draws from cultural insights and lived experience as a teenager in South Korea to unpack three widespread myths about beauty. By questioning the daily comments we give and receive, Ian invites us to rethink how we assign value, striving for an inclusive yet diverse society.

Lahye (Yelena) Yun

Student

Lahye Yun is a student at Korea International School Jeju who has spent most of her life navigating between multiple cultures, languages, and identities. Her experience living “in-between” different worlds sparked a deep connection with refugees and a personal understanding of what displacement truly feels like. In her TEDx talk, she shares how this sense of cultural in-betweenness led her to work closely with refugees in Korea, challenging harmful misconceptions and advocating for empathy-based integration. Lahye hopes to inspire others to see refugees not as issues to be solved, but as individuals with dreams, dignity, and a reflection of ourselves. In a world where displacement is becoming increasingly common, her talk calls for a redefinition of belonging and a more human-centered approach to the refugee crisis.