Week 5: Visiting the UN Human Rights Office

Week 5 included one of the experiences I had been most excited about: a visit to the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul, where we learnt about the work of the DPRK Accountability Team.

The presentation gave us insight into how the UN approaches accountability for human rights violations in North Korea, from documenting and reporting evidence to exploring different avenues for judicial accountability. We also learnt more about the different UN mechanisms involved and the importance of consulting victims when considering what accountability should look like.

I found the discussion around victim consultations particularly interesting. It is easy for words like ‘accountability’ to become quite abstract when talking about international institutions, reports and legal processes. Hearing about the effort to include victims themselves in these conversations was a reminder that the people affected should remain central to decisions about how their experiences are documented and addressed.

The visit also helped me understand PSCORE's work within a much wider context. Most of my day-to-day work involves researching, writing and raising awareness through social media, so it was interesting to learn more about what happens beyond that and how organisations like PSCORE interact with larger institutions such as the UN.

It also brought me back to something I reflected on after my first few weeks: the importance of being careful about how information is gathered, interpreted and presented. Hearing how the UN approaches documentation and reporting gave me another perspective on something I had already been thinking about through my own research at PSCORE.

Week 6: Growing into My Role

Week 6 was quieter in terms of events, but my role within the social media team continued to develop. After taking on some of our former team leader's responsibilities in Week 4, I have gradually moved into a more senior role within the team.

As new interns have joined PSCORE, I have started giving training sessions to introduce them to our work and help them understand how we research, prepare and schedule content. I have also taken more of a lead in meetings with our supervisor, speaking on behalf of the team about what we have been working on, raising any issues and discussing our plans for upcoming posts.

It has been interesting to find myself on the other side of the experience I had only a few weeks prior. When I first arrived, I was the new intern asking questions and learning how everything worked; now, I am often the person answering those questions. It has made me think more carefully about how I explain things and how I can help new interns become confident in their own roles.

As I have become more settled, I have also started paying more attention to what is happening beyond the social media team and where I might be able to help. This has made me think about Ben's question in my last reflection about the kind of team member and leader I want to be. I don't think there is one person's leadership style I would simply want to copy. Instead, I have found myself admiring different qualities in different people, particularly the kindness and resourcefulness of 성준, our education team leader, and the responsibility and efficiency of Nadia, our research team leader. Working alongside them has made me more conscious of these qualities and how I can incorporate them into the way I approach my own work and responsibilities.

Week 7: Exploring Jeju

Week 7 looked rather different because I took the week off and travelled to Jeju with friends I made at PSCORE.

Having spent most of my time in and around Seoul, it was really interesting to experience a completely different side of South Korea. Jeju has its own distinct history and identity, and going from the density and pace of Seoul to beaches, volcanic landscapes and much quieter towns made me appreciate just how varied the country is. It was also nice to have the opportunity to explore Korea outside of both work and the capital, especially with friends I had met through the internship.

After six busy weeks, the trip was a very welcome break and gave me a chance to recharge before returning to Seoul for my final two weeks at PSCORE.

Looking Ahead

With only a couple of weeks left at PSCORE, I think I am starting to understand my place within the organisation differently. At the beginning, I was mainly concerned with adapting and doing my own work well. Then I became more comfortable taking responsibility within my team. Now, I am trying to pay more attention to the organisation as a whole and where I can be useful beyond my immediate role.

I don't think becoming a better team member has meant doing dramatically different things. If anything, it has involved becoming calmer under stress, more observant and more willing to step in when I can help. That is something I hope to continue developing during my final weeks.

Food of the Blog: Jeju Black Pork BBQ

I seem to have 'accidentally' turned food recommendations into a recurring part of these reflections, so I may as well make it official. This blog's winner is Jeju black pork BBQ. Even though I am not a fan of pork typically, I tried it while I was on the island and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I am beginning to realise that returning to university may involve as much adjustment to the food as returning to the weather.