Critical Language Scholarship Program | CLS Alumni Gather in Gwangju,…

CLS Alumni Gather in Gwangju, South Korea for International Alumni Seminar on Media Literacy and Democracy

The CLS Program recently hosted its inaugural alumni seminar in Gwangju, South Korea, convening 24 CLS alumni to explore the topic of media literacy and democracy. Participants all shared professional ties to the seminar topic and examined the challenges facing democracy in complex geopolitical landscapes through engagement with high-ranking officials and Korean experts in the field. In addition to learning about South Korea’s efforts to combat disinformation and promote media literacy education, seminar participants strengthened their professional networks with Korean counterparts and fellow seminar participants. 

Participants also recorded a radio broadcast for Gwangju Civil Broadcasting.

Ms. Thanh Kim, Director of Public Engagement from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, opened the seminar with an overview of U.S.-South Korea relations, emphasizing U.S. foreign policy priorities related to media literacy and democracy. The seminar also featured dynamic speakers from Chonnam National university, media experts, and representatives from organizations such as the Asia Foundation Korea and the SNU FactCheck Center. 

Participants also recorded a radio broadcast for Gwangju Civil Broadcasting, a citizen-led media outlet, and visited the Gwangju International Center, which is home to Gwangju News, the first English monthly magazine for the general public in Korea. 

Participants appreciated connecting with alumni from across 14 different CLS years and 13 CLS languages. Alumna Sidney Tolo (Arabic 2014) noted: “It has been amazing to connect with alumni across all the different languages and years, seeing what the different programs have been like, how we still have shared experiences, even though they've been such different languages in such different parts of the world. I think this has been a big reminder of what an amazing alumni network we have.” 

Participants hold their certificates of attendance following the closing ceremony of the inaugural international alumni seminar.

Alumni also noted that the seminar provided a renewed sense of the importance of individual actions in supporting a healthy democracy. Paula Zhang (Korean 2017) shared, "It can feel like you as an individual are powerless to change the course of governments, but the brave people we learned about in this seminar are proof of the impact both individual acts of courage and collective action can have on society. The success of the Gwangju Uprising in 1980 hinged on media that garnered international sympathy, a reminder that any democracy needs to have a free and healthy media environment."

Participants concluded the seminar with a renewed commitment to advancing media literacy and democratic values, and shared their resolve to apply insights and skills in their own communities and contribute to a more informed, engaged global citizenry. We look forward to seeing how alumni apply lessons learned in Gwangju to their studies and careers across diverse sectors.