Meet "Australia Through Korean Eyes"

Dear friends all around the world,

I am thrilled to announce the launch of my upcoming project, "Australia Through Korean Eyes," made possible by the generous support of the 2023-2024 Australia-Korea Foundation. With this initiative, I aim to tackle a significant challenge hindering deeper engagement between Australia and Korea: the limited awareness of Australia among the Korean population.

As someone deeply passionate about cultural exchange and cooperation, I've always believed in the power of sharing knowledge and experiences across diverse backgrounds. We always face problems or obstacles in life, not only as a human being but also in the society we’re living in. However, there are always ways to resolve and overcome them, and learning from different countries could offer you different perspectives on them, which can draw creative solutions!

For this project, I will create interview-based content and put particular focus on three areas and discuss them through blog postings and YouTube videos:?

• 1) Australia, the Land of Opportunities: Korean immigrants’ stories such as reasons for moving to Australia covering social and cultural pressures, etc. (e.g. gender issues, work cultures, low birth rate, etc.)
• 2) Diverse Australia: How does Australia handle being one of the most diverse countries in the world, with 30% of the population born overseas?
• 3) Friendship with Australia: How closely do Korea and Australia cooperate and what future we’re making together? (e.g. business, education, social activities, etc.)

By writing and presenting my findings in Korean, I hope to add to the dialogue in Korea on these topics and increase awareness of Australia on wider topics.

I have been sharing Scandinavian cultures on my blog since 2016 when I moved to Sweden, and successfully published a book last September. This book shares my experiences overseas, especially in Sweden, and my struggles to be myself breaking traditional values in Korea.

I was grateful to hear that my subscribers and readers could broaden their views on life and issues they have been struggling with in South Korea. They told me that they have become brave enough to leave their comfort zones, explore the world, and be more independent despite severe social pressure.??

With "Australia Through Korean Eyes," I am excited to bring this vision to life again. My interest in Australia stems from various factors.

Firstly, the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Australia has been significantly important, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between our nations. Additionally, the phenomenon of Koreans moving to Australia for a better life, vividly portrayed in the novel 'Because I Hate Korea(??? ???)' by author Jang Kang Myoung, has intrigued me.

As a young Korean, I am keenly aware of the social issues facing my beloved country, including a declining birth rate, immigration challenges, and intense societal pressures. In contrast, Australia's welcoming attitude towards immigrants, successful integration of multiculturalism, and consistent ranking as one of the happiest countries in the world have inspired me to learn from its example.

As a proud recipient of the Australia-Korea Foundation Grant, I am eager to collaborate with stakeholders from both Australia and Korea to make this project a successful bridge between the two countries.

If you share my vision and are interested in future collaboration and connection, please don't hesitate to contact me. Together, let's build bridges and celebrate the richness of cultural diversity:)

Thank you for reading my article.?

Warm regards,

Dohee Kim

Australia-Korea Foundation Grant Recipient 2023-2024