Audrey Dickinson

Thank you so much for supporting the Stanford Global Studies Internship program. I recently graduated with a degree in English and Modern Languages (French and Korean) and will continue studying English Literature through the co-terminal M.A. program. This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Unification Media Group (UMG, 국민통일방송) in Seoul, South Korea. 

Over the course of eight weeks, I joined the UMG video broadcasting team and filmed, edited, produced, and starred in a four-part video series. Following UMG’s efforts to promote unification for a peaceful future for the Korean people, I shared an American perspective on working and living in South Korea, an experience shared by many North Korean defectors. Throughout my internship, I wrote and translated scripts, conducted interviews, appeared on radio shows broadcasted across the 38th parallel, and read reports about the North Korean regime’s infringement on basic human rights, especially pertaining to freedom of information. I also got the opportunity to attend international conferences and meet with North Korean defectors, a highlight of my experience at UMG. 

Towards the end of my internship, I hiked to the peak of Uisang Ridge (의상능선 코스) at Bukhansan National Park (북한산국립공원) to look back at the city I called home for eight weeks. Seoul is a beautiful place filled with rich history, delicious food, and incredibly generous and hardworking people. However, knowing that a totalitarian regime lies just 30 kilometers to the north remained a sobering thought in the back of my mind. I’ve learned so much about North Korean history, policy, and ideology throughout my time at UMG, and will continue to advocate for freedom of information and peaceful reunification for the Korean people. I’ve met the most amazing people working in human rights and am inspired to turn my video-editing hobby into a career that works towards international peace. Thank you, again, for this life-changing opportunity.