In this blog post, I will present my answers to each question of the personal statement I wrote for my application to the Department of International Trade, Finance, and Investment at Kyung Hee University, presented as closely as possible to the original text.

Academic Experience

I have always personally enjoyed studying economics. In fact, whenever I received a set of textbooks, I would immediately pull out the economics book to read it. Perhaps because of this, I consistently achieved excellent grades, often scoring nearly 100% on economics exams. However, I do not believe that such academic success was solely the result of textbook study. I’ve had the habit of reading newspapers since I was young. When I was little, it wasn’t easy to read because of the difficult vocabulary and content, but I simply imitated my father, whom I admired for always reading the newspaper in the morning. As a result, I often knew difficult economic terms better than my peers and tended to grasp the content in economics textbooks quickly. However, I felt that the textbook content alone was actually insufficient. I wanted to understand the content in the newspapers better, and to do that, I felt I needed to study the fundamental concepts a bit more.
That’s why I started reading *Mankiw’s Economics*. Even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to study *Mankiw’s Economics*—a book known as a must-read in economics—in great detail, I decided to “read it all the way through.” Whenever I had free time or felt bored with my studies—as long as it didn’t interfere with my high school work—I would pull out *Mankiw’s Economics* and read through it. The complex economic theories were explained more simply than I expected, which was a huge help in understanding the fundamentals of economics. Once I grasped the basic principles of economics, I found the textbook material easier to understand, and I could also make sense of the difficult newspaper articles more easily. By studying economics through *Mankiw’s Economics*, I realized that studying isn’t limited to just textbook content. While preparing for school grades by focusing on textbook material is important, I came to understand that to study the fields I’m interested in and passionate about, I need to explore more in-depth, foundational approaches.

School Activities

Among my school activities, the one where I gave my absolute best and achieved the best results was the “Debate Competition.” During my sophomore year, a reading debate competition was held at our school. It was a debate competition where teams competed through preliminary and final rounds to determine the winning team. We read the novel *Demian* and debated the thesis: “The sole agent of human growth is oneself.” I teamed up with two friends, and we read the novel together. We prepared for the debate by discussing the affirmative arguments for the proposition that “the sole agent of human growth is oneself.” In particular, I believed that the most important aspect of the debate was “how effectively and diversely we could use vocabulary.” Repeating the same words and phrases diminishes persuasiveness. Therefore, my friends and I compiled and memorized commonly used words, as well as terms and phrases from *Demian*. Additionally, we prepared answers in advance for anticipated counterarguments to ensure we wouldn’t stumble during the debate. We also identified points where we could challenge our opponents’ arguments and prepared questions accordingly. After making such thorough preparations, I was able to express my opinions confidently and without nervousness at the school’s reading debate competition, and as a result, I won first place.
Starting an Economics Study Club Having consistently studied economics, I decided to start a club where like-minded friends could study economics together, read newspapers, and exchange opinions. In fact, even the teachers were skeptical, wondering if students would actually be interested in “economics” and doubting whether the club would even take off. However, I wrote a proposal outlining the expected benefits of studying economics and presented it to the teacher. By expressing my strong determination, I was able to organize the club. At the beginning of my sophomore year, I gathered my friends to recruit freshmen. We explained the benefits of the “Economics Study Club” and promoted how helpful it would be for students aiming to enter business or economics programs by organizing our own competitions and debates. Far more freshmen joined than the teacher had anticipated, and quite a few sophomores also expressed interest in joining. After gathering the students, I explained the club’s events and study plans for each semester. The club’s fundamental goal was “to gain a solid understanding of economics and lay the groundwork for becoming experts in business and economics through discussions following newspaper readings.” To faithfully fulfill these goals, I planned regular club meetings, as well as internal economic debate and quiz competitions, and diligently prepared the events according to my plans. Through my activities in the economics study club, I not only developed my own skills in studying economics and debating but also cultivated leadership by planning and managing the club.

Consideration and Cooperation

My interest in economics led me to create a study notebook where I not only summarized textbook content but also noted relevant information I found in “Mankiw’s Economics” and other economics-related books alongside the main material. There was a time when I was treated like a hero after sharing that notebook with my friends. I disliked the atmosphere where people viewed economics as difficult, believing that the subject was actually accessible if one took a genuine interest in it. That’s why I photocopied my notes and shared them with my friends. It was a gesture of pure goodwill, and my friends fully understood my intentions and expressed their gratitude. As I practiced “genuine sharing of knowledge” by distributing my economics notes, other friends began summarizing their own study materials and sharing them with others. The small act of sharing I started gradually spread and grew into a larger movement. As the person who initiated this movement where sharing became a reality, I felt incredibly proud, and I realized that genuine sharing creates a positive ripple effect that gives birth to further acts of sharing.
Does friendship grow through fighting? It grows through consideration! There’s an old saying that “friendship is forged through conflict.” However, I don’t believe that fighting is necessarily the foundation for building friendship and intimacy. I do not believe that we must fight to understand each other’s true feelings or to become closer. Rather, I believe that fighting is a side effect of failing to have conversations based on understanding and empathy. If we had engaged in deep conversations focused on understanding and empathy before fighting, the fight would never have happened in the first place. Conflicts arise from relationships built without consideration. I have never once had an argument within my circle of friends. The same goes for my friends. This is because we made an effort to show consideration for one another first, and whenever we felt hurt or thought something was wrong, we resolved it through conversation. Through this group of friends, I was able to realize the value of genuine relationships—relationships built on consideration and trust.

Reasons for Applying

From a young age, rather than telling me to study, my parents showed me by example. One example was reading the newspaper. My parents never once told me to read the newspaper or books. Instead, they showed me by reading the newspaper and books themselves, and they would discuss and talk about what they had read. I began reading newspapers and books to join in those conversations. Reading newspapers and books simply seemed enjoyable, and I followed suit because I admired how my father and mother discussed their contents. As I read, the time I spent conversing with my parents increased, and they began to lead our discussions by respecting me as an intellectual, rather than viewing me merely as a child. Through these conversations, I was able to cultivate a passion for learning on my own, and I came to realize just how valuable it is to be respected as an intellectual by my parents. Furthermore, as I spent more time with newspapers and books, I developed an interest in the economic content in the papers, and while looking for books on economics, I developed a dream of becoming an economic expert with a global reach. My parents supported the dream I had discovered on my own. They advised me not to focus on finding a job, but rather to explore the value of the studies I wanted to pursue and the kind of person I wanted to become in society. Following my parents’ advice, I decided that I should study not merely for a “job,” but to delve deeply and to my heart’s content into the subjects I was passionate about. That is why I chose the Department of International Trade, Finance, and Investment.
Studying for the love of it: Economic Logic I have studied purely out of a passion for economics. Rather than simply poring over textbooks, I have pursued my studies independently, driven by a deep interest in economics and a thirst for knowledge. Additionally, to dispel the stereotype that economics is difficult, I organized an economics study group and worked hard to help my friends understand economic logic. In particular, by planning events such as economic debate competitions and quiz contests within the club, I was able to demonstrate the results of my own economic studies. I now feel that I want to pursue even more in-depth studies as a college student, moving beyond my high school experience. In particular, I want to delve deeper into not only the South Korean economy but also global economic logic, which is why I applied to the Department of International Trade, Finance, and Investment. I do not intend to pursue my university studies merely to secure a job; rather, I wish to engage in deep academic study while acquiring a humanities-based foundation and practical education in the fields of international trade, finance, and investment. I hope to contribute to your university and society through my academic achievements, and I will do my utmost to cultivate the capabilities to excel not only in South Korea but also on the global stage.