In this blog post, I will outline my motivation for pursuing in-depth studies of Japanese culture and diplomacy, my specific research plan, my goals after completing my master’s degree, and a brief self-introduction.
Motivation for Pursuing This Program
When I was a sophomore at ○○ High School, I participated in a cultural exchange program that invited foreign students from a school with which my alma mater had formed a sister-school relationship. I made precious memories experiencing various aspects of Korean culture alongside students from all over the world. Among them, the time I spent with friends from a Japanese school stands out the most.
In fact, when I visited Japan for a soccer match with friends from our sister city, I had developed negative feelings toward Japan due to anti-Korean remarks made by a Japanese student; however, through the sister school program, I was able to heal those personal feelings toward Japan. That is why I came to realize that rather than simply having a vague understanding of Japan and making friends there, I wanted to study the country’s culture, customs, and even its values.
Therefore, I applied to your university to pursue a deeper study of Japanese history and diplomacy. In the new environment of university, I wish to engage in in-depth study dedicated solely to my dreams. I aspire to become a young person who interacts with others in a different setting and among new friends, dreaming of a broader world.
Areas of Interest and Research Plan
I will study from multiple perspectives to address “cultural friction,” which is a root cause of various “frictions” within the international community. Although I have always enjoyed the Japanese language, due to my family’s financial circumstances, I have only been able to experience Japan through books; I now wish to study abroad to see and feel Japan firsthand.
By participating in your university’s exchange program, I aim to gain a deep, heartfelt understanding of Japanese culture and build practical proficiency in the Japanese language I have studied so far through daily life. Of course, without scholarship support, this might be difficult due to the financial burden of tuition and living expenses in Japan; however, I will do my utmost to maintain my academic performance and improve my language skills to qualify for a scholarship.
Not content with this, I will study the languages of other East Asian countries—that is, a second foreign language—to understand their cultures and acquire the foundational skills necessary to become an international scholar. Although I will major in Japanese at your university, I plan to become a scholar specializing in East Asian culture in the long term, so I will not neglect my studies in Chinese and English.
Plans After the Master’s Program
My dream is to major in Japanese, a field I have long been interested in, and to become a scholar who researches Northeast Asian culture based on this foundation. I sense that the cultural landscape is changing significantly not only due to the movement of capital and technology, but also through the movement of people and ideas, as well as the flow of images via media. An order is emerging not based on the distinction between “international” and “national,” but rather on global capital and the people of Asia; within the flows between global, regional, and local, Asia is being shaped as a new intermediate “region.”
Therefore, starting with research on Asian ecological culture, I wish to develop operational programs for the creative utilization of Asian cultural resources. I aspire to play a role in discovering, researching, and collecting cultural resources that can communicate with the world by viewing the Asian region from a global perspective.
Based on the knowledge gained through this research process, I will become a Korean leader who contributes to understanding modern Korean society and promoting its future development. To achieve this dream, I will do my very best, going beyond the efforts I have made so far.
Self-Introduction
I possess a proactive personality; rather than reacting passively to tasks assigned to me, I always take the initiative to lead and drive projects forward. Additionally, through overseas travel since my youth, I have made many international friends, and I continue to maintain a broad network of relationships by sharing information and knowledge with them.
With my lively and cheerful personality, I am also quite ambitious when it comes to work. Although my friends sometimes tease me for being too ambitious, I believe that always doing my best to achieve something is a very important attitude toward life.
