This guide manual is an evolving document for The May 18 Memorial Foundation’s international interns on human rights. It is evolving since change is constant and development is inevitable in any organization and undertaking. This guide manual aims to serve as a source of information, guide and companion for interns.
This year, The May 18 Memorial Foundation had re-engineered its present structure. It has reorganized into 5 teams, namely: General Affairs, Educational Programme, Events and PR, Research and Documentation and International Cooperation. The foundation is coming up with new systems and policies to address its growing workforce.
International Internship Programme was introduced only in 2005, it is relatively new. Lessons from the previous experience were noted and effort was made to capture them into this Guide Manual.
1. Introduction to the May 18 Memorial Foundation
The May 18 Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization established on August 30, 1994. It was organized by surviving victims of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, the victims' families, and the citizens of Gwangju. The Foundation aims to commemorate and continue the spirit of struggle and solidarity of the May 18 Uprising, contribute to the peaceful reunification of Korea, and work towards peace and human rights throughout the world. Since its establishment, the Foundation has carried out numerous projects in varying fields, including organizing memorial events, establishing scholarships, fostering research, disseminating public information, publishing relevant materials, dispensing charity and welfare benefits, building international solidarity, and awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
The Foundation gets funding from Gwangju citizens, sympathetic overseas Koreans, and from individuals who made sacrifice in the uprising and got indemnification from the government. It is being sustained by people who believe it's important to keep the ideas and memories of the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising alive and remembered.
2. The International Internship Programme
The International Internship Programme will strive to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights throughout Asia by recruiting four interns from all over the world, who have been working for human rights and peace organizations in their own countries, and by giving them a chance to learn about and experience the history and process of the development of human rights and democracy in South Korea. Specifically the purpose and aim of the program are the following:
a. To improve International Solidarity
b. To promote Gwangju as Asia’s Hub for Human Rights Movement
3. Activities of the International Internship Programme 2006
The International Internship Program will introduce the interns to Korean history in general and in particular to the movements and struggle for democracy, including the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Both theoretical learning and practical experiences such as lectures, seminars, discussions, interviews and fieldtrips to the sites of democratization movements in Korea will be utilized.
The International Internship Programme will also require its interns to submit reports concerning the human rights situation in their home countries, as well as on the interns own experiences and work. These reports will be included in the "Reports on Human Rights of the Year" as a part of the rapidly expanding database for use by various human rights organizations inside and outside the Republic of Korea.
The interns will be assigned to the International Cooperation Team. They are expected to work as regular staff attending to day-to-day office business. The interns will help the preparatory work and implementation of different events; make presentations to schools when invited; and perform other tasks the Department will assign them to undertake.
Each intern will be asked to select a research topic, conduct the relevant research, and deliver a presentation at the end of their internship program.
4. Official Duties and Responsibilities
- a) Interns are the representative of the organization. It is expected that interns will abide by the rules and policy of the organization.
- b) Weekly Report and Meeting. Interns are required to submit their a weekly report of accomplishment and plan to be shared at the regular staff meeting held every Monday. (This may change since the number of staff had expanded). Refer to Appendix A.
- c) Business Plan and Report. Interns who go on an official business should fill-out the business plan form. The business report form should be accomplished after the official business had been conducted. Refer to Appendix B.
- d) Officers and Staff. It is a common practice for new staff to be introduced to the rest of the officers and staff. The foundation will provide interns with a business card they should have it exchanged with other staff when they are introduced.
- e) Work at 518. Although interns will not be using time card they are required to report to the office from 9:00 AM – 6PM, Monday to Friday (unless there would be schedules that falls on a weekend). The foundation does not employ janitors so staff must report 10 minutes earlier to help other staff prepare or clean the office. Lunch break will be 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM.
- f) Invitation to give talk. Interns will get invitation to give talk or presentation about their country's history, culture, tradition, as well as issue on human rights, peace and democracy by schools and other groups or institutions.
- g)Allowance. The Foundation will support each interns with an allowance of 600,000 won (approximately US$ 600) per month.
- h)Termination of Internship. The Foundation has the prerogative to terminate an intern with due process. An erring intern who does not comply with this guide manual and the terms and policies set forth by the Foundation and its officials; commit insubordination will be terminated from the internship program accordingly.
5. Pre departure
- a)Before you leave be sure that you have prepared yourself psychologically, spiritually, emotionally, and all other needed preparations for your stay here in Korea.
- b)Learn some basic Korean words that will be handy when you talk or ask people about things. Politeness should always observe.
- c)Passport and Visa. Make sure that your passport is valid for at least 2 years. The foundation will help facilitate for you to get a 10-month Korean visa. The May 18 Memorial Foundation will contact the Korean consulates or embassies near the intern’s residence area in his/her home country. When applying for visa, attach the official document of invitation from the Foundation in your application form. Your have to pay for the processing of your own visa.
- d)Air ticket. The May 18 Memorial Foundation will cover the costs of economy class round trip air ticket of interns (except those from the west).
- e)Try to secure winter or warm clothes if it is cheaper to purchase in your country. Remember that Seoul (or Korea for that matter) is the 5th costliest city to live. There will be some hand me down clothes from the interns and the foundation for you.
- f)Departure Checklist :
- - Passport and Korean Visa
- - Air-ticket
- - Travel and Health Insurance
- - A certain amount of cash in either South Korean won or US dollars for your travel to Gwangju
- - Clothing appropriate to the four seasons and a business suit.
- - Reports on activities of the interns' organization (A4. 3~5 pages)
- - Reports on your country's human rights conditions and your involvements
6. Arrival in Korea
a) Incheon International Airport -Passport and Immigration Control. To receive official permission to enter the Republic of Korea you will need the following documents: (Do not forget to carry all these documents in your hand luggage!)
- - Your valid international passport, containing your visa (if applicable)
- - Your Gwangju International Internship Programme invitation letter
- - Evidence that you intend to leave the Republic of Korea at the end of the program (normally your round air-ticket will suffice)
If you did not obtain your visa before your departure from your home country, the immigration officer at the airport may refuse your entry.
b) Customs. After passing through immigration, you will collect your luggage from the Baggage Claim area and proceed to the Customs area. If you have goods to declare, fill out a Customs Declaration form; if you have no goods to declare, you must still go through Customs and notify the Customs officer that you have nothing to declare.
c) Money Exchange. If you don’t have Korean won have your money changed in any of the money
exchange counter at the airport. Be sure to have at least 50,000.00 won exchanged to pay for your bus ticket and meal on the way. Have some coins as well to make a call to us before leaving the airport.
d) Make a call. Before you leave Incheon International Airport for Gwangju, please telephone and inform the May 18 Memorial Foundation of your arrival time and destination in Gwangju. Refer to above contact numbers. Volunteers from the Foundation will be on hand to welcome you at the bus station and escort you to your accommodations.
7) Journey to Gwangju
Different modes of transportation are available from Incheon International Airport to Gwangju, in Jeollanam-do Province. The express bus from Incheon International Airport to Gwangju Bus Terminal is highly recommended for your convenience. Please be advised there is another city in Korea also named Gwangju. Make sure you are going to the one in Jeollanam-do Province.
Bus Trip. Buses run directly from the Incheon International airport to the city of Gwangju. In the case that you take a bus to Gwangju from Incheon International Airport, you will need to have on hand approximately 35,000 Korean won (about US$35). The bus trip to Gwangju takes approximately four-and-a-half hours.
* For more detailed information on the arrival procedure, please refer to Incheon International Airport website:
http://www.airport.or.kr/eng/airport/
You can get information on buses to Gwangju and purchase the bus ticket at the Transportation Information Counter on the arrival floor of the airport passenger terminal. After buying your ticket, proceed to Bus Stop No.8A for the bus to Gwangju. The map of the arrival floor of Incheon International Airport and the bus schedule from Incheon Airport to Gwangju Bus Terminal are below:
Domestic Flight. If you would like to fly to Gwangju, you must go to the nearby domestic airport Gimpo Airport. You can buy a bus ticket to the domestic airport at the Transportation Information Counter. It takes about 40 minutes to get to Gimpo Airport from Incheon International Airport by bus. The schedule for the bus to Gimpo Airport from Incheon International Airport is as follows:
8. Life in Gwangju
a) Dining, drinking, and singing culture. Koreans love to eat. The cityscape is peppered with restaurants, convenience stores, street vendors, etc. They normally drink alcohol when they eat their meals. After meals don’t be surprised to be invited to another bar or norae bang (Singing Room) for another round of drinking or singing and drinking.
b) Korean Class. Learning Korean language will be an advantage in your stay in Korea since English is not widely spoken. The foundation will provide a Korean teacher. The interns will be asked to share a minimum amount so as to encourage them to learn the language. The rest of the fees will be on the account of the Foundation.
Holidays. Korea celebrates different holidays like the Chuseok and Seollal. Some staff would invite interns to celebrate with them these events. Also, the office conducts its summer outing and other get together.
c) Accommodation Facilities. Two (2) female and two (2) male interns will separately share a single large room equipped with simple furnishings. The flat has a kitchen and a shower and toilet. The Korean electrical supply works on 220 volts, so if you bring any electrical equipment make sure it functions on this voltage range, or else bring a transformer.
Fees for flat rent, water, electricity and monthly telephone (cable TV/internet) subscription will be charged to the account of the foundation. Long distance or overseas calls will be charged to the account of interns. Use of phone card is advisable.
9. Weekend Activities
Gwangju, a bustling city of 1.4 million inhabitants, nestled at the foot of Mudeung Mountain (1,187m), boasts a number of interesting local attractions. Mudeung Mountain, which is usually snow-covered in winter, can be easily reached by public bus. It has hiking paths, cozy restaurants, and small temples dotting its slopes.
Near the city is a cultural park, home to the Gwangju National Museum with priceless historical and archaeological relics and the Gwangju City Folk Museum, which is the third largest city museum in Korea and is an excellent window into various aspects of Korean culture such as traditional Korean cuisine, time-honored Korean customs, folk games, and shamanistic rituals.
For those interested in art, the Gwangju Culture and Art Center, the Gwangju City Art Gallery and the inner-city's "Art Street" can be visited. On Saturday mornings, a small antique market is held in the "Art Street" area.
With short bus trips, the Korean coast, several nearby islands and number of other cities can be reached in day trips from Gwangju. Korea has a very efficient and cost-effective bus transport system and the Gwangju Bus Terminal is a regional hub for the southwestern part of the country.
10. General Information
a) Weather
Korea has four distinct seasons and it is normally very cold and snowy in winter, from December to February. It is advised that interns bring warm clothing for their stay in Korea, as well as hiking shoes for field trips. During summer it is both warm and wet, there will be occasional rain showers.
b) Internet and Communication Facilities
Out of the work, one can easily find internet cafes, called "PC Bangs" in the streets of Gwangju City. Charges for computer use range from 500 to 1,000 won (0.45 ~ 0.90 US dollar) per hour. Use of telephone card is advisable both for home and public phone calls for overseas calls.
c) Using Public Transportation
Public buses run frequently in major routes of the city. Fare usually starts at 900 won that is paid upon entry at the front door of the bus. Use only exact amount since driver will not have change for bills over 1,000 won. The base taxi fare is 1,500 won.
d) Social Communities
The GIC. GIC was established by the Gwangju City Government and Gwangju Citizens Solidarity in 1999 as a model of governmental and NGO collaboration. Its mission is to provide foreigners with information and services, promoting an international exchange in the fields of culture and economy and fostering international awareness among Korean youth through active involvement in helping the international community of Gwangju and Jeolla-namdo. GIC’s services include public talks, Korean language and calligraphy classes, offers guided tours and publishes a monthly magazine among others. There are church groups, government officials and student English groups or clubs, etc.
e) Recreation and other Facilities
518 Memorial Park. The park is hilly with plenty of trees and ground to do picnic. It is an ideal place to stroll and jog. There’s a Pagoda on top of it that is a good place to view the cityscape. Located within the 518 Memorial Park is the Student Center with facilities such as restaurant, study area, swimming pool, basketball court, table tennis, badminton, ballroom dancing, etc. The center also offers lessons and courses on arts and sports.
Restaurants. Eating places could be found everywhere in Gwnagju City, be sure to speak in Korean if you want to order food otherwise dine with someone who could speak the language.
Cinemas. Movie houses could be found in Sangmudong area and downtown.
Saunas. Saunas have become a theme park for Korean families. After a good/nice bath families or couples would join together in common areas where different Sauna facilities and amenities could be enjoyed such as restaurant/snack bars, singing rooms, video rooms, PC rooms, sauna hot-cold rooms, etc.
Tourist Information Center. Refer to information kiosks widely available in strategic locations to get maps and information about parks, museums and other significant landmarks both in Gwangju City and other parts of Korea.
11. Miscellaneous Information : What was it like to be an intern
Frankly, before I came here, I almost knew nothing about Korea, especially on Gwangju Uprising. All I knew about Korea is that it has a strong labour movement, as it was frequently published in the media in my country, Indonesia.
Being an intern here in the May 18 Memorial Foundation gave me a lot of opportunities of learning about the democratization process in Korea. Since I worked for a victim-based organisation, what attracted my attention the most is the victim's movements here in Korea as it will be an important lesson to be shared with Indonesian victim's community.
Through this internship I was also able to interact with some people or groups working on some other issues beside those 'victims things', such as: labour, urban poor, housing rights, women, migrant worker, environment, lawyer, academe, youth, etc. They were not necessarily Korean people, but members of the international community as well, especially Asian. Those interactions had equipped me with such fruitful knowledge and network.
Besides the learning from my Korean experiences, I also had an opportunity to share Indonesia’s current issues. Like once, with the support from my co-interns and the staff of the foundation, we conducted a signature campaign to commemorate the 1st death anniversary of Munir, an Indonesian human rights activist who was murdered on September 8, 2004. We were able to gather about 800 signatures from the citizens of Gwangju City. The collected signatures were sent to Indonesia as a show of solidarity of Korean people for the Munir case.
Living here for some period of time has also led me to experience Korea’s cultural traditions that are new and sometimes quite strange for me. The language, the food, song, values, manners or attitude, work ethics, etc. were all invaluable parts of my total experience of Korea! Mixture of fun, happiness, sadness, excitement, disappointment, anger, and all of other kinds of feelings and emotions have collided inside of me. But I think it's just common and natural. Above all, this internship has a special meaning for me personally :).
One thing that has impressed me is that the people here have a quite high respect for the sacrifices of the people in the past. I think this custom has influenced the process of reaffirming justice especially in case of dealing with the past human rights violation. And it has strengthened Korea as a nation.
Agnes Gurning (IKOHI, Indonesia)
I had a hard time for the first three months of my internship. Coming from an NGO culture, I found the culture of the foundation quite strange. Since we were pioneers we spent sometime trying to figure things out. For most pioneers a new endeavor is like trial and error. So I suggests in order to make the gap of expectations smaller of both interns and the Foundation the aim and the out put of the programme activities should be made clear for all concerned.
Also, at first, most of my expectations of the internship did not match with the real programme of the internship. The tasks I helped implemented such as Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School, Gwangju Forum for Asian Human Rights, Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award 2006; and the different activities such as NGO visits and attending seminars or symposium made the internship more meaningful. Also, I became a speaker in Gwangju Human Rights Film Festival and responsible for inviting Indonesia’s famous rock band called Slank Band for the "Echo of Asia", a peace concert. The most important achievement I got from this programme that enhanced my personal achievements as well was the campaign on Indonesia and Aceh's human rights abuses specifically the campaign on the Case of Munir. Since the foundation holds several events and invites participants from other countries, I believe that The May 18 Memorial Foundation is the right organization to help and support Asian countries with their campaigns.
Mustawalad (KontraS, Indonesia)
My internship was a very unique and worthwhile experience. I always believed that traveling and living in a foreign country broadens one’s horizon, so that makes me want to travel some more. Having Koreans NGO partners and friends in the Philippines made me acquainted with things Korean, in a way made it easy for me to adjust in my stay here in Gwangju City. Although, I am so envious of the success of democracy that the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising gave birth to, paving the way for an economic miracle here in Korea, that envy is fueling my zeal and enthusiasm to continue with my NGO work in the Philippines. Definitely there will be a time for us Filipinos to turn-around our current state of just a banana and labor exporter to Korea. I look forward for that time to come in my lifetime.
I particularly liked the trust I was afforded to do as an intern. Also, the unity and cooperation among us interns was great. Despite cultural and religious differences we were able to transcend them and we could say that we became more than colleagues but real friends if not brothers and sisters. I hope that I have contributed to the aim and objective of the internship program and optimistic that the little accomplishment I and my co-interns have done would be the basis for the next batch to improve on and make greater contributions for the continued success of the internship program. I wish the next batch of interns to take maximum benefit both in their professional career and personal growth in this internship program.
Pete Rahon (CO Multiversity, Philippines)
12. Contact Persons:
Should there be any problems or changes with your planned trip to Gwangju, please contact the May 18 Memorial Foundation through
Mr. Chanho Kim
Director, International Cooperation Team
Mobile: +82 10 4642 6650 (international)
010 4642 6650 (local)
E: surnadal@hanmail.net
Mr. Sang Seon Kim (Chris)
Staff charged for International Solidarity
Mobile: +82 10 8000 8052 (international)
010 8000 8052 (local)
E-mail : chriskim109@gmail.com
Address:
The May 18 Memorial Foundation
5.18 Memorial Culture Hall
Seo-Gu Sangmudong 1268
Gwangju City
Post Code 502-260
Republic of Korea
Phone: +82 62 456 0518
Fax. +82 62 456 0519
W: www.518.org
B: 518interns.blogspot.com
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