In a congratulatory speech, Congressman Sungjoong Park said, “In a rapidly changing era in which the metaverse coexists with AI and unfolds as a reality, it is the reality that our youth are currently living in a small world in the hands of smartphones. It will be a very precious time for students to hold a contest where they can choose a topic of their choice in depth, and present their opinions in learning to think and express themselves.” 

Congressman Park continued, “English has now become a universal language. Everyone knows the importance of English, and we cannot over-emphasize its importance in the future. You are leaders who are one step ahead of everyone. If you prepare in English, think in English, express yourself in English, and write in English, I am sure that you will become not only a leader in Korea, but also a leader in the world befitting the global era. For all of you who will lead Korea's capabilities and bright future, I will always be interested in the field of youth education in the National Assembly," he said.

In a video congratulatory speech, Congressman Kim Hoijae of the Democratic Party of Korea said, “We are moving beyond the era of the 4th industrial revolution and entering the era of metasapiens. In particular, our youth can easily and quickly deliver information with one click in the overflowing feast of cutting-edge technology. They are living a life that is accustomed to immediate and stimulating reactions.”

Congressman Kim continued, “However, it is true that our youth, who are exposed to numerous media, are increasingly lacking the opportunity and effort to think deeply about and discuss a certain topic and express their thoughts. In that sense, today's contest is expected to be a valuable time for our youth who will lead the future as a place to in-depth research on topics of interest and to present opinions. The National Assembly will pay a lot of attention to the next generation and carry out legislative activities.”

In this English Academic Contest, nine students were selected to present. △ Yanghyun High School student Hyun-woo Kim (Thesis topic: Comparison of the Relationship between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals – Focusing on the book, 『Sapiens』) △SDC student Hyerim Oh (Academic Topic: A study of Prisoner’s Dilemma and Game Theories) △SDC student Yeongin Ko (Academic Topic: A study on the Solution to the Tragedy of the Common Land) △SDC student Yewon Park (Academic Topic: A Study of “The Great Gatsby’ and Pariah Capitalism) △Sung Oh Oh, Graduate School of Cornell University (Academic Topic: Impact of High-sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Implementation on Emergency Department Length of Stay, Testing, and Admissions) △Ministry of National Defense Hyeseong Oh (Academic Topic: A Study on the Behavioral Economics) △Michael O’Connor student at Grinnell University (Academic Topic: Report on Immigration between Spain and Morocco) △Sungju Oh, Purdue University student (Academic Topic: Electronic Cigarette and its various Effects on body) △SDC Lauren Yehwa Seo (Academic Topic: A Study on Legal Protection of Korean Adoptee to the U.S. and Sponsorship Campaign in Korea)

An official from the World Youth Culture Promotion Association said, “At this year’s English academic presentation contest, Lauren Yehwa Seo, a student at SDC International School, won the grand prize awarded by Congressman Sungjoong Park. Sung-oh Oh, graduate student at Cornell University, received the Excellence Award from Congressman Kim Hoijae. The Excellence Award presented by Congressman Cheol-gyu Lee was given to Young-in Koh. Ye-won Park received the Excellence Award presented by Congressman Jun-ho Cheon. Hye-seong Oh was awarded the Excellence Award presented by Congressman Yong-jin Park. Hye-rim Oh received the Excellence Award presented by Congressman Sam-seok Seo were awarded. The World Youth Culture Promotion Association Chairman’s Award was awarded to Seong-ju Oh, Purdue University student. Michael O’Connor, Grinell University student, and Hyun-woo Yang, student from Yang Hyun-goo, received the New Laws of Student Representative Award.”

Lauren Yehwa Seo, who received the first prize presented about ‘A Study on Legal Protection of Korean Adoptee to the U.S. and Sponsorship Campaign in Korea’.

Lauren Yehwa Seo said, “I wanted to know the story of adoptees who were turned away from both the United States and Korea after learning that they were Korean adoptees who have not yet obtained US citizenship even after the Child Citizenship Act was enacted. While working on this academic presentation, I learned not only superficial knowledge about overseas adoptees, but also how difficult the legal situation they were in.”

She continued by saying, “This research traces the cases of adoptees who were adopted from Korea to the United States, and what happened to the adoptees after they failed to go through the citizenship application process after they were adopted. There are organizations such as the World Hug Foundation are helping them in the United States and I also started a campaign this year to provide more specific help in Korea. It was to raise the interest of many people and raise awareness about this issue to adoptees who are drowning from this issue.”

Continuing, "With the enactment of the Child Citizenship Act, if at least one of the adoptive parents is an American to adoptees under the age of 18 as of the enactment date, the adopted child automatically acquires US citizenship. Citing the case of Korean adoptees who have not yet acquired U.S. citizenship, as an example, I emphasized the need for another law or regulation that would allow these adoptees to acquire citizenship. I suggested a solution that benchmarks the system that automatically grants citizenship when it is completed and investigates the current situation of overseas adoptees who did not receive benefits.”

Lauren Yehwa Seo said, “Through steady efforts and publicity, more people will know about the situation of adoptees and try to provide practical solutions or help. We will continue to carry out the campaign so that measures can be taken.”

Seong Oh, who received the Excellence Award, presented the topic in English, ‘Impact of High-sensitivity Cardiac Troponin plementation on Emergency Department Length of stay, Testing, and Admissions’.

Seong Oh stated, “According to changes in emergency room policy, American hospitals are implementing high-sensitivity troponin tests. In this study, patients admitted to the emergency room were divided into those who received high-sensitivity troponin test and those who received general troponin test, and the duration of stay in the emergency room, hospitalization rate, and 7-day readmission rate were compared and analyzed. The program was utilized, and a log-transformed linear regression model and a logistic regression model were used to analyze each data result.”

Seong Oh continued, “As a result of the analysis and research, the patients who received the high-sensitivity troponin test stayed longer in the emergency room overall and showed a higher hospitalization rate. The 7-day re-hospitalization rate was also higher, but it was not statistically significant. This study revealed the effect of changes in emergency room policy, and this result can be a useful reference for future clinical diagnosis.”

Student Michael O'Connor, who received the President's Award of the World Youth Culture Promotion Association, presented the topic "Report on Immigration between Spain and Morocco" in English.

Student Michael O'Connor said, “Through the report on immigration between Spain and Morocco, we analyzed the immigration policies of the region and how it affects immigrants. Immigration affects all countries, one of the most sensitive border inflection points, the border between Spain and Morocco as the gateway from Africa to Europe. The economies of the two countries trade a lot as top exporters and importers for each other, and the economic factors of the two countries through the Strait of Gibraltar dominate a significant part.” 

Student Michael O'Connor continued, "It is essential to building and explaining their security interests. For example, both countries are monitoring terrorism, drugs and other illegal activities (96 cases). There is a lot of hostility towards immigrants from both countries, which has made life difficult for them to survive and get through within Spanish society. Morocco, on the other hand, lacks the financial support to support them while they are trying to emigrate.”

On that day, Reporter Hyungwon Kang, evaluating as a judge, said, "I can clearly see the tremendous amount effort that the students put into their English presentations while being in a Korean environment. They have gained competitiveness as a global leader by presenting in English. However, it will be a better presentation if the students who have presented a lot of advanced information and knowledge in the report concretely present their research conclusions with their own words and expressions. In the era of the 4th industrial revolution, I support you to grow into a global leader that will lead the world beyond Korea.”

Reporter Hyungwon Kang immigrated to the United States in his first year of middle school, graduated from UCLA, and worked as a photographer, editor, and senior editor for the LA Times, Associated Press, and Reuters for 33 years. He covered various incidents such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, worked as a journalist at the White House in the United States and is known as a world-class journalist who has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize twice in 1993 and 1999.

Professor Kenny Kim (Chairman of Entrepreneurship Management, Chung-Ang University Graduate School of Entrepreneurship) said, “First of all, I was surprised by the high-quality presentations of the students who were full of confidence and energy. Through this competition, I came to know that a strong verbal communication ability is seen as actually having knowledge, and I look forward to them growing into a global talent.”

Dr. Kyung-man Lee said, “I feel very rewarded in having the opportunity to help the writing of an academic studies in English. We need to create many opportunities like this in order for the next generation to grow into global leaders.”

Meanwhile, Presient Dae Cheon Seo, has made a substantial contribution as a global leader by educating out-of-school youth who have been wandering at the forefront of education for the past 28 years. He has been helping hundreds of students find the meaning of life and sending them to the United States to study. He is further credited with strengthening the ties between the Korean and American societies and contributing greatly to the promotion of friendship between the two countries. As the World Hug Foundation Asia regional representative, he played a role in the passage of the Adoptee Citizenship Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. In August, he received the "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Achievement Award" from Chuck E. Schumer, Senate Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate.