Students from KYAC (Korean Youth for Advancement of Culture), a youth volunteer group under the Korean Language Education Foundation (Chairperson Gu Eun-hee), participated in a global leadership program organized by the International Volunteers Organization (IVO, Chairperson Choi Seong-yeon), a sister organization of the Foundation in Korea, and attended an international event held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. KYAC members Ye Hwi-su and Heo Tae-woong participated in the program together, providing the youth with an opportunity to communicate with the international community and grow into global leaders.
On the 26th, the students attended the ‘2026 World MSMEs Day’ international forum held at the UN Headquarters in New York, where they had a meaningful time experiencing key international agendas and interacting with participants from around the world. This program was organized by the International Interpretation and Translation Volunteer Corps following an official invitation from the International Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (KAYA).
Hosted by the International Council on Small and Medium Enterprises (ICSB), this international forum was designed to commemorate the UN-designated ‘International Small and Medium Enterprise Day’ and to discuss the sustainable growth, innovation, and future roles of SMEs. The theme of this year’s forum was ‘The Future Generation of SMEs,’ focusing on the importance of entrepreneurship and youth leadership in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation. As members of the South Korean youth representative team, the KAYAK students wore Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) to interact with participants from various countries, experiencing diverse international issues firsthand and sharing opinions with youth from around the world.
Following their participation in the international event at the UN Headquarters, they travelled to Washington D.C. to attend youth workshops at George Washington University. At the ICSB forum held at the U.S. Capitol, they listened to lectures by prominent figures and delivered group presentations on the current status and challenges of global SMEs, proposing solutions. Students Ye Hwi-su and Heo Tae-woong served as the leaders of their respective groups, demonstrating their leadership skills. KAYAK is currently recruiting new members for the fall semester. We look forward to the active participation of students in grades 7 through 12 this fall semester who are interested in promoting Korean culture and developing leadership skills.