On Duty in Manila

Cultural Intern in the Philippines: Master of Arts Studies

My name is Yejin Jang, and I’m a Master's student in Arts Studies at Korea National University of Arts. I’m currently a Cultural Intern at the King Sejong Institute at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines, where I mainly teach local students to play the Haegeum (*the traditional Korean two-stringed bowed instrument) and introduce them to Korean traditional music and culture.

To make the Haegeum easier to learn, I prepare customized sheet music with color-coded notes and finger placement guides. My students and I play a wide variety of songs together, from familiar tunes like “Airplane,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and “Jingle Bells” to Korean and Filipino favorites like “Arirang” and “Bahay Kubo.” We even play “Soda Pop” from the K-Pop: Demon Hunters soundtrack. It’s been wonderful to bring our two cultures together through music.

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is watching my students grow. Some travel for hours just to attend class, and seeing them gradually master songs that once seemed difficult is incredibly fulfilling. Their dedication inspires me to become a better teacher.

Sharing Korean culture has also taken me beyond the classroom and onto the stage. At Quiz Korea: 101, an event celebrating Hangeul Day, I performed “Yeominrak,” a piece of Korean court music from the reign of King Sejong, on the Haegeum. Because King Sejong is best known for creating Hangeul, performing music from his era made the occasion especially meaningful.

Teaching and performing have given me different opportunities to share Korean culture, and both have been equally rewarding. This internship has shown me that cultural exchange is more than one country presenting its culture to another. It means experiencing each other’s cultures, sharing meaningful moments, and learning from one another. For the rest of my time in the Philippines, I will keep listening to my students and learning from their rich cultures and experiences.