When exploring the news section of the SNU homepage, one can see pages upon pages of English-curated news and might think, “who are the writers behind this?” To put a face behind the pen, we introduce to you the SNU English Editors (SEE), a group of students from diverse backgrounds who dedicate themselves to informing an English speaking audience about the happenings of the school.
Professor Travis Smith (Dept. of Asian Languages and Civilizations) The most trusted and revered Professor Travis sits at the head of the editing table as the faculty advisor of the group. The biggest grammar stickler of them all, the professor is infamous for his keen eye and will correct us on every mistake down to the last comma. Many a time has the group tried to outsmart him only to lose to his expertise without exception. On top of being a fantastic head editor, Professor Travis is a mentor and a friend to whom we can open up to and talk about anything over a glass of wine. He reminds us that life is meant to be enjoyed and that even through the rough of it all, we will get through the obstacles. While student editors may change from year to year the professor remains as the core of the group. SEE would not exist without Professor Travis.
Current Members
Charli Yu Young Jin (Dept. of Communication)
Charli is the mother figure of our group. I still remember seeing her for the first time in my freshman year as an interviewee. As soon as I saw her warm smile and heard her gentle, thoughtful questions I immediately knew that I wanted to work with her. Charli, who was SEE’s senior editor at that time as well as an intern at Korea Times, used her expertise in journalism to help other members grow as better writers. Also, Charli is the kind of person who genuinely cares about others’ problems as if they were her own, and I would always run to her for personal support whenever I’m stuck in life. She is the best person you could ever have as a friend and a senior. Her journalistic skills and exceptional character caught the attention of Northwestern University, which is where she will be further exploring her passion for journalism this fall.
- Written by Michelle Chaehyun Kim
“SEE was one of my most meaningful experiences throughout my university career. There, I not only learned proper journalistic writing and practices but also created deep and lasting friendships that I will carry with me moving forward. Thank you to the entire team for providing such a safe space to talk about anything and being the highlight of my week for the past five years. I won’t ever forget you and I’ll miss you dearly!”
Charli Yu Young Jin
Michelle Chaehyun Kim (Dept. of Asian History)
Michelle is most definitely the voice of reason within SEE. Her level-headedness and composure keep her journalistic judgement objective and her writing smooth and collected. Of all the SEE members, Michelle has the highest level of mastery in switching between Korean and English, and one of her greatest attributes as a SEE member is her ability to keep alive cultural nuances despite the limits of translation. No matter how hectic things may get with classes, assignments, and exams, Michelle is always a beacon of support and is the sturdy rock that everybody can lean on during difficult times. Michelle is currently attending her last year of school and is SEE’s current senior editor.
“I love my SEE family! From US politics to relationship problems, I can talk about anything with them, and their insightful comments always amaze me. I feel truly blessed to have been able to work with these amazing people.”
Michelle Chaehyun Kim
Minju Kim (Dept. of Political Science & International Relations)
Minju’s grasp on current events make her cosmopolitan and with-the-times. If SEE were to send out a representative to global events, Minju would be our top choice as her eloquence and cultural sensitivity make her a natural diplomat. At SEE, her insights help the group gauge any situation in Korea within the global arena and allow us to better cater to an international audience. Minju is currently in France working as a research intern at the OECD and will be rejoining SEE upon her return.
“I loved my Tuesday evenings with SEE. It’s a “job” that feels like catching up with a bunch of friends, even as you pore over pages of translations together. It can be hard to find this kind of close knit dynamic in a school as big as SNU, and I’m grateful to have found it with such a great group of people. The work has armed me with a super useful set of editorial skills as well, many of which I’ve been using in my internship this past month.”
Minju Kim
Cheesue Kim (Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering)
Every team needs a dreamer. Ours is Cheesue, who despite majoring in engineering, is far more imaginative than any of us. His original way of thought always provides new ways of looking at stories and his wide-ranging thinking brings out the child in all of us. Cheesue makes us explore new ideas that we would never think of, and his presence at SEE has inspired the other editors to push their creative boundaries. His witty and playful nature clearly shows in his writing, which crackles with a uniqueness quite unprecedented in SEE history. Cheesue is currently a graduate student and is completing a joint MS-PhD program.
“Being productive at SEE has helped balance out the shocking amount of strange YouTube videos that I watch after midnight. Thank you SEE!”
Cheesue Kim
Former Members
Frances Sowon Jin (Dept. of Economics)
Staying true to SEE’s job description of being the SNU English Public Relations Team, Frances (otherwise known as Frannie) is the group’s PR referee and specializes in the art of persuasion and marketing. Frances has the ability to spice up any article and can fish out the singular best quote in a sea of otherwise dry transcriptions. She is also the energy booster of the group; her chirpiness and sense of humor are contagious, keeping us talking for hours on end. Frances is currently a senior at SNU.
“One second we have our game faces on - dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s - couldn’t get more professional. But when the work is done and laptops are closed, within moments, we transform into a family. That’s the very charm of SEE -- it’s a very special and irreplaceable family.”
Frances Sowon Jin
Jeeye Hong (Dept. of Communications)
Jeeye may just be SEE’s deepest thinker and philosopher, and when she’s passionate about a topic, she dives in head first. Her interest in world issues extends beyond the newsroom, and her mature perspective on society is evident in her sober, sensitive writing. Jeeye always notices things below the surface and is able to catch the unseen factors of a story. She has always stood for the greater good and keeps her eyes on the long-term goal of making the world a better place. Jeeye is currently attending her last year of university. “My approach to life has largely and naturally been idiographic, for what is of greatest interest to me is the unique experience of the individual. An emotional tone has therefore always existed in all my writings. It is through SEE — the peer-editing protocol and the writing style of journalism — however, that I was able to develop a more neutral voice in my writing. Today, I am more confident with using writing as a vehicle for carrying out objective and just academic analyses.”
Jeeye Hong
Annie Han (Dept. of English Language and Literature)
SEE’s literary genius, Annie is the most well-read and knowledgeable member of SEE. She can make references to just about anything, her mind a library of information. She also possesses the ability to express her thoughts concisely and accurately, making her articles compact and packed tightly with facts. In fact, she is famous for her dramatic, impactful, one-sentence paragraphs, which have proven to have had a lasting legacy. Annie is currently pursuing a Master’s in the Department of English Language and Literature.
“SEE gave me an opportunity to use bilingual and bicultural talent while improving my writing and translating skills (concise writing is the only writing). The meetings also involved honest discussions about culture and society as well as weekly exploration of delivery food.”
Annie Han
Hyebin Lee
The queen of metaphors, Hyebin excels in imagery, which is difficult to generate in standard news articles. Hyebin has always had a passionate, poetic way of viewing the world, and this is apparent in the way she speaks and writes. Her sense of compassion gives voice to those who might otherwise be neglected, and her warm heart gives her writing a tender touch. Hyebin’s strengths lie in her storytelling abilities and the way she can humanize and make any news piece relatable. After graduating from SNU in 2017, Hyebin has moved to New York City to pursue a career in musical theater.
“As I write this sentence, I wonder what my SEE editors would say about my use of that comma. I guess I can say the writing and editing skills I learned in that room stick with me to this day. My years at SEE can be boiled down to a few fun memories and inside jokes — the Oxford comma, American vs. British spelling, and the one question that was constantly on all of our minds, “When’s the delivery man coming?” So proud that I got to be part of this team and that it’s still going strong! Thank you!”
Hyebin Lee
Written by Yu Young Jin, SNU English Editor coin1234@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Lamar Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr