34th SNU Model United Nations performance “ALL IN”
On November 15, the curtains opened for 2021 SNU Model United Nations (SNU MUN). As an academic theater club, SNU MUN annually performs a play that addresses urgent international issues and possible solutions. This year, the focus of the play “ALL IN” was cryptocurrency. With its anonymity and decentralization, cryptocurrency can contribute to other global problems such as terrorism and money laundering. Moreover, the threatening nature of cryptocurrency expanded with the establishment of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), which triggered a new currency hegemony competition between the USA and China. Although the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental body dealing with money laundering and terrorism financing, already recommends regulations on cryptocurrency, the lack of compliance from nations in implementing these regualtions has allowed cryptocurrency to become a potential threat to the international community. This year’s SNU MUN play dealt with the necessity of revising FATF recommendations and devising methods for inducing compliance to it among nations.
SNU MUN members planning and practicing for the play
Preparing for the play was not easy. Not only did the social distancing measures make rehearsing together more challenging, but there were also increased strains on the club’s budget. Costs rose as the number of practice rooms required increased and, unlike previous performances held before COVID-19, the play was staged in an off-campus performance hall as the standards for renting the campus auditorium became more stringent. There was also an imbalance in human resources, for though the number of members organizing the play was unprecedentedly small at ten people, the number of performers was the largest yet at 25. “The difference in numbers unfortunately increased the workload for the organizers, which was tiresome at times,” said Hyein Ra, a member of the organizing team. “Still, preparing the play was a worthwhile experience and the fun I had during the process outweighed the fatigue.”
Ra further commented that the club’s senior members helped them overcome their difficulties by helping to raise funds and sharing their experiences on how they overcame the COVID-19 barriers last year.
34th SNU MUN club members after their performance “ALL IN”
Prevailing against these challenges, SNU MUN’s play “ALL IN” was an unforgettable performance, for both audience and participants. “With a touch of comedy, thrill, current issues, and trending memes, it was absolutely electrifying. I would like to congratulate every single person involved in it,” said Andrua Haque, a senior member who had previously been involved in the club. “This was my first time watching the play rather than performing and I was just extremely proud of them the whole time, because I know exactly what it takes to be there and perform a successful play.” He further commented that although this year’s topic itself was more complicated than that of previous years, the members still did an excellent job of conveying the messages to the audience.
Indeed, the play’s educational message was made possible by the dedication with which the participants approached preparing for the play. The organizing team members conducted thorough research in order to materialize the theme of the play, gradually becoming informed of the broader implications of cryptocurrency, and the potential threats that it poses to the international community.
But all the participants agreed that the most memorable takeaways from the experience were non-academic, from learning leadership and teambuilding skills to the powerful bonds of camaraderie that developed among the club members. “Even at the beginning, when most of the club’s activities were conducted online, we were able to get close to each other through holding activities like Monito (Model United Nations Secret Santa),” said Seohyun Yoon, a member of the organizing team. “I enjoyed all the daily rehearsals, where we spent from morning to evening practicing together.”
Written by Yeryoung Lee, SNU English Editor, yeryounglee@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr