"I was once again reminded of the value
and importance of Korean culture,
which had become so familiar to me."
Meeting with Jun Song,
a 2024 Outstanding Culture Intern of KSI

Jun Song, who served as a culture intern at KSI La Rochelle, France, taught ‘Korean Dance’ and explored new possibilities for the dissemination of Korean culture and cultural exchange. Focusing on fan dance, she led various classes, events, and performances, earning her the title of 2024 Outstanding Culture Intern of KSI. We spoke with Jun Song to hear about the lessons and growth she experienced through her culture internship.

Hello! Could you please introduce yourself first? How did you feel when you heard the news about being selected as a 2024 Outstanding Culture Intern of KSI?
 

Hello. I am Jun Song, currently studying in the Department of Dance at the School of Traditional Arts, Korea National University of Arts. From August to December 2024, I was dispatched as a culture intern to KSI La Rochelle, France, where I taught Korean dance to locals.

I am very honored and grateful to have been selected as a 2024 Outstanding Culture Intern of KSI. I feel especially proud that the cultural classes I planned and conducted at KSI La Rochelle received positive evaluations. I deeply appreciate the local staff and teachers at KSI La Rochelle for providing me with this valuable experience. I would also like to sincerely thank culture intern Park Sun-young, who was always by my side and provided great support. Additionally, to Stacey, Neïla, Elisa, Leonie, Amy, Eline, Alice, Solenn, Charline, Anaïs, Charlotte, Lucie, and Gabrielle, who always called me “teacher” despite my shortcomings, participated sincerely in the classes, and created wonderful performances—thanks to you all, I was able to create even more precious memories. I am truly grateful!
 
 

What motivated you to apply for the KSI culture intern?
 

Since childhood, I have always harbored a dream of going abroad to promote Korea’s traditional arts. By chance, I learned about the KSI culture intern program through a senior’s social media post. I checked the announcement on my university’s website and attended the program briefing held at my school. I was concerned because being selected as a culture intern at my university requires taking a leave of absence. However, considering that applications are only possible while enrolled and hearing that KSIF’s support had significantly increased compared to previous programs, I decided to apply for the 2024 KSI culture intern.
 
 

Could you tell us more about the fan dance classes you conducted at KSI La Rochelle?
 

I conducted two fan dance classes per week, each lasting two hours, over a period of 15 weeks. My goal was to enhance learners’ interest in Korean traditional culture through Korean dance classes and provide them with an opportunity to experience Korean dance, which has a different charm from K-pop. Therefore, I focused on creating enjoyable classes rather than perfecting movements.

In the first class, I briefly introduced the upcoming fan dance lessons, conducted various quizzes about Korea, and carried out a survey to prepare for the classes. During the second and third weeks, we covered the basics of Korean dance, learning and practicing arm and foot movements, as well as breathing techniques commonly used in fan dance, accompanied by various Janggu rhythms. From the fourth week, we learned a solo version of the fan dance lasting about three minutes and then proceeded to learn a group dance version for two scheduled performances. When designing the group fan dance sequence, I paid special attention to ensure that all 14 participants could follow the movements and that their positions did not overlap.

While serving as a culture intern at KSI La Rochelle, I also conducted other cultural classes besides the fan dance lessons. In the 14th week, as a special cultural class, culture intern Park Sun-young and I conducted a Korean calligraphy class. In the 15th week, we experienced traditional Korean games such as quizzes related to Korea, Yutnori, and stone-tapping games. We concluded the class by exchanging rolling papers written in Korean.
 
 

Teaching a Fan Dance During Class Special Cultural Class Where Students Decorated
Fans Using Hangeul Calligraphy

How did the learners at KSI La Rochelle respond to learning the fan dance? Notably, they performed at events such as Les Papilles du Monde and the 2024 KSI La Rochelle Completion Ceremony. I’m curious about the reactions not only from the learners who participated in the performances but also from the local audience who watched them.
 

The Les Papilles du Monde event held on November 23, 2024 was a gathering where people from various countries residing in La Rochelle operated booths to introduce their respective cultures and cuisines. Participants from countries such as the United States, China, Japan, France, and Germany shared their traditional dances, games, and foods through stage performances, fostering cultural exchange.

The learners at KSI La Rochelle were particularly enthusiastic about performing the fan dance on stage in traditional Korean hanbok during the Les Papilles du Monde event. They followed the preparations with great passion, inviting their parents, friends, and acquaintances to enjoy the performance together, which concluded successfully. The local audience’s response was also very positive. After the fan dance performance, an audience member approached us, curious about which dance crew we were from, and expressed a desire to learn the dance if given the opportunity. (chuckles)
 
 

While preparing for the fan dance classes and performances, were there any unexpected challenges?
 

The most challenging aspect of conducting the classes was synchronizing the progress between the two groups I was teaching. I had divided the classes into Fan Dance Group A and Fan Dance Group B. Since both groups had to prepare together for the performance stage, it was crucial to ensure that there wasn’t a significant difference in their progress. Each group practiced separately, and we only had about three joint rehearsals before the performance. Therefore, I managed the classes to minimize any disparities in their progress.

Additionally, individuals vary in their flexibility and ability to memorize and replicate dance sequences. I focused on identifying participants who needed more support and contemplated ways to explain the movements more clearly for easier understanding. During the classes, I noted which learners excelled at specific movements and positioned them at the forefront during those sequences in the group dance version, ensuring that each individual’s strengths were highlighted.
 
 

Jun Song (Center) with Learners
from Fan Dance Group A Practice Session of Learners from
Fan Dance Group B Learners Watching Their Practice
Videos

When did you feel the most rewarded during your time as a culture intern at KSI?
 

I felt the greatest sense of accomplishment when the learners completed their fan dance performance on stage, smiling without a single mistake after all their hard work and practice. During rehearsals, there were occasional errors, such as someone forgetting the sequence or dropping the fan mid-dance. However, seeing them come off stage smiling after a flawless performance made me incredibly proud of them.

After the fan dance performance, there was a moment when we all bowed together. The learners surprised me by presenting me with flowers in front of the audience, thanking me for teaching them the fan dance. Receiving such an unexpected and significant gift from the learners left a lasting impression on me.
 
 

As a Korean dance major, what did it mean to you to teach Korean culture at KSI La Rochelle, France? Do you think you experienced personal growth?
 

Having the opportunity to introduce and teach Korean dance to foreigners is not something everyone can easily experience, so it was an incredibly valuable and precious experience for me. It was also a chance to directly feel that more people than I had anticipated are interested in and eager to learn about Korean culture.

The four months at KSI La Rochelle, France, were meaningful as I could share my talents with a diverse group of learners. These included those who attended the class because they found dancing with fans while wearing beautiful hanbok appealing, those who came along with friends, and those curious about traditional Korean dance. Additionally, having majored in Korean dance from a young age until now, I had become accustomed to easily enjoying Korean culture. This experience allowed me to once again realize the value and importance of Korean culture, which had become so familiar.
 
 

How do you think this experience as a culture intern at KSI will influence your future career or plans? Also, do you have any advice for juniors aspiring to become culture interns at KSI?
 

Building upon this opportunity, I have developed a new goal of going abroad to teach Korean dance to local residents. I wish to share my talents in places where they are needed, based on the new knowledge gained from this experience, with those who want to learn Korean dance.

The four-month experience as a culture intern at KSI was a time that I met various people in a new environment, and I feel that I learned and felt even more. I believe I will never forget this experience. Thanks to the 14 learners at KSI La Rochelle, France, who always called me “teacher” and actively participated in the classes despite my shortcomings, and also thanks to the teachers who helped me adapt safely to the local life, I was able to stay safe. For students who have similar dreams as mine, I hope you don’t hesitate and apply for the culture intern program at KSI, so you don’t miss out on such a valuable opportunity!