The DIS Model United Nations (MUN) team headed down to Busan at the strike of dawn for the inaugural SKAISMUN (South Korea Association of International Schools Model United Nations) conference at the International School of Busan (ISB) on Dec. 7. 

The newly established SKAIS (South Korea Association of International Schools) organization resulted in the departure of several partner schools, including KFS (Kwangju Foreign School), the host in previous years. This year, ISB took on host responsibility. 

To spice up the MUN scene, ISB administrators made the chair application process more demanding and added new policies and rules that did not exist in the past. Senior Lewis Kim, European Commission head chair, said, “The chair application process was much more rigorous. We had to submit a resumé, an essay, and a recommendation letter– though they got rid of the letter requirement later.”

Kim explained that he did see the benefits of the changes. “Even though the process was confusing and the communication was really bad on their end, I think updating the application process was a good decision. To choose the best chairs, coordinators have to select candidates with the most experience and skill, and I think the longer application helps determine this better,” said Kim. 

However, some chairs criticized SKAISMUN for setting high barriers to entry. “I think the chair application process was a little too strict for SKAISMUN because SKAISMUN is a conference with which a lot of students begin their MUN journey. Considering this, I think having such limitations really restricts the participants and conference in general, and think they could have been more lenient,” said senior Aaron Shin, COP (Conference of Parties) 29 head chair.

Unfortunately, poor communication took a toll on the committee chairs and conference organization. The secretariats made revisions abruptly with short notice, and ISB even went back on some decisions such as resolution procedures. Kim said, “Overall, I think the communication was really bad. They didn’t really tell us how the whole event was going to work, including key details like how resolutions were going to be chosen and what delegates were expected to do until the last couple of days.” 

Additionally, HFS (Hyundai Foreign School) and GIFS (Gyeongnam International Foreign School) dropped out last minute, leaving most committees without the minimum number of delegates to commence sessions. Junior Annie Cho, General Assembly head chair, also withdrew due to schedule conflicts. “I had to drop out 1 month prior to the conference so I told ISB, and told them that Colin could replace me. But they struck the General Assembly, which is one of the main committees, so I was really surprised,” Cho said.

However, ISB overcame these initial difficulties. DIS MUN coach, Ms. Downie said, “I think that with every new endeavor, there are going to be some hiccups along the way. We had ample communication even though there were some issues at first, and a lot of these problems got cleared up.”

Despite the bumpy road leading up to the meeting, the DIS MUN team maintained their dominating streak in previous years and secured all but one Best Delegate award. Senior head chair of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) Selina Son also received the Best Chair Award, a fresh addition to this year’s conference. 

ISB’s new procedural changes played to the Jets’ advantage, as the student leadership team had extensive experience with other MUN conferences such as YaleMUN Korea and Global Education City MUN. “I especially liked how we approached resolutions this year because the process was much more collaborative compared to last year. It felt more like a proper MUN, with everyone contributing their ideas to create a resolution we could all agree on,” said sophomore Haydn Mangione. 

Amendment procedures also allowed DIS delegates to snag awards. Junior Christopher Ryu, UNHRC Best Delegate, said, “There were a lot of competitive delegates in the SKAIS community, and I believe that every one of the participants fought for their position and formed great unity and alliances. I definitely had to put in a lot of effort to win. I raised my placard every time the chair asked for speakers and wrote a lot of amendments for resolutions that helped me express my ideas. I think my amendments helped me secure my Best Delegate award the most.”

The DIS team’s achievements reflect their experience with preparation and collaboration. The Securing nearly all of the Best Delegate awards along with the Best Chair accolade, speaks to the team’s strong performance and expertise. This year’s success transfers DIS’s winning streak from SKAC to SKAIS, and organizers will learn from the growing pains of this year. 

Congratulations to the winners of SKAISMUN:

Best Delegate Award: Colin Ji, Christopher Ryu, William Seo

Best Chair Award: Selina Son

Gallery • 10 Photos

Flora Chung

Senior Ethan Rossmeisl impromptus a speech on conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region. His quick thinking and in-depth analysis captivate the committee, showcasing his expertise in international relations.