The DIS Model United Nations (MUN) team traveled to the International School of Busan (ISB) for the annual South Korea Association International School Model United Nations (SKAISMUN) on Dec. 13. After a day of competition, both newcomers and veteran debaters secured nine of the ten available awards.
Similar to last year, ISB opened the floor to chair applications. From DIS, seniors Apple Jun and Annie Cho each served as chairs of separate committees. Delegates debated in four different committees including General Assembly (GA), Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Security Council (SC).
Felicia Hwang, a junior from ISB and undersecretary general for the conference, reflected on the event’s development. “I felt it was smoother and more productive than last year. Many delegates seemed to enjoy their committees as well,” she said, pointing to improvements in scheduling, break locations, and the addition of refreshments.
Following a day of lobbying and negotiation, a total of nine delegates took awards home. “It ran smoothly and overall was a great learning experience for me. Although our committee was really competitive, I was happy I was able to get the best delegate award,” said freshman Kelly Park.
Despite limited prior MUN experience, first-time delegates also earned awards. “MUN was a lot more intense than I thought it would be. There were many instances where the strict time structure prevented me from presenting my ideas,” said winner of the honorable mention sophomore Amy Kim.
Secretary general Felicia Hwang from ISB acclaimed the performance by Daegu International School (DIS) delegates. “It was notable how well-versed they were in the RoP, and DIS had many students who demonstrated strong initiative and outstanding debate skills, winning awards and leading their blocs. I enjoyed watching Israel’s 1.5 state solution proposal, as well as seeing younger delegates in the General Assembly making an effort to participate,” said Hwang.
In addition, for the first time, MUN expanded its participation to include middle schoolers. “I was really thankful that the organizers specially created a committee just for middle schoolers; it made me feel much better and less nervous,” said seventh grader Jay Jang.
Despite facing initial challenges, middle schoolers described the conference as an enjoyable experience. “My brain went completely out a couple of times, and I overcame those problems by simply calming myself down, and it all went okay,” said Jang.
Whether or not delegates won awards, the conference allowed for space for improvement. “This MUN was a challenging but rewarding experience that helped me learn a lot about debate, diplomacy, and international issues,” said junior Ryan Kim.
Building on a strong season, delegates remain motivated as they continue to compete in invitational conferences across Korea, hoping to inspire new participants to join future conferences.“Trying out MUN helped me get out of my comfort zone, and I hope others will try it too. Don’t be afraid to talk in front of others, because in the end, what matters is whether you’re satisfied with your own effort,” said Kim.
Congratulations to the winners of SKAISMUN:
Best Delegate Award: Gaaon Kim, William Seo, Kelly Park
Honorable Mention: Jay Jang, Amy Kim, Kaylie Jeong, Mihini Edirisinghe
Best Chair Award: Apple Jun
Honorable Mention: Annie Cho
Min Kim • Jan 15, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Great job, delegates in the SKAISMUN. We were able to get many honorable mentions and a few best delgate award! I hope the MUN team does well in the next competition as well!