This blog post examines how compelling a long history of reading can be as a motivation for applying to Korean Language and Literature. Explore the connection between literary sensibility and suitability for the major.
Writing about academic experience and insights
“From memorization to application: Finding my own learning style”
I was always confident in subjects requiring memorization. I could study subjects like social studies, science, and Korean—which rely on memorization—relatively easily and achieve good results without much difficulty. But the problem was math. Although the math level was relatively low since I chose the liberal arts track, math remained my biggest hurdle and the main factor dragging down my grades. No matter how hard I tried, my math skills just wouldn’t improve.
People around me suggested getting help from tutors or cram schools, but I believed studying alone was ultimately the most reliable approach. While receiving help from others was fine, I wanted to first find a way to succeed on my own. Continuing to study alone led me through countless trials and errors, and in that process, I finally discovered my own learning method. It was actively applying my strength—memorization—to math learning.
While I lacked strong application skills, I possessed a strong memory for things I saw once and the perseverance needed to back it up. To capitalize on this, I chose a very thick math problem book, exposed myself to various problem types, and began memorizing each solution method and formula application example one by one. I didn’t stop at mere memorization; I combined understanding with memorization, thinking, ‘This type of problem uses this formula,’ or ‘Approach application problems like this.’ Though I started with simple memorization, through repeated study, the structure of problems gradually became clear to me. At some point, I even developed the ability to apply what I’d memorized to new problems.
As a result, my math grades improved noticeably. Math, which had once felt like a symbol of difficulty, began to feel interesting and stimulating, sparking a sense of challenge. Once math became enjoyable, my studying became more consistent, and I eventually achieved satisfying results.
Overcoming math through memorization was meaningful beyond just improving grades. It was significant because I discovered a way to properly utilize my strengths. Moreover, I gained the realization that even what I considered a weakness could be transformed with sufficient effort and perseverance. Through this process, I acquired a new weapon: ‘applied skills’. This experience has become a crucial driving force in subsequent studies and challenges, enabling me to trust ‘my own way’ and push forward to the end.
Writing about major school activities and reflections
“Creating a dream library through activities in the reading club”
My dream is to create the most beautiful library in the world. Since I loved books deeply from a young age, encountering the countless stories hidden within them naturally became my greatest joy. Books were not only a treasure trove of knowledge but also friends and mentors who comforted my heart, guiding me beyond the confines of daily life into new worlds. That’s why I joined my neighborhood library’s reading club from elementary school and consistently valued time spent reading and sharing books at school. Among these, my high school reading club activities hold particularly deep meaning for me. It was an experience that went beyond simply reading and discussing books; it involved taking direct action, putting ideas into practice, and sowing seeds of change. And that experience became a stepping stone, bringing me one step closer to my dream: ‘creating a beautiful library’.
My high school, with its long history, had significantly deteriorated facilities, and the library was no exception. Water leaks damaged books everywhere, and volumes neglected for years lay tattered and covered in dust. Especially since older books often hold greater value, seeing such precious volumes abandoned with torn covers filled me with deep regret. Starting a reading club in such a space, I couldn’t just stand by and watch the library continue to be neglected. So, together with my friends, we decided to make the ‘Library Revitalization Campaign’ the main activity of our reading club. Despite everyone’s busy academic schedules, they voluntarily carved out time bit by bit to participate in this campaign, and we decided to organize and restore the library’s books ourselves.
First, we divided the library into sections. Each of us took charge of a section, pulling out books one by one to inspect their condition and begin repairs. Gluing torn pages, wiping away dust, and replacing worn covers with new wrapping paper was no simple task. So, we pooled our money to buy necessary supplies like tape and wrapping paper, and we restored the books by hand. At first, we worried, ‘Can we really restore all these books?’ But as each day passed and the pile of restored books grew, our sense of pride and accomplishment steadily increased. Above all, we felt the library itself was coming back to life as we revived the books, making it impossible to stop.
At first, even some teachers reacted with skepticism, wondering if it was a waste of effort, and a few friends called it a waste of time. But as time passed, perceptions of our activities began to shift. Seeing the library visibly tidier and transformed, teachers and friends started offering words of encouragement, and the school itself began taking an interest and providing support. Teachers even voluntarily raised funds to purchase tape and equipment, and our reading club’s activities started gaining attention throughout the entire school. As a result, more students became interested in the reading club, and the number of club members participating together gradually increased.
Buoyed by this change, we completed the renovation of 7 out of 10 zones. Since then, juniors have naturally taken over our activities, continuing the library revitalization movement. Through this experience, I learned that going beyond simply loving books, the practice of cherishing and nurturing them can hold profound meaning. Above all, I directly experienced that ‘small efforts can accumulate to create significant change.’ This experience also gave me the resolve to proactively participate in any endeavor and sow seeds of change throughout my future life.
This activity didn’t just transform the library; it brought about an important change within me as well. Now, I aspire to grow beyond being simply ‘someone who loves books’ into ‘someone who wants to change the world through books’. And someday, I want to create a warm, vibrant ‘Dream Library’ myself, just like the high school library that was the beginning. It won’t just be a space filled with books; it will be a true sanctuary of knowledge where everyone can come to rest, learn, and share together.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
“Shouting in Front of People for the First Time in My Life”
I was never someone who enjoyed being in the spotlight. I felt comfortable quietly doing my own work and always wanted to avoid situations where I had to speak loudly or be the center of attention. But in my first year of high school, something unimaginable happened to me. For the first time in my life, I had to shout in front of people. It all started when I was cast as the lead in a school festival play.
Our school has a tradition where each grade performs a designated show during the annual festival. First-years do a play, and second-years do a dance. The lead for the first-year play is chosen by lottery every year. Anyone could be the lead, and this year, that fate fell to me. I was a student with no stage experience and who struggled speaking in front of people. So at first, the very idea of being the lead felt terrifying, and I hesitated, wondering if I could pull this off. I felt like running away, but since it was a school tradition and a role given to me, I ultimately decided to accept it.
The process of preparing for the play was far more complex and intense than I had imagined. At first, I thought that since I was the lead, I just needed to act well, but that wasn’t all. There were friends preparing props, seniors personally tailoring stage costumes, and friends helping with acting guidance—the efforts of many people working tirelessly behind the scenes to complete the stage. It was thanks to them that I could perform. Some agonized for days over a single small prop, while others stayed late into the night helping with practice to make a single line sound more natural. That’s how we shared our respective roles, cooperating together while considering each other.
Especially, those late-night rehearsals filled with shared laughter and tears, where we eased each other’s nerves, remain precious memories. More than the final product of the play, the sense of cooperation, sharing, and warm consideration felt throughout the process touched me deeply. Before stepping on stage, my friends held my hands and encouraged me, saying, “You can do it.” Because of their support, I was able to complete the performance without a single mistake. As a result, our first-year play received high praise for its exceptionally well-synchronized performance, and we concluded the show to thunderous applause from the audience.
Through this experience, I learned that ‘stepping forward’ isn’t something achieved by courage alone. It was possible only because of someone’s help and consideration, the sweat and tears we shed together. It was something I could never have achieved alone. Above all, I realized that cooperation isn’t just about ‘doing things together’; it’s a process of trusting and relying on each other, sharing genuine feelings. No matter what difficulties come my way in the future, if I have people by my side, I believe I can face them without fear and take on the challenge.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
“The Books That Embraced My Wavering Self”
Reading Forest Carter’s The Warmest Days of My Life and Hwang Sun-won’s “The Old Man Who Made a Pit” led me to decide to major in Korean Language and Literature.
The Warmest Days of My Life is a work where the author captures the memories and emotions that warmed his heart. Through this book, I too was able to steady my own wavering, directionless heart. Carving the message “This very moment is the most beautiful time” into my heart, I was able to strive to do my best in the roles I took on.
Furthermore, “The Old Man Making a Jar” is a work that deeply resonated with me through its tragic story. I deeply empathized with the feelings of the stubborn and lonely old man, allowing me to release my emotions and experience catharsis. Especially during a time when my emotions were tangled, this work made me cry, yet it helped me sort through my feelings and find solace.
In this way, both works resonated deeply within my life, and I was profoundly moved by the fact that literature can touch the human heart and change lives. This experience ignited my passion for literature, fueling my dream to learn more in this field and, furthermore, to help others encounter meaningful works in their own lives.
I aspire to study the beauty and depth of Korean literature more profoundly in your university’s Department of Korean Language and Literature, and to dedicate myself to promoting literature that offers comfort and insight to people.
