[imText1]Fourteen university broadcasting groups merged on the 30th to found a radio program “Student Media Without Borders.” The target audience of the program is North Korean citizens. This is the first time that an organization has been formed with the aim of editing and sending frequencies to North Korean people directly.
This group of young innovators revealed their aspiration to use their skills and passion to communicate with North Korean citizens
Chief editor Lee In Gun of Dongguk University who was elected as the co-representative for Student Media Without Borders said, “University students will take the lead in developing culture and bringing change to the Korean Peninsula” and added, “We will continue with our efforts until the day we can freely communicate with people in North Korea.”
A total of 14 universities are participating in Student Media Without Borders. Other university organizations in support of Student Media Without Borders include Students Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea, Defectors’ Students for Human Rights, and Liberty Student Union.
Mr. Lee said, “We plan to collaborate with the other 202 university broadcasting stations as well as gather interest from broadcasting stations throughout high schools” and revealed, “Creating a network of university radio stations is not only for broadcasting to North Korea. We also plan to provide books and tapes for education of North Korean university students.”
The founding of this organization symbolizes great change in attitudes towards North Korea. This is significantly different from the 386ers who would listen to North Korean clandestine radio programs.
On the same day, a press conference was held at the national assembly to urge support from the government.
Co-representative, Song Ha Yoon, also representative for the Students’ Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea said, “The government must support broadcasting to North Korea through technology” and “laws and funds must also be provided to help organizations broadcast to North Korea.”
Minister Song Young Sun of the Grand National Party said in her congratulatory speech, “Every student in this room has pioneered for new coming age of Korean peninsula” and encouraged the students saying, “You will be a great hope to the suffering North Korean people.”
Former representative of the Grand National Party, Park Geun Hae wrote in her congratulatory message, “The voices of all the university students will open the ears and hearts of North Korean people and will be a great asset in discovering liberal democracy as well as achieving human rights.”
Student Media Without Borders will work in collaboration with “Open Radio for North Korea” whose president is Tae Keung Ha and is planning a public hearing and campaign in petition for governmental support. In addition, plans are being made to conduct surveys in the summer along the Chinese-North Korea border to listeners of North Korea broadcasts to further improve and enhance the quality of radio broadcasting.
Student Media Without Borders currently broadcasts a 20 min program every day through Open Ration for North Korea. You can tune into Student Media Without Borders on 7390KHz every night at 11PM.
