By Ashley Kim
Peter is a fourth-year, chemistry major at CC from Denver, Colorado. Currently, he is in Pyeongchang, South Korea for the Olympics working with the United States Olympic Committee!
Q1. Hi, Peter! How long has it been since you’ve been to Korea? What excites you most about being in Korea again?
A1: It’s been three years since I’ve been to Korea, right before I started my freshman year at CC. I normally visit every two years, and it’s remarkable to see the sceneries/cities change so much in that brief time span. I was excited about this trip since I was not expecting to visit Korea for a very long time. I just did not have the time being occupied with school and internships throughout college, so this internship opportunity was a pleasant surprise for me. As always, I looked forward to visiting Korea as it is my birthplace, reminding me of my Korean identity.
Q2: What is your job with the OTC? Outline your daily responsibilities for us.
A2: My official title is called “Games Operations Assistant.” However, that title does not fully encompass what I do. As for the daily routine, I could end up with a lot of different tasks depending on the day; it’s mostly based on who needs my help–especially with the Korean language–and what needs to be done, which is very unpredictable. For example, some days I could spend all day in the office translating documents and taking phone calls. Other days, I could be out driving the USOC staff to various places to run errands like grocery shopping. I have also taken trips to different venues to assist the USOC staff and the drivers.
Q3: How did you get this opportunity, and why did you want this opportunity?
A3: I found this internship in the Career Center portal. The internship was posted by my supervisor who is a CC alum, class of 2004. I’ve learned that many CC students have interned at USOC which helped them get a job at USOC. The minute I read about the internship, I started working on my cover letter and resume. The opportunity to contribute to the Olympic Movement when it’s being held in my birthplace was very compelling and hugely significant to me. In fact, I’ve thought about volunteering for the Winter Olympic Games in Korea in the past, but when the time finally came, it just seemed unfeasible with school and other obligations. Besides, I would’ve had to pay for my own travel and other living expenses which I couldn’t afford. Not only was travel, food, and housing covered under this internship, but also the fact that I could be working for such an outstanding organization compelled me to apply for this position.
Q4: Have you noticed any significant cultural differences that the staff finds difficult to adjust to?
A4: There were some little things that annoyed people from time to time. One thing was the fact that people do not make appointments and show up when it’s convenient for them. For example, if we submitted a work order for a broken boiler, the repairman would not say “I’ll come in at X time.” He/She will pop in whenever it works for him/her, which created some complications for us. Koreans also do take the “no shoes indoors” rule very seriously, so that was a minor complaint. Another thing is that heating is usually available only in rooms, so hallways and bathrooms are usually freezing… Oh, and this varies from place to place, but I hate that I cannot flush toilet paper and have to dispose of them in bins at certain places. I also noticed that many Koreans tend to park their cars wherever they want, which I find annoying.
Q5: What are you looking forward to the most as the Olympics are starting?
A5: I’m looking forward to seeing our athletes succeed. It would be nice to see all our hard work amount to the athletes’ success. I would also like to see Korean athletes do well. Oh, and hopefully I’ll catch a game or two.
Q6: What are you hoping to take away from this opportunity?
A6: I hope to make great connections with the amazing staff I’ve been working with. Maybe I could be involved in this organization in the future. Other than that, I’m going to make the most out of my time here in Korea.
Q7: There has been a lot of talk about politics, especially in regards to North Korea. Does the USOC staff see North Korea as a threat? What is your opinion on this matter?
A7: Everyone that I’ve spoke with hasn’t felt threatened at all. They don’t believe that North Korea will act out of impulse or anything. I also don’t think anything will happen. After all, South Korea is paying North Korea to send over their athletes and performance team as a guarantee of safety for everyone involved in the Games.
Q8: What do you think are the implications of North and South Korea marching under one flag?
A8: The march under the same flag has taken place in the past in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It is exemplary of what the Olympics stand for: sports unifying nations. However, with the recent heightened tension between North and South Korea, I don’t like that the Olympics are becoming a political platform. North Korea demanded money from South Korea for their participation in the Olympics, and they can do this because of their nuclear threat. In return, North Korea sent their athletes and performance teams as a guarantee of safety of nations. The women’s hockey team was combined without considerations for the athletes that made the national team. Now their rink time is cut in half. As much as people see this as a good cause, I do think politics is deeply embedded in these “meaningful moments” even though I believe that the Olympics should be solely focused on the excellence of achievements in sports.
