By KREW John Axel Orencia
Recently, the induction ceremony of 2024 Korean Culture Content Creators was held. K-Creators was a general term for both the Honorary Reporters (Writers) and K-influencers (Video Creators) who were officially appointed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the Republic of Korea. Individuals under these programs were from various countries around the world and sought to leverage their reach and influence to showcase the beauty and richness of Korean culture to a wider audience. Each year, the program invites the outstanding K-creators who exerted the most on the program for an all-expense cultural tour in Korea.
2024 Korean Culture Content Creators Induction Ceremony (Photo Source: Korea.net)
Honorary Reporters
The Honorary Reporters Program, which was created by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), plays a vital role in promoting Korea internationally, emphasizing cultural exchanges, and sharing news from abroad with Korea. The most common topics we cover include K-pop, K-dramas reviews, Korean tourism, and writing articles in ten different languages such as English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, French, German, Vietnamese and Indonesian. The origins of the Honorary Reporters program may be traced back to 2011, when KOCIS launched The Korea Blog, a news portal available in various languages, and introduced the Worldwide Korea Bloggers initiative to recruit influential bloggers and writers. The program was renamed Honorary Reporters in 2015 and expanded to include Korea.net and The Korea Blog. Since its inception in 2011, the Honorary Reporters Program has experienced significant growth and undergone various changes.
And I myself have been part of the program as an English writer for four (4) consecutive years since I started joining in 2021. With our passion, for sharing Korean-focused information, we strive to improve Korea’s image not only in our own countries but also around the world through our own written articles.
Hard Copy of My 2021 Certificate as Honorary Reporter (Photo Source: John Axel Orencia)
Since we are based in the Philippines, even though we are tasked with freely writing about any Korean-related topics, the most common themes that we often discuss are our experiences at events such as exhibits, festivals, seminars, classes, and many more that were organized by the Korean Cultural Center, the Korea Tourism Organization Manila, or the Korean Embassy.
Some of my Articles as Honorary Reporter from 2021-2024
Serving as an honorary reporter for four years in a row allowed me to meet many wonderful people, both locally and around the world. My experiences with different projects and gatherings have allowed me to meet individuals from all around the globe who are equally enthusiastic about journalism. It gives me a chance to show off my work and connect with people all across the world. This position has given me the opportunity to learn new things and develop my skills as a writer.
In addition, my role as a Korea.net Honorary Reporter allows me to actively contribute to the promotion of Korean culture, traditions, and events on a global scale. It encompasses more than just writing; it involves sharing stories, establishing connections, and making a meaningful impact through words. Being an Honorary Reporter for Korea.net means being a part of a special group whose members are widely respected in Korea for their journalism and other forms of written expression. This title does more than just improve my image; it also provides me with more opportunities in other Korean programs.
Recently, I had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with my fellow KREW Volunteers who are also part of the Honorary Reporters and K-Influencers program, and I was impressed by the significant efforts they had exerted.
Honorary Reporter John Paul Serraon
JP joined KCC KREW’s support group this year and is a member of the pioneer batch of the KCC’s Book Club. However, he has served as an Honorary Reporter for a longer period of time since both of us began participating in the program in 2021. He is a student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and is a passionate writer. Since joining the program, he authored numerous articles, many of which have been published on Korea.net. Additionally, he took charge of various campaign projects, including DP Blast, which was organized for the opening ceremony this year for both Honorary Reporters and K-Influencers. Furthermore, JP created HR Echoes, a Facebook page with the goal of sharing articles written by honorary reporters.
“The primary focus is to promote Korean culture in the Philippines, fostering connections and enjoyment among fellow Filipinos. This aligns with the KCC’s (Philippines) vision in Taguig, which is my mantra for promoting K-culture as an honorary reporter and KREW volunteer.” – John Paul Serraon
Articles about Korean-related events in the Philippines by Honorary Reporter John Paul Serraon published at the main site of Korea.net
K-Influencer Program
On the other hand, the K-influencer Academy, which began in 2020 under the supervision of KOCIS, has been educating promotional ambassadors and content makers who feature Korean culture since then. Members of the K-influencer program learn both online and offline how to make content about everything from Korean culture to shooting and editing. People who make films on certain topics can get personalized help based on their comments, and by promoting Korea using their own materials and methods, foreigners from all over the world are taking the lead.
K-Influencer Bhinggay Mendoza
Rebecca Mendoza, commonly known as “Ate Bhinggay,” is a member of the Intensive Program of K-Influencer Academy. She started to join K-Influencer in 2022 and is now in her third year of the program. Last year, she was selected to be part of the Star K-Influencers and has become friends with many K-creators on a global scale. Through the Academy’s mentoring program, she b
ecame a mentor to one of her fellow K-influencers from the United States.
She decided to focus on creating a vlog about making or trying Korean foods, showcasing traditional and trendy recipes and street food favorites. Her engaging and mouth-watering videos educated viewers about Korea’s culinary heritage and left them craving more.
When I asked for her reasons for joining the academy, Ate Bhinggay said, “Because of my love for Korean culture, I wanted to go to Korea and experience the spring and autumn seasons. I also wanted to gain knowledge in video editing and to lessen my shyness in front of the camera.” As she is manifesting her desire to visit Korea, she also aims to become the best K-influencer this year. That’s why she is challenged by every mission that the academy will provide.
K-Influencer Che Barral
Che Barral began participating in the K-Influencer Program in 2022. Since joining the academy, she has been able to enhance her editing skills, produce creative content, and further cultivate her passion for content creation. Her YouTube channel has a wide variety of Korean stuff videos. From K-pop and K-food to K-events and K-beauty, she covers it all with an emphasis on Korean culture. Because of her consistent effort to provide excellent videos, she is now in her third year as a K-Influencer.
Through the efforts of K-influencers and Honorary Reporters, Korean culture is being promoted on a global scale, while also fostering stronger cultural connections and building a more interconnected global community.
To stay updated on the activities and announcements, be sure to follow KCC’s official social media accounts.
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