Reflection by Taehun Lee
Hello! My name is Taehun Lee. I am currently a medical student in the United States, and some of my most meaningful work has been through my time in service. I am blessed to have had the privilege of walking alongside children and various dedicated teams to support programs that bring joy, stability, and opportunity to youth.
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
I first became involved with KKOOM about three years ago. I was an intern and volunteer under the leadership of Ms. Grace Lee and, more recently, Ms. Leah Garlock. What began as a simple passion to give back to a community that felt culturally close to me grew into a purposeful experience that has become such a significant part of my life.
I have supported KKOOM in many ways over the years. I facilitated virtual English camps for students from the United States, assisted the Executive Director in an administrative capacity, and have even had the opportunity to serve the children directly in KKOOM’s biannual sports camps for the Samsungwon children. Each experience has been incredibly rewarding. I am often brought back to the week-long summer camp that I spent with the KKOOM team and the Samsungwon family in Seoul. Being able to be of service through body and mind gave me a tangible realization of the impact that KKOOM has had on these children’s lives. I was proud to be a part of that.
This past summer, I was invited to help plan and support this very same camp as a program coordinator. Working under the guidance of Ms. Garlock, our team spent weeks reflecting on what worked well in the past and identifying where we could improve, from daily schedules to how activities might foster mindfulness and an appreciation of well-being. I contributed ideas for structuring activities, volunteer training protocols, and ensuring that every activity the students engaged in had meaningful takeaways they could carry with them. My reward was the irreplaceable warmth I felt looking at the pictures of the KKOOM Dream Team and the children enjoying the fruits of our labor.
As I reflect on my time with KKOOM, I feel grateful for the chance to learn and grow alongside the organization. I have learned how to better plan programs with purpose, connect resources creatively, and stay inspired by the resilience of the youth we serve. When I think about KKOOM, I think of a community of people who believe, as I do, that every child deserves a chance to thrive. It is from these experiences that I have gained the values that guide my future journey as a healthcare professional and community educator.
