JTAC: What is your classification and major?

Hyun-Jun Lee (HL): I am a Business Administration major and my classification is a senior.

JTAC: Why did you choose to come to Tarleton?

HL: The biggest reason I decided to come here was financial, because I have a scholarship from my school in Korea, and I’m an exchange student, so I don’t pay Tarleton tuition, I just pay for a meal plan and housing.

JTAC: What university do you attend in South Korea?

HL: My school is Dongguk University. It’s in the center of Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

JTAC: What do you want to do when you are finished with school?

HL: After I finish this semester, I will go back to Korea to finish my last semester of college. After finishing my last semester, I will try to get a job. I’m interested in the marketing field, so I want to work in marketing for a big company.

JTAC: What are you involved with on campus?

HL: I belong to the International Student Organization, and last semester I helped with the radio station. Also, I’m working for the Student Success Center.

JTAC: Where is your favorite place on campus?

HL: Except for my room, the library is the place I like the most.

JTAC: What is your favorite part about Tarleton?

HL: The people—the Texan people are so friendly and nice.

JTAC: What is one thing you wish you could change about Tarleton?

HL: It’s kind of boring, but I think that’s because Stephenville is not that big of a city, so there isn’t a lot to do off campus. So I wish we had more student activities on campus.

JTAC: Being an international student, tell us a little about South Korea.

HL: The one word that can describe my country is “fast.” Almost every part of the culture seems to be based on this—everything moves quickly. For example, the internet service in Korea is the fastest in the world. It’s interesting, because only about 60 years ago, Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world, but in that short time, we’ve achieved a lot—politically, economically, and technologically.  Also, the people are so friendly; they always help people who are in trouble or foreigners who are visiting Korea.

JTAC: Besides your family and friends, what do you miss most?

HL: I really miss my Korean food.  I like American food but sometimes it can be very greasy or salty.

JTAC: How long ago did you come to America?

HL: I came to the States in late August of this past semester, so it’s been about half a year since I first got here.  That was the first time I traveled to another country.

JTAC: What was the hardest thing to adjust to when you came here?

HL: The biggest one was language.

JTAC: What is one stereotype about Americans that you had before coming here?

HL: It’s not a stereotype about Americans as much as Texans—I heard that Texas was all conservatives, guns, and cowboys, and that they would be racist to me. But I have never met anyone here that has been racist to me; that was just something I was nervous about before coming to Texas.  

JTAC: Some very wealthy Martians have come to visit you here on Earth. They offer you your heart’s desire, but you must sell them your sense of humor (meaning you become really boring and serious). Do you do it?

HL: I would not sell my sense of humor. I do not know how funny I am, but my friends have told me that they think I am funny. Money is important to live and try to get happiness through buying things, but sense of humor is one of the most important parts of happiness. Without laughter and a sense of humor, it’s kind of pointless. So I would not sell it.

JTAC: Would you rather be invisible (never to be seen to the world again but allowing you to see what ever you wanted) or be the most famous person in the world (allowing you to be seen by everyone in the world but having no privacy)?

HL: The second one because, it’s not that I want to be famous, but because I want to be connected with my people around me. Even if I could see anything, I would still want to be able to tell someone else and have that connection with people, and if I couldn’t do that, it would be meaningless.

JTAC: You wake up one morning and realize an evil goblin has stolen 4 of your 5 senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, or hearing). Which sense would you hope to still have?

HL: Sight, definitely; I think it’s the most important. If I can’t talk or hear, I can still write and learn sign language.