This page is dedicated to past competitors in Korea’s oldest and most prestigious debate tournament. Share your memories and tell us how your participation in the KHSDC has affected the path you have followed. Not only can your stories give you a chance to hear from acquaintances that you maybe haven’t kept up with over the years, but they can also inspire up-and-coming debaters to aspire to follow along the path of excellence that you have laid down over the past 7 years. Your words can help reaffirm that debaters from Korea are in fact a community and that membership in that community is a source of pride. Please be sure to include the years in which you participated. We can’t wait to hear from you!
“My experience with KHSDC was, in short, transformative. It was the first proper debate tournament that I was exposed to and it shaped my high school debate career. Four exciting days full of adrenaline, of the educated clash of ideas, and of the friendships that arose from the intense pressure hooked me to debate and shaped my subsequent academic pursuits.”
- Kyongdon Kim, debater at KHSDC II, III, IV
Harvard University ’13
“The first formal debate tournament I attended was KHSDC, and I chose to continue debating largely from my positive experiences there. Debate subsequently became a huge part of my life, as I participated in tournaments including KAIAC, NSDC, and WSDC, and joined the Debate Panel in college. Preparing for and participating in KHSDC in particular still remains a huge part of my fond memories of debate, and has helped me see new aspects of issues and directed me toward the social sciences.
On that note, I really encourage all students with an interest in debating, whether you have experience or not, whether you enjoy public speaking or not, to participate in this tournament; I feel that the best way to improve in debate is to debate. And most of all, I hope that you will be confident, meet new friends, and enjoy the process of thinking and debating.”
- Stephanie Char, debater at KHSDC III, IV, WSDC 2008
Princeton University ’14
“KHSDC was the first real debate tournament I attended, and it opened up my intellectual horizons. In this tournament one will be able to “debate” in the truest sense of the word, evaluate ideas and arguments in the company of their closest peers. Props to all those who attend.”
- Do Kwon, debater at KHSDC III, IV, V, WSDC ’08, ’09, ’10,
Stanford University ’14
“KHSDC was the first and most unforgettable debate competition of my high school career. That single weekend of back-to-back debates, frantic impromptu prep sessions, and intense research all-nighters… interspersed with team bonding moments, inside jokes, and adrenaline highs was what sparked my interest in debate and determination to achieve a personal best in it.
There is something to gain in debate even when you lose a round. The critical thinking and public speaking skills that inevitably resulted from three years’ worth of debating are now indispensable. That ability to identify some societal issue, and the instinctive desire to come up with some unique solution… that which I apply daily in college and in life–I owe a lot of that to debate.”
- Janice Yoon, debater at KHSDC III, IV, WSDC ’09, ’10
Columbia University ’14
“Can you believe it? I was just another small, shy girl in glasses with a hint of stutter admiring the final round on the back row somewhere in KHSDC I.
I have no special talent, no special charm, but I chose to debate. It was a good choice. First, it was little things – podium poise, keeping time limits, having an actual argument. Then I learned how to appreciate a meaningful loss than an unmeaningful win. How to keep calm and carry on. How to write something in 5 minutes and speak like you thought about it for a lifetime. Then it really became something big – a school team, a group of mentors, and a network of friends – without me even realizing it.
Perhaps I realized how far I’ve come only when I got on that very podium that I used to admire, and locked eyes with a girl in the audience who reminded so much of myself. Like what KHSDC I has done for me, I hope KHSDC VII can be that environment where you choose to debate as well.”
- Jenny Jun, debater at KHSDC I, II, III
Georgetown University ’12
“For me, KHSDC was a life-changing experience. When I was in middle school, I had the chance to serve as a volunteer at KHSDC II, where Daewon became the champion. I then decided to apply to Daewon, just for the debate team, and was thrilled to be able to revisit KHSDC the next year, this time as a debater myself. I returned two more times, so I’ve been a part of 4 KHSDCs total, and every time I can honestly say I learned something new, made many friends, and grew not only as a debater but also as an individual. The life lessons that I learned at KHSDC about winning, losing, achieving, and accepting helped shape who I am today, and left me with my closest friends whom I still keep in touch with and visit often.
I am probably one of the few people who started as a volunteer and ended as a debater, and therefore can truly say that no matter what your position is and how well you do, KHSDC is a valuable experience for all.”
-Jenna Song, debater at KHSDC III, IV, V, WSDC ’08,’09,’10
Princeton University ’14
As you prepare for KHSDC, you will learn to rigorously research an important societal issue by finding empirical evidence and supporting it with clear logical reasoning. Regardless of your personal opinion on the topic, you will find that opposing viewpoints can be both sound and legitimate, as long as they are supported logically. As you outline and practice your speeches, you will learn to communicate your side’s perspective clearly and persuasively.
As you work your way through the rounds at the competition, you will find that there is nothing quite as exciting as immersing yourself in the heat of debate. You may be surprised at how well you can understand, articulate and communicate a viewpoint that you may not personally agree with. Above all, during the competition, you will form friendships and memories – whether it is from frantic all-nighters to prepare for motions, or inside jokes scribbled on scraps of paper during debate rounds – that will stay with you regardless of your final ranking.
It is possible to think of KHSDC as “just” a debate competition, but I urge you to look at it in a different way. Defining basic terms, framing your stance, finding sound evidence, constructing a logical argument, communicating the argument clearly and persuasively, acknowledging and rebutting opposing perspectives – these are all critical components of a debate, but they are also fundamental aspects of what it means to live in a democracy. The ability to clearly communicate your own opinion using logic and evidence, as well as the habit of acknowledging, understanding and respectfully disagreeing with different opinions, are central to a healthy democracy.
By participating in KHSDC, you can not only cultivate this habit in yourself, but you can also learn to notice the flaws and shortcomings in others’ arguments. Our generation will have to thoughtfully resolve many contentious issues, and it is important that every one of us think clearly and logically, that we are not swayed by faulty, illogical arguments or name-calling.
I encourage you to participate in KHSDC not just because of the final results or the memories, but also because it means something much more.
*I participated in KHSDC III (Summer 2007) and IV (Spring 2008).