University of Utah Asia Campus Student Receives Incheon Mayor’s Award

When Yaerin Lee first picked up her camera, she wasn’t thinking about awards. She was thinking about the international residents around her—newcomers navigating daily life in Incheon without familiar systems, language, or a sense of community.

That perspective recently earned Lee, a communication major at the University of Utah Asia Campus, the Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor’s Award. The recognition honors her contributions to improving the living environment for international residents through digital storytelling.

Lee received the award during a year-end ceremony on Dec. 12 at the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority in Songdo. The honor reflects more than a single project—it highlights 18 months of consistent work creating videos designed to make life in Incheon more accessible for foreign residents living in Songdo, Cheongna, and Yeongjong International Cities.

Five University of Utah Asia Campus communication students—Yaerin Lee, Keumju An, Jisung Lee, Suin Jo, and Eunbi Cho—produce weekly video content for the IFEZ Global Center YouTube channel, helping international residents in Songdo, Cheongna, and Yeongjong navigate daily life through accessible and relatable storytelling.

Her videos (IFEZ Global Center – YouTube) focus on everyday but essential topics: how to navigate local neighborhoods, which businesses are welcoming to international customers, and where to explore Incheon’s cultural and recreational spots. Designed with younger audiences in mind, the content blends practical information with relatable storytelling, helping international residents feel more connected to their surroundings.

The work grew out of a global content internship program jointly operated by the University of Utah Asia Campus and the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority. Established through a memorandum of understanding signed in August 2024, the program gives students hands-on experience in planning, producing, and publishing video content while contributing to the local community. Under the guidance of June-Young Lee, assistant professor of communication, students collaborate weekly to develop new stories rooted in real-life experiences.

Yaerin Lee (center) and communication students from the University of Utah Asia Campus pose for a photo with their faculty advisor, June-Young Lee (second from left), at the Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor’s Award ceremony.

For Lee, the recognition was both meaningful and motivating.

I never imagined that participating in an internship could lead to something like this. I’m grateful that the work I’ve done could make even a small difference for people living in Incheon.”

For Lee, the experience reinforced the power of communication when it’s grounded in empathy—and the impact students can have when storytelling meets community need.