Han Bi-ya
Encyclopedia
Han Bi-ya is a celebrated Korean travel writer
, relief worker and poverty reduction
, refugee advocate. She has published a number of best-selling travel books and lead the Emergency Relief Team for World Vision
Korea. She is one of the top celebrities of impact in South Korea according to Hankyoreh and one of the most respected Koreans in a 2009 poll of university students. In August 2009, she stopped to work in World Vision to study the theories concerning humanitarian work and support at Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
at Hongik University
and completed graduate studies at the University of Utah
. Now she is studying at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
, Tufts University
.
, a global public relations and communications firm, and jumped into what she liked most.
Han explored the world, especially many isolated regions, alone and on foot, rarely taking flights. Also, her explorations were not like ordinary trips in that she actually stayed in local people’s home as many times as possible and truly experienced the local culture. In some countries like Afghanistan
, it is sometimes very difficult and dangerous especially for a woman to talk to a local man and stay in his home. In the book, Han states that she put herself in hazardous situations and was fortunate to survive. These adventurous and vivid stories fascinate readers.
The last and most important thing in her travel is that she decided to devote her life to helping refugees as a volunteer worker. During her ventures to the world, Han Bi-ya experienced the awakening moment. She realized that the world is not a Global Village
, but a "Global House".
However, Han Bi-ya has said that she would no longer travel although her traveling rocked her life and let her discover the meaning of her life. She had received enough joy from travel and now something else makes her heart beats, helping refugees.
Her book, March to the World, Off the Map explains several sadness and smiles upon her work around the world. Recently she appeared one TV show to explain her joy and life of work. At the show, she became the first person who explained the ceremony of circumcision
to viewers of Korea, held widely in Africa as a passage rites especially for girls and kills thousands of females per year to provoke unbelievable responses.
Han Bi-ya added that she followed her own "timetable for life," without comparing it with others. She tries whatever she likes at any age.
Han Bi-ya has been a very influential and heroic figure for young people in Korea. Many young women have started to go on backpacking trips, following her routes.
Han gives a valuable lesson to the young on helping others in the world, and making a better world together. Listening about her or reading her books, many young Koreans learn to venture and expand their lives to the world, and use their abilities for the world.
Travel literature
Travel literature is travel writing of literary value. Travel literature typically records the experiences of an author touring a place for the pleasure of travel. An individual work is sometimes called a travelogue or itinerary. Travel literature may be cross-cultural or transnational in focus, or...
, relief worker and poverty reduction
Poverty reduction
Poverty is the state of human beings who are poor. That is, they have little or no material means of surviving—little or no food, shelter, clothes, healthcare, education, and other physical means of living and improving one's life....
, refugee advocate. She has published a number of best-selling travel books and lead the Emergency Relief Team for World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
Korea. She is one of the top celebrities of impact in South Korea according to Hankyoreh and one of the most respected Koreans in a 2009 poll of university students. In August 2009, she stopped to work in World Vision to study the theories concerning humanitarian work and support at Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Education
Han Bi-ya attended Seungeui Girls' High School (숭의여자고등학교) in Seoul. She studied English literatureEnglish literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at Hongik University
Hongik University
Hongik University, usually known as "Hongdae" for short, is a private university in the Mapo-gu district of central Seoul, South Korea with a second campus in Jochiwon, Chungcheongnam-do. Hongik University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs...
and completed graduate studies at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. Now she is studying at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University is the oldest school in the United States dedicated solely to graduate studies in international affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's foremost schools of international affairs. Every Fall, the school enrolls approximately 265...
, Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
.
Travels
Han Bi-ya first became known for her travel books. She wrote a four-volume best seller, Daughter of the Wind: Three and a Half Times Around the Globe on Foot, an account of her seven-year (1993–1999) travels around the world. Han had quit a profitable and high-status job at Burson-MarstellerBurson-Marsteller
Burson-Marsteller is a global public relations and communications firm headquartered in the United States. Burson-Marsteller operates 67 wholly owned offices and 71 affiliate offices in 98 countries across six continents...
, a global public relations and communications firm, and jumped into what she liked most.
Han explored the world, especially many isolated regions, alone and on foot, rarely taking flights. Also, her explorations were not like ordinary trips in that she actually stayed in local people’s home as many times as possible and truly experienced the local culture. In some countries like Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, it is sometimes very difficult and dangerous especially for a woman to talk to a local man and stay in his home. In the book, Han states that she put herself in hazardous situations and was fortunate to survive. These adventurous and vivid stories fascinate readers.
The last and most important thing in her travel is that she decided to devote her life to helping refugees as a volunteer worker. During her ventures to the world, Han Bi-ya experienced the awakening moment. She realized that the world is not a Global Village
Global Village
Global Village is an Australian television show broadcast by the Australian public broadcaster SBS. The program is hosted by Silvio Rivier, who also does many of the voice overs. In 2008 it combined with Thalassa, a French documentary series, to expand its coverage of coastal areas.Global Village...
, but a "Global House".
However, Han Bi-ya has said that she would no longer travel although her traveling rocked her life and let her discover the meaning of her life. She had received enough joy from travel and now something else makes her heart beats, helping refugees.
Emergency relief works
Han Bi-ya has been a World Vision Korea Emergency Relief Team Leader since 2001 to stop her work by August 2009 for studying humanitarian supports and relief and has been promoting international awareness of the world's refugee crises. She has been active in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central and South America. Han Bi-ya said that her refugee relief activities have helped her realize the urgent need to develop diverse mechanisms for preventing wars and conflicts around the world. She hopes she can come up with an idea to deal with international affairs in the future through the experiences in relief activities.Her book, March to the World, Off the Map explains several sadness and smiles upon her work around the world. Recently she appeared one TV show to explain her joy and life of work. At the show, she became the first person who explained the ceremony of circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
to viewers of Korea, held widely in Africa as a passage rites especially for girls and kills thousands of females per year to provoke unbelievable responses.
Inspiration
Han Bi-ya has said that “The happiest person is someone who is on the spot, doing what he or she really wants to do and braveness comes when you don't have fear in trying something, and the degree of braveness varies according to how eagerly you wish to do it. If you find a thing which you think you can die for, nothing can stop you.”Han Bi-ya added that she followed her own "timetable for life," without comparing it with others. She tries whatever she likes at any age.
Han Bi-ya has been a very influential and heroic figure for young people in Korea. Many young women have started to go on backpacking trips, following her routes.
Han gives a valuable lesson to the young on helping others in the world, and making a better world together. Listening about her or reading her books, many young Koreans learn to venture and expand their lives to the world, and use their abilities for the world.
Awards
- Youth Leader in Korea (YWCA), 2004
- One of the “100 people brightening the world” (Korea Green Foundation)
External links
- Daughter of the Wind Travels Around the World written by Pyo Jeonghun