Campbell University senior Juyeon Kang, competed for the title of Miss Korea this summer in Seoul, South Korea. The business administration major was approached about modeling work. Through that experience, she learned about the opportunities available for the Miss Korea pageants. “I felt blessed to be honored with such an opportunity in my life,” said Kang. In the United States, there are five locations where primary pageants are held for Miss Korea, New York being the biggest. Miss Korea holds primary pageants all over the world in order to provide an opportunity for Korean woman living abroad. The top contestants of the primary pageants are eligible to compete in the overall Miss Korea pageant in Seoul. Kang won the New York pageant.While she did not win the larger pageant in Seoul, Kang said it gave her a chance to pursue alternate opportunities. “After the pageant, I had a chance to work for the presidential campaign of Myung-Bak Lee, who is one of the contenders for the upcoming Korean presidential election,” said Kang. “Also, since I am staying in the United States, I have been presented with offers to serve as a master of ceremonies for cultural exchange events.” Kang said she couldn’t have gotten this far without the support of her friends and family.”I have loved every minute of my journey through Buies Creek,” she said. “Thanks to the friends and faculty I have come across at Campbell University.”Kang is president of the Korean Student Association (KSA) at Campbell. “The goal of the KSA is to share aspects of Korean and Korean-American culture with the larger community around us,” said Kang. Kang would like to attend graduate school and study International Relations and hopes to work at the United Nations.”I want to experience different cultures and viewpoints,” she said. Kang said she is grateful for the pageant experience, but is ready to take a break from the stage. “I don’t think I will be in any more pageants,” she said. “To be frank, I am tired of dieting. It was so difficult to shape up and study at the same time. So now I am enjoying food, especially ice-cream and BoJangles.” Photo Copy- Campbell University senior Juyeon Kang competed for the title of Miss Korea this summer in Seoul, South Korea.
Campbell student competes in Korean beauty pageant