Yonsei University Debate Team Wins Fall 2021 Korea National Championship

Yonsei University students seek the school spirit of “truth and freedom” through various club activities. For Yonsei Underwood Union (YUU), uncovering the truth takes the form of constant debate and discussions. YUU is Yonsei University’s premier and only English varsity debating society. Founded in 2006, it is a member institution of the Korea Intervarsity Debate Association (KIDA). Recently, YUU yielded spectacular achievements, winning the KIDA Korea National Championship, also dubbed as KNC.

Considered the largest and most prestigious domestic parliamentary debate tournament, the 2021 Fall KNC was held virtually from November 12th to 14th, hosted by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Debate Society (HDS). As a biannual event, KNC is held every spring and fall semester, with members of KIDA hosting the tournament. The fall championship follows the British Parliamentary format, where each team consists of two debaters. Several teams from 13 renowned institutes fiercely competed in five preliminary rounds to break into the elimination rounds. Each round has different themes, including international relations, arts, feminism, media, and economics. Eight teams proceeded to the semi-finals, and four teams made it to the grand finals.

Yonsei Underwood Union dominated KNC with three teams going into the semi-finals. Two teams, YUU 1 (Jihun Park, Dongbin Lee) and YUU 4 (Kihun Song, Duc Toan Vu), made it to the Open Grand Finals, while YUU3 (Sojin Jung, Yesul Lee) ranked as Open Semi-finalists. After a neck-and-neck debate in the final round with a motion on relationships and technology, YUU claimed the national title for the first time since 2017. Jihun Park and Dongbin Lee were crowned Open Champions. Park had the honor of receiving the Open Grand Final best speaker award. Lee, the current president of YUU, recalled some of the most memorable moments. “The last debate in the preliminary rounds was on the dominant narrative of real estate in Korean society,” he said. “I got to talk about issues that are important and controversial in Korea right now. Dealing with such matter-heavy topics was especially meaningful.”

YUU’s competitive spirit was also seen in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) league, where debaters with minimal to no experience living abroad can participate. YUU 5, Doyeop Lee and Hyeli Hwang won the title of EFL Champions. Individual efforts of the members stood out throughout the competition, with many receiving best speaker awards. Sojin Jung (YUU 3), Jihun Park (YUU 1), and Dongbin Lee (YUU 1) were awarded the Open 4th, 5th, and 6th best speakers, respectively. Yesul Lee (YUU 3) ranked 4th in the Rookie best speaker awards.

Members of YUU give credit for their achievements to a series of debate practices and case studies. YUU alumni and experienced KIDA debaters provided lectures on various themes, including feminism, minorities, economics, and international relations. YUU is also known to participate in other tournaments such as the 2021 Tokyo NEADC, finding fruitful results. Professor Michael Hope, Associate Professor of Asian History in UIC, currently advises YUU.

“YUU has been a truly life-changing experience for me so far,” expressed Sojin Jung, Vice President of YUU this fall semester. For the members, YUU has been more than a school club – it is an opportunity to be the “first and the best,” as their official motto suggests. YUU awaits clever debaters committed to the intellectual sport of debating while working on the mission to unveil diverse aspects of truth.