Sogang Freshman Wins Gold Prize in the Fifth University Student Debate Competition on Trade Policy

In the fifth University Student Debate Competition on Trade Policy (Trade Challenge) hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Lee Tae-gyu, a freshman of 2021 in the School of Economics was bestowed Gold Prize. This prize was awarded by the Chairman of Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, the National Assembly of South Korea. The award ceremony was held on November 11 at Baekyangnuri Hall, Yonsei University. 

A total number of 34 teams participated in the debate competition and submitted essays on "What is Korea's choice amid the China-US competition over hegemony?". After each essay was appraised, a total of sixteen teams were nominated by the screening committee of the Korean Association of Trade and Industry Studies. Participating under the team name Black Swan (one person), student Lee Tae-gyu beat his debate opponents, making it to the pre-quarterfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and eventually to the finals. In the finals, he competed against team Neoul (three people) of Korea University on the topic "COVID-19 vaccines should be exempted from IP protections." Lee won the second place and received Gold Prize.

The Gold Prize-winner Lee Tae-gyu said, "Participating and winning as a one-person team holds great meaning to me. I want to become a trade expert who is able to formulate comprehensive judgments on economic, social and political factors amid rising uncertainties and complexity in the international state of affairs in East Asia." He added, "I believe this is the first step towards developing into a trade expert and being actively involved in the highly competitive global arena."

▲ (From left) Kim Jeong-il, Chief of the Office of International Trade and Legal Affairs and Gold prize-winner Lee Tae-gyu (photo credit: MOTIE)