▲ A Booth of Korea University Disabled Association (KUDA) at People’s Square. Photographed by Kim Yejin

The first day of "Gonggi 2016: Week of Human Rights" initiated on October 10. The festival, which is to be held for three days, is hosted by several organizations of Korea Univeristy (KU) as follows: KU Student Union (KUSA) Star:zari, KU Feminism Association, Association of Minorities Human Rights in KU, KU Disabled Association (KUDA), KU Human Rights Center, KU Sexual Minority Student Club: Saramgwasaram, and the KU Graduate School Student Union.

Star:zari introduced the theme of the Week of Human Rights as gonggi, a Korean term for air. This is because people take their human rights for granted, but feel uncomfortable if they are without it, just like air. Rather than taking this inconvenience for granted, the attempts and efforts to fix human rights problems can alleviate the inconvenience of people who are suffering. Star:zari and other organizations said, "During this event, we hope to express ourselves through diverse exhibitions, booths and projects."

The event started, at the People's Square with a booth provided a place in which people can freely share their opinions about human rights. On the second day, the booth will be moved to the Nobel Plaza. "As a woman and a member of the Feminism Association, I earnestly hope that there would be no more sexual abuses, and we are willing to share worries and solutions," said Cha Seoyeong ('14 Economics), who is working at the KU Feminism Associaiton booth.

Also, during the event, five movies about human rights are going to be screened in Centennial Memorial SAMSUNG Hall, Theater on the second floor. On the first day, the movie Act of Killing (2012) was screened, making students rethink about justice and banality of evil. 

Moreover, Association of Minorities Human Rights in KU organized a “laid-back teahouse” aiming to create a space in which people can relax and talk about themselves. On Tuesday, October 11 7:00 P.M., there will be KU Feminism Association lecture project with a topic of “Be Sensitive” at the College of Science, which is about sexual discrimination. Next in line on Wednesday 7:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M., there is a lecture about human rights of soldiers at the Hana Square Hall.