On April 19,  Dean You Jong-il of KDI School and Chairman Jung Hae-gu of the National Research Council (NRC) visited Uzbekistan to build partnerships with Uzbekistan government institutions. During his visit, he got to meet the Uzbekistan Alumni Association at the Grand Dinner. We were all so happy to reconnect with our honorable alumni, who continue to serve their communities as agents of positive change after their time at KDI School. 

After our Dean delivered a short opening remark, Mr. Jobirkhon Muminov (2012 MPP), one of our proud Uzbek alum shared with us this wonderful speech on behalf of the alumni association:

Good evening,

Dear Ladies and gentlemen, our beloved Dean, esteemed faculty, distinguished guests and fellow KDI School Alumni.

It is an honor to stand here tonight as a proud Alumni of KDI School. 

As I reflect on my time at KDI School, I can't help but think how my life has changed after becoming a government official. Okay, maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but KDI School has definitely prepared me for the unexpected.

I still remember my first day, wondering if I had stumbled into some secret government facility by mistake. Little did I know that this was just the beginning of my adventure at KDI School.

The first thing that everyone needs to know about KDI School is that it's basically a scholarship factory. We have more scholarship names than we have students. And forget about your name, it's all about your scholarship here. "Hey, G20, how's it going?" "Oh, just trying to survive MPP, how about you, KOICA?" It's like a weird, nerdy version of the Hunger Games.

I mean, who else can say that they were called by their scholarship name? It's like we were all members of some sort of secret organization. I guess we can all agree that we were lucky to be among the 95% of student body who got full scholarships.

And let's talk about the campus. The Seoul campus, where myself and most of us here have studied was shared with KAIST, which meant that we were basically invisible to each other. The Seoul campus was located on a hill so steep, I'm pretty sure they used to train mountain climbers there. And the dormitory, Haejungsa, was even higher. If you made it to class without losing a lung, you were already ahead of the game. It's a good thing that we were all in our prime physical condition back then.

And speaking of location, I remember meeting students from Korea University and Kyung Hee University and don't even get me started on trying to explain to those students where KDI School was. It was like trying to describe a unicorn to a blind person. Or it's like we were the black sheep of the university family around that neighborhood. But hey, now we have a new modern campus in Sejong city, which is bigger and better, and it’s the envy of all other universities. But I’m pretty sure that the rich experience we all got from any campuses of KDI School is quite similar.

Now let's talk about the facilities. 

First thing that comes to mind is a LIBRARY.

The library was like a battlefield. Trying to get a spot there was like trying to get a ticket to a BTS concert. And once you found your spot, it was like winning the lottery.

But we had our own little world, with the best library among Korean universities. 

And OH the printer room. It was like the Bermuda Triangle of papers. You could lose your mind trying to get your papers printed on time.

And the computer lab had the latest and state-of-the-art technology, but I’m sure most of us have uses the lab for watching some trending YouTube videos.

And my favorite one, let's not forget about the kitchen, the one place where we could all come together and bond over our love of international cuisine. Just don't get too distracted by the soccer match or Korean dramas, or your meal might disappear.

Of course, it wasn't all about the facilities. We had some pretty exciting events too, like the Spring Hiking, the Song & Dance Festival, and the International Food Festival. And who could forget about the Happy Hour? 

It usually started with pizza and chicken and ended with a pounding headache the next day. It was the one time of the week where we could all let loose and forget about our studies. And the next day, we would all suffer from the dreaded hangovers.

And the buddy program? Let's just say I'm still trying to understand what my buddy from Vietnam was saying. Because I was not sure what language they were speaking.

But it wasn't just about the parties. We also had some amazing field trips, like the Korea Field Research and Study program. We got to visit major industrial zones and sites like POSCO and Hyundai Heavy Industries Corporation. It was like a crash course in Korea's modern economy.

Let's not forget about the clubs. If you wanted to start a club, all you had to do was breathe. Everyone wanted to start a club, even if it was just for collecting the bottle caps.

There was a club for every sport, every culture, every religion. We even had a club for people who just wanted to sit around and do nothing. And if you couldn't find a club that suited your interests, you could always start your own. It was like a easiest way to get a budget for food.

And the Student Forums? We discussed the most significant challenges facing the world, and then promptly forgot about them the next day.

And finally, the networking programs. The Home Visiting Program, where Korean families could introduce us to their culture and modern family lifestyles, it was fascinating. 

But in all seriousness, what really made KDI School special was the people. The professors, staff, and fellow students were some of the brightest and most talented individuals I've ever met.

KDI School was an incredible experience. It gave me the knowledge, skills, and connections I needed to become a successful human being at first place.

And who knows, maybe one day I'll even become a famous blogger or YouTuber. Hey, anything is possible.

And the KDI School Alumni Association (KAA)? Let's just say that they are more than just a club. They are a family.

So let me end my speech by saying thank you to the Dean, professors, and distinguished guests for organizing this fantastic dinner. 

In conclusion, I want to thank ChatGPT for helping me prepare this speech. And don't worry, I've checked it for plagiarism.

After all, we all know how big of a deal plagiarism was at KDI School.

Thank you all, and let's raise a glass to KDI School!