Theme: Back on Black

All colors of the rainbow blend into black. Given that all colors of the rainbow represent difference, black, mixture of all colors, is a concept that stands for many different states. For example, black symbolizes both death and the beginning of the world and both arrogance and frugality. Black stimulates a variety of emotions as well. Some look at the color black and feel scared, while others feel comfortable, like when we tug ourselves in bed at night.
However, normally black is hidden by light. To us who live in a vivid world, black isn’t easily noticeable. But where there is light, there is always shadow. We must indicate the presence of black as it is an undeniable part of our lives. 2018 Fall TEDxSNU is willing to provide a forum for such indication. As black as the main character of the event, we would like to share diverse ideas black encompasses. We are anticipating talks about the expression of black, black areas, black periods of time, and so on. By providing audiences with the opportunity to contemplate the meaning of black, our conference will lead them to a more complete understanding of their lives.

Gaon Hall, SNU Dormitory Building 900
Seoul National Univ., Daehak-dong, Gwanak-gu
Seoul, Seoul Teugbyeolsi, 151-742
South Korea

Christopher Shin Packard

Bartender

Christopher Shin Packard originally hails from Toledo, Ohio but has lived in California, Louisiana, and New York. He served two tours in Iraq during 2005 and 2007 as a military analyst for the 10th Mountain Infantry Division of the US Army and subsequently graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Liberal Studies. He currently resides in Seoul and can be found operating a popular nightlife destination named Blacklist in the heart of the Itaewon area. He enjoys walking his dog, cooking, and bonding with his customers and friends late into the night.

I-hyang Dong

Director, Playwright

Ihyang Dong is a playwright and a director. To her a play is a poem composed of darkness, light, space, body, words and events. In the practice room and the theater, she and her theatrical company Du explore the present and the contemporaries. In the darkness of Ihyang Dong and theatrical company Du’s theater, their incomplete but meaningful stories shine brightly. What Ihyang Dong and her theatrical company Du are doing is just like alchemy. As alchemists make gold out of stone, they are making invaluable stories out of things we regard valueless.

Russel. H. Park

Diver

Russel. H. Park is an underwater explorer who fulfills his dreams. Growing up as a child, he learned photography and dreamed about his picture getting published in National Geographic. Learning to scuba dive, he dreamed to dive into the deepest waters using technical diving. Now his underwater photo is published in the Korean National Geographic magazine, and he is one of heroes who attempted to dive in 150 meters in a TV documentary. He is fulfilling his dreams one at a time through underwater exploration. His next dream is to make an underwater documentary movie with his fellow teammates.

Yangsoo Jung

Family Medicine Specialist

Yangsoo Jung is a family medicine specialist, who has worked as a life-saving doctor for the past twenty years. After having the chance of practicing in hospice care and working as a doctor who guides well-dying, he learned to bend down and listen to the patients’ last lessons of life. He relays the stories of patients who confronted death itself and the wisdom of acknowledging death to bring change in our lives.

Younghee Song

Social entrepreneur (N-VISIONS Corp. CEO)

Younghee Song is the representative of the social enterprise N-VISIONS. When he was 19 he lost his sight and became interested in creating new jobs for the blind. After working as a piano tuner and a computer stenographer, he is currently running the 'Dialogue in the Dark' exhibition in Korea. He wishes through the exhibition, an unique cultural experience, we eventually acknowledge that limited sight is not a barrier to but rather a mean of communication.