From May 22 to June 16, the exhibition Reading and Seeing Diversity was held at the Central Library Book Cafe and Kwanjeong Mediaplex. Co-hosted by the Seoul National University Diversity Council and the SNU Library, the exhibition featured 30 books and ten films selected through a contest held in April. Visitors were able to enjoy the recommended books and DVDs at the library. Exhibited works covered a wide range of diversity issues including refugees, disabilities, gender, LGBTQ+,and animal rights.

Books exhibited at the Central Library

Diversity in the university is essential in enhancing inclusivity and fairness within the university community. Seoul National University Diversity Council has been making great efforts to promote a culture of inclusion at SNU, engaging in a range of activities such as holding forums on human rights, conducting surveys on equality, and proposing diversity policies on campus. The SNU Library has been pursuing the "Library with Culture'' project to strengthen its role as a provider of cultural content. As part of this, the Book and Film Exhibition has been held at the Library since 2019.

The book concert held on June 22 invited Myeong-hee Pyo, the author of One Day, Refugee, one of the books recommended at the contest. One Day, Refugee deals with refugees, who she calls "strange neighbors from afar." Pyo wrote the novel based on her experience of living withrefugees in the Incheon area. Throughout the novel, the author argues that the term "refugee" does not simply refer to unfamiliar visitors from other countries. "When you wish to become part of a new community but are not immediately welcomed, or when you find yourself pushed out of the community even though you thought you were rooted in it – anyone can become a refugee," said Pyo.

The book concert of Myeong-hee Pyo, the author of One Day, Refugee

Reading and Seeing Diversity exhibition, which marks its fifth anniversary this year, provided a great opportunity for the SNU community to become aware of discrimination against the underprivileged and learn the need to promote diversity on campus. A film screening and audience discussions on one of the recommended films will be held in November.

Written by Jimin Han, SNU English Editor, thatsmejimin@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr