As a student majoring in English Language and Literature, I joined GSEP (Global Trade Specialist Education Program) through my double major. It changed my boring university life completely.

GSEP was made to train students who are to become trade experts in the future and who are to lead the Korean trade market. For 18 months, the program offered many chances for me to take lessons in trade and to participate in many exhibitions which helped me get many certificates of qualification. Among many such opportunities I could take, the most important GSEP offered was participation in global exhibitions.

Under the support of MKE (Ministry of Knowledge Economy), KITA (Korea International Trade Association), and Daegu City, GSEP students can have the benefit of participating in many overseas exhibitions. This year, GSEP plans to participate in overseas exhibitions in Munich, Shanghai, Milan, and New York. For me, I participated in the Milan exhibition.

From March 3 to 9, I participated in the MIDO 2009 International Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology Exhibition. MIDO (Mostra Internazionale Di Ottica) is the most famous annual exhibition in the optics field. It is held in Nuovo Polo Fiera Milano. This year, 46,000 people and 1,240 companies from 131 countries participated, so it was a really big exhibition. I participated with SKC, a local optics company, which deals in nose pads that prevent glasses from slipping off their user's nose. I felt small seeing so many brilliant booths which such global brands as Nike or CK had. Renting the booths cost more than 10 million won. I was surprised at the booth’s cost, and I thought that the exhibition industry has major growth possibility.

I was in charge of an advertisement booth selling samples and meeting foreign buyers. On the first day, I put my strength forth in advertising the booth. However, I was surprised to find such exhibitions were fierce wars even if they seemed like festivals. Many people endeavored to defeat the other competitors. When we took a rest for a few minutes, we could see the number of visiting buyers decrease, and it made it hard to stop advertising.

From the second day, I learned about the ways of selling samples and meeting buyers. The experience was different from what I learned from classes, which made me surprised. At first, I had difficulty having a conversation with foreigners, but gradually I got accustomed to business English and could find my new self.

Through my participation in the exhibition, I experienced many practical things other students cannot experience easily. Even though I had to undertake a lot of tasks that I had not expected, I discovered a bigger world than before. I would like to highly recommend GSEP for Keimyung sophomores or juniors who want to become global trade experts in the future. I hope to meet you in the GSEP program.