Andrea C. Heyward

Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Year: Class of 2021 
Majors: International Relations and Communications with a concentration in Global Communications 
 
Andrea first took an interest in Korean culture after being introduced to the language by a high school friend. Alongside her studies in Spanish, she self-studied Korean for three years before matriculating to Penn and testing into the intermediate-level Korean language course. While self-studying, Andrea learned a great deal about Korean traditions like Chuseok and pansori, but she wanted to delve deeper into the history of Korea. She feels grateful to have the opportunity to learn more about it in the company of like-minded colleagues.
 
Outside of her interest in Korean culture and tradition, Andrea is excited to explore the Korean Peninsula from the lens of diplomatic and economic relations. She is fascinated by the extraordinary economic development of South Korea and the policies and decisions that spurred its progress. By the end of her time as a Kim Program Undergraduate Fellow, she anticipates having a more nuanced view of the conflict between North and South Korea and how it figures into global affairs. Andrea plans to study abroad in South Korea during her junior year, carrying with her the knowledge gained from her experience in the program and a greater understanding and appreciation of the country.  In addition to being a Kim Program Undergraduate Fellow, Andrea serves as Programming Co-Chair for the United Minorities Council, planning events that bring awareness to cultural diversity on campus.