The interviewee: Yeon Ji Oh
The interviewer: Chloe Berk
Interviewee Biography: Yeon Ji Oh is a South Korean national and the daughter of a diplomat who has grown up all over the world. She currently lives in Geneva, Switzerland, where she studies international relations at the University of Geneva. Her Korean identity has been shaped by all of the international cross-border experiences she has in her life, which include living in Seoul, France, Auckland, Algiers, and Geneva, maintaining multiple languages, and navigating the ties between language, culture, and cultural identity. Next semester, in Spring 2026, Yeon Ji plans to study abroad in Seoul to “bridge” her Korean and Swiss identities and study international relations from a Korean-centric viewpoint. Yeon Ji went to high school with my best friend at Colby who is a Swiss-American national, Sophia Gabriele, at Ecolint: The International School of Geneva.
Interview Synopsis: In this interview, Yeon Ji reflects on how her global upbringing shapes and resonates with her Korean identity, the many languages she speaks, and her sense of belonging depending on where she is in the world. Having attended high school in Geneva, she chose to remain there for university to study international relations. She also discusses her favorite aspects of maintaining Korean culture abroad, such as keeping traditions alive, and shares some of her favorite foods and activities in Seoul. This conversation explores themes of identity, language, and movement, encouraging reflection on how living between cultures can deepen one’s understanding of home, heritage, and global connection. This interview was conducted remotely via Zoom, as she is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and I am in Waterville, Maine. This interview was conducted by Chloe Berk, a third year History and Global Studies major at Colby College who is interested in working in human rights.