From Korean Retirees, Helpful Words

Princeton students studying Korean are finding a connection with retirees in South Korea. While working at a senior center in Seoul, Yongmin Cho ’14 often heard older residents express a desire to contribute to society after leaving the workforce. Cho created Seniors and Youth (SAY) as a way to empower the seniors, enhance the fluency of Princeton students, and encourage communication between the generations. Students converse in Korean for 30 minutes each week with a “grandparent” from the senior center; in the photo, Kelsey Henderson ’15 talks via Skype with 73-year-old Jae Kwon Lee. Topics range from career aspirations to marriage customs. “There’s something about talking to someone who’s older who is not related to you — you can tell them things that you wouldn’t necessarily tell your parents or grandparents,” said Julie Chong ’17. Cho, who is on a two-year leave from the University to serve in South Korea’s armed forces, will return to Princeton in the spring.