Vol. 5 [Publisher's Letter]

Recently, the Netflix series Ready or Not: Texas has been gaining modest popularity. The series begins with restaurants and streets in Dallas, where I lived until last year, and even dedicates an entire final episode to visiting Austin, home to my alma mater. While it was refreshing to see familiar cities in Texas, it also raised an interesting question—why are people drawn to watching such unembellished, everyday moments of life in Texas?

Perhaps it is because the version of America most familiar to Korean audiences has long been defined by cities like New York or Los Angeles, or by the typical suburban lifestyle. In that context, the distinct character of Texas may feel both new and intriguing. In any case, it is clear that Korean interest in Texas—one of the most dynamic regions in the United States—is steadily growing.

At the same time, Texas is also increasingly turning its attention to South Korea, a country rapidly emerging as a global leader in both technology and culture. Reflecting this momentum, the Texas International Board of Advisory will convene in Seoul on April 15, followed by the first-ever Texas Global Alumni Summit, organized by UT Global, from April 16 to 18.

When I decided to take on the role of Alumni President in January of last year, it was with the goal of successfully hosting this very event. In many ways, the alumni activities we have carried out over the past year and into early this year have all been part of the build-up to this moment.

As we continue this journey of connecting one of America’s fastest-rising regions, Texas, with one of the world’s most dynamic nations, South Korea, I sincerely ask for your continued interest and active participation—not only in this event, but in all future alumni initiatives.

Thank you.

John Kim (PGE ’05) / Publisher / President of UTAKA