Plunging into Korean sports reporting

From sunburnt shoulders in Ōtautahi to frozen eyelashes in Seoul — the shift wasn’t just seasonal, it was surreal. It felt like I’d been plucked from one world and dropped straight into another, but there is not a thing I would change from my experience (aside from packing a couple more thermals.)

I’d never been overseas before – unless you count the blurry memory of riding the SpongeBob rollercoaster on the Gold Coast at age five – so when the Asia New Zealand Foundation offered me an internship in Seoul, my first reaction was excitement, quickly followed by what am I getting myself into?

The culture shock was real. I had very little Korean under my belt and even less idea how to navigate a city of nearly 10 million people. My first bus ride ended with me going the wrong direction, sitting awkwardly as the driver tried to help me with animated hand gestures. The subway was no better – I spent the first week consistently missing my stop or getting off early and just walking the rest of the way. But wow the public transport is a game changer. I very quickly discovered Seoul’s ability to work like a well-oiled machine, and slotting into that system wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated. Seoul is a city that hums with late-night energy, and despite its size, it feels safe and easy to explore – even at 2am on a convenience store run.

The newsroom, perched inside a 22-storey tower overlooking the city, was a completely different kind of intimidating. On my first day, I was asked to write a personal CV-style intro and hand it to every person in the office. I’d never felt shyer in my life – a strange sensation for someone as chatty as me. But everyone was warm, patient, and generous with their time. What started out nerve-wracking quickly became exciting.

Sport was the focus of my internship, but I soon realised that didn’t mean netball or the All Blacks. Here, it was football and baseball, two sports I was embarrassingly unfamiliar with, causing me to catch some stray looks from not knowing who Erling Haaland was. I had to rapidly learn new terminology, game structures, and players, and shadowed my lightning-fast colleagues Jiwhan and Jim to try and keep up.

While winter in Korea meant fewer games and slower news days due to sport slowing down for the season, it gave me time to absorb everything. I analysed wire stories from Yonhap, helped shape them into the JoongAng Daily house style, and slowly got familiar with Korean publishing software. The learning curve was steep, but eventually I was entrusted to handle a full day of website editing and uploads during the Korean New Year holiday – a big deal for someone who’d never written a Premier League headline two months earlier.

I’ll never forget that day – me, solo in my bedroom, editing and scheduling stories while everyone else was enjoying Seollal with their families. I was nervous at first, but it went smoothly. Being trusted like that reminded me why I love this industry: the adrenaline, the responsibility, and the quiet satisfaction of getting it right. My responsibility of uploading and editing wires became vital during the Asian Winter Games held in

China, as the Korean athletes banked some historic wins which called for plenty of stories needing to be published.

But my time in Korea wasn’t just about journalism. It was about growth. I learned to be alone – really alone – in a city where saying “good morning” to strangers isn’t the norm. I missed that part of Aotearoa. But I also learned how to embrace my own company and soak in everything happening around me. I took myself on solo trips, with nothing but my headphones keeping me company, trying new obscure foods like live octopus and chicken feet. I took self-timer pictures of myself by waterfalls or mustered up the courage to ask a local for a pic. This experience threw me in the deep end and I can confidently say it was the best thing I’ve ever done.

Working in the newsroom during Korea’s turbulent political landscape – including a dramatic presidential impeachment trial – was another highlight. The team’s calm, collected work ethic was inspiring. They were fast, accurate, and thoughtful. The editors helped mentor me on my first basketball story (another sport I knew little about), guiding me through rewrites and style edits without ever making me feel like I didn’t belong. The JoongAng team supported me through applying for jobs back home, with bucket loads of advice and support as I applied for jobs. It was evident they all cared about my future as a journalist and helped me put my best foot forward when taking my next steps as a professional in the industry.

Some of my favourite memories weren’t even work-related. I fell in love with the endless convenience stores. I know it sounds silly, but I could spend ages in there picking out snacks or heating up late-night ramen. Don’t get me started on the soft boiled eggs and banana milk coffees – way too good. I admired my co-workers not just as journalists, but as people – generous, funny, and incredibly smart. And though it took a while to adjust, I eventually found my rhythm, and with it, a quiet confidence. Korea is a fascinating country with endless stories to be shared, and I eagerly await my return to the country.

By the time I left, I felt like a different version of myself. More independent. More adaptable. More excited than ever to pursue journalism – wherever in the world it takes me.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Media Programme helps New Zealand journalists cover stories that shed light on Asia and on New Zealand’s ties to the region.

Our Media Travel Grants provide New Zealand journalists with funding to travel independently to Asia to research and prepare stories – to help demystify Asia for New Zealand audiences.

Asia Media Centre