MUN is short for Model United Nations, and as one of the current members put it, “It’s Hetalia roleplay”. Students get to act as delegates of various countries and conferences in different committees modelled after the UN. These bodies include the UN General Assembly, Security Council, and more all with the purpose of discussing major global issues like the exploitation of workers by the fast fashion industry, hyperinflation in South American countries, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Each school year, there are two to three conferences that students can attend with practices every week after or during O-block (though schedules may vary next year).
While the “sport” has come to an end for the 2025-2026 school year, you can always start early by talking to Mr. Thorne (thornew [at] tcis.or.kr) in the Resources Room.
- Public Speaking
Through a moderated caucus (that’s a fancy way of saying debate/negotiations), you get to improve your skills in speaking impromptu, and responding to the concerns of other nations. There’s also the potential of winning prizes like “Best Delegate” or “Honorable Mention” for exceptional work in negotiating a peaceful resolution. Alternatively, you can also act as a chair, meaning that you get to guide discussions and debates on the chosen issue.
- Educate yourself on present-day global issues
A core part of preparing for MUN conferences is researching the issue at hand including the stances of other countries on that issue within your chosen committee.
- Boost your college application and credentials
High school MUN is a great opportunity to show colleges that you are enthusiastic about global issues, and have experience negotiating, debating, and public speaking.
- Free Goodies
MUN gives you plenty of goodies once you get there. During Branksome Hall Asia MUN IV in January, all delegates received pens, notepads, and sheep plushies.
- Save the world (or destroy it)
One committee that stands out in MUN is Historical or Fictional Crisis. According to Sabine L. (11) who participated this year at BHAMUN, “It’s basically a strategy game”, and it quite literally offers you a chance to rewrite history. Essentially, the chair will start off with a real world event, but introduce new twists to the story that may be fictional. For example, for the COVID-19 pandemic, the chair introduced a twist where a terrorist organization began destroying the vaccine labs of various countries.
The story ended as follows:
“Putin got EU nations to lift sanctions, created a new vaccine while everyone was distracted by a fictional terrorist organization, and saved the world. Also, Xi Jin Ping got exiled to Greenland”
– Sabine L. (11)
If this sounds like something you would enjoy, consider joining!