The Korean Student Association has been approved by Student Development Services, making it TCU’s newest multicultural student organization.

Sang Byeon, a doctorate Biblical interpretation student at Brite and president of KOSA, said the primary mission of the organization is to “promote Korean culture and fellowship between Korean students” at TCU and “harmonious communication” among the members and other people interested in Korean culture.

Bomi Lee, a marketing major and secretary of KOSA, said it was necessary to establish the organization because of the increasing number of Korean students at TCU. The organization will help integrate Korean students and act as a forum for fellowship, she said.

John Singleton, director of International Student Services, said there are 34 Korean students from outside the U.S., and the organization would help create opportunities to look after one another and foster their culture to present it to the community.

The organization will also help freshman Korean students adjust and understand the American lifestyle, culture and academics by providing them information on various topics, Byeon said. KOSA is a forum to promote various aspects of Korean culture such as music, food, literature and more, he said.

“We want to add one more culture at TCU and want to share Korean culture with other students,” Byeon said.

Andrew Kim, a junior kinesiology, health and fitness major and a KOSA member, said he could help the incoming Korean students learn and adjust to the American culture since he is a Texas native. Also, he said, he would have a chance to learn about Korea and its diverse culture.

Byeon said the organization plans to coordinate different events during International Week and have a music festival in conjunction with the School of Music. He said the organization will also participate in various events organized by other student organizations and contribute to various cultural activities at TCU, including seminars with distinguished Korean-Americans and Koreans in the area to familiarize with Korean politics and history.

Any student can be a KOSA member by paying a $10 annual-membership fee and learn different aspects of the Korean culture, Lee said. However, members are expected to attend meetings and volunteer at the events KOSA organizes, he said.