Lauren McBroom is currently pursuing a dual undergraduate degree in International Relations and Asian Studies with a focus on Global Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University. She has always been interested in Asia, but became curious about Korean culture after working as an English conversational partner for South Korean teenagers in the summer of 2015. She became aware of human rights issues in North Korea after reading a book on the topic and was shocked by its harsh descriptions of life under the Kim regime. She wants to use this internship as a means to expand her knowledge of North Korean human rights and contribute to HRNK's cause. She plans to study abroad at Yonsei University next year to study the Korean language and learn more about inter-Korean relations.