Han Bi-ya

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Han Bi-ya (born 1958 in Seoul, South Korea) is a celebrated Korean travel writer, relief worker and refugee advocate. She has published a number of best-selling travel books and now leads the Emergency Relief Team for World Vision Korea.

1 Education
2 Travels
3 Emergency relief work
4 Awards
5 Books
6 Inspiration
7 References

[edit] Education

Han Bi-ya attended Seungeui(숭의)Girls' High School in Seoul. She studied English Literature at Hongik University and completed graduate studies at the University of Utah.

[edit] Travels

Han Bi-ya first became known for her travel books. She wrote a four-volume best seller, Daughter of the Wind: Three and a Half Times Around the Globe on Foot, an account of her seven-year (1993-1999) travels around the world. Han had quit a profitable and high-status job at Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations and communications firm, and jumped into what she liked most.^[1]

Several aspects of this decision are of interest. One is that she gave up a good job at the age of thirty five. Many would not dare to do so because they believe that they have to work hard for money and a secure life, and are afraid of taking risks. However, Han took the challenge of changing her life.

Another is that Han explored the world, especially many isolated regions, alone and on foot, rarely taking flights. Also, her explorations were not like ordinary trips in that she actually stayed in local people’s home as many times as possible and truly experienced the local culture. And this has inspired many people in Korea. In the some countries like Afghanistan, it is sometimes very difficult and dangerous especially for a woman to talk to a local man and stay in his home. In the book, Han states that she put herself in hazardous situations and was fortunate to survive. These adventurous and vivid stories fascinate readers.

The last and most important thing in her travel is that she decided to devote her life to helping refugees as a volunteer worker. During her ventures to the world, Han Bi-ya experienced the awakening moment. She realized that the world is not a Global Village, but a “Global House."^[2]

However, Han Bi-ya has said that she would no longer travel although her traveling rocked her life and let her discover the meaning of her life. She had received enough joy from travel and now something else makes her heart beats, helping refugees.^[3]

[edit] Emergency relief work

Han Bi-ya has been a World Vision Korea Emergency Relief Team Leader since 2001 and has been promoting international awareness of the world's refugee crises. She has been active in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central and South America. Han Bi-ya said that her refugee relief activities have helped her realize the urgent need to develop diverse mechanisms for preventing wars and conflicts around the world. She hopes she can come up with an idea to deal with international affairs in the future through the experiences in relief activities.

[edit] Awards

Youth Leader in Korea (YWCA), 2004
One of the “100 people brightening the world” (Korea Green Foundation)

[edit] Books

Daughter of the Wind, A journey round Korea (1999)
Daughter of the Wind, Three and a Half Times Around the Globe On Foot (2000)

Volume 1 - Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia
Volume 2 - Central and South America, Alaska
Volume 3 - Indochina peninsula, South Asia
Volume 4 - Mongolia, China, Tibet

Travel to China of Han Biya (2001)
March to the World, Off the Map (2005)

[edit] Inspiration

Han Bi-ya has said that “The happiest person is someone who is on the spot, doing what he or she really wants to do and braveness comes when you don't have fear in trying something, and the degree of braveness varies according to how eagerly you wish to do it. If you find a thing which you think you can die for, nothing can stop you.”^[4]

Han Bi-ya added that she followed her own "timetable for life," without comparing it with others. She tries whatever she likes at any age.

Han Bi-ya has been a very influential and heroic figure for young people in Korea. Many young women have started to go on backpacking trips, following her routes.^[5]

Han gives a valuable lesson to the young on helping others in the world, and making a better world together. Listening about her or reading her books, many young Koreans learn to venture and expand their lives to the world, and use their abilities for the world.

There is a fan cafe online for Han at http://cafe.daum.net/hanviya. In this internet community, many people talk about how greatly Han Bi-ya has influenced their lives.