LABUAN — Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus (UMSLIC) student Manmohan A/L Nathan represented Malaysia at two international youth platforms in South Korea, where he took part in discussions on peace, sustainable development, innovation and youth leadership.
The Johor-born student participated in the One Korea Youth Forum and South Korea International Summer Summit (SKISS) 2026 in Seoul from Aug 11 to 13, engaging with young participants from various countries on global challenges and youth-led solutions.
At the One Korea Youth Forum, Manmohan joined discussions on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance to peace, development, cooperation and the future of the Korean Peninsula.
A significant highlight was his participation in taking the Declaration of the Youth Solidarity for One Korea, following which he was appointed a Global Ambassador of Youth Solidarity for One Korea.
In the role, he is expected to contribute to youth leadership efforts related to peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula, while serving as a bridge between the international community and the younger generation.
At SKISS 2026, Manmohan participated in the Peace Innovation Challenge, where his team developed the Korea Growth Bridge 2040 concept, linked to SDG 8.1 on sustainable economic growth.
The project examined economic and employment challenges that could arise from the development gap between South and North Korea and explored how economic cooperation could support a more sustainable future for the Korean Peninsula.
The proposed framework focused on four areas — Knowledge Bridge, Innovation Bridge, People Bridge and Economic Bridge — covering cooperation in research, technology, education, skills development, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic participation.
His participation also earned several recognitions, including the SDGs Inspiring Leader Awards 2026, Top 30 Academic Presenter in Peace and Innovation, Top 30 Best Delegates and Youth Leader Outstanding Award.
During his visit, Manmohan also paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Malaysia in Seoul, where he was received by MARA Student Affairs Counsellor Mohd Zul Faisal.
The visit provided an opportunity to exchange views on Malaysian youth, international education, student development and support for Malaysian students and young people abroad.
Throughout both programmes, Manmohan shared perspectives on opportunities for Malaysian youth in leadership development, international programmes, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, innovation and youth empowerment.
He said representing Malaysia internationally was not merely about attending programmes but also about learning, exchanging ideas and bringing the experience back to Malaysia to benefit other young people.
His participation in South Korea adds to his international youth leadership experience, having previously represented Malaysia at the Universal Youth Leadership Summit (UYLS) 2025 in the Maldives, the Youth Dialogue Forum 2025 in Dubai and the Youth World Summit 2026 in Paris, France.
He is also a member of the Majlis Perundingan Belia Negara for the 2025–2026 session and has been involved in youth leadership activities at UMS Labuan International Campus.
Born in Johor and pursuing his university education in Labuan, Manmohan hopes his international journey will encourage more young Malaysians, particularly those from Labuan and Sabah, to pursue international opportunities and participate in global discussions.
“I am still learning about my own potential to represent Malaysia. Every international programme gives me a different perspective, and I hope to bring those experiences back and share them with the youth in Malaysia,” he said.
