A mother of a young elementary schooler with developmental disabilities drew a block from a Jenga tower and read the question written on it.

“If you could live as your child for a day?”

She paused briefly, then calmly answered: “When my child was little, I used to wonder, ‘Is our kid an alien?’ Like in a sci-fi movie, I imagined an alien host had entered their brain and they couldn't adapt to Earth... If I were to trade places with my child for a day, I feel like I'd be the main character of a horror movie. The harsh noises, metal clanging… I can only imagine how terrifying the world must feel in the middle of Seoul.”

Three other mothers sitting beside her nodded in quiet, empathetic agreement. This took place in the Open Lab Studio at Kyung Hee University. On July 16, the Media Noon team had been filming there for three hours for their documentary, "Education for Children with Disabilities and Public Awareness of Special Education."

Jo Eunchong, director of Media Noon and the shoot's coordinator, explained the team's unique approach: "We want to create and share videos on public interest issues, but honestly, not many people watch them... So instead of using sad, pity-evoking background music, we decided to keep it light and fun—that's why we brought in Jenga."

We earn money elsewhere to keep going

Media Noon is a nonprofit youth media collective launched in 2017 with the vision of "giving value to every voice," promoting the value of diversity through public-interest content. In 2018, they covered topics like North Korean defector youth and migrant youth. In early 2019, they produced media content about elderly creators and youth practicing eco-friendly lifestyles. Currently, they're working on two projects simultaneously: one on children with disabilities and another on out-of-school youth.

We aim to amplify everyday voices, not just expert opinions

"We're grounded in peace journalism and solutions journalism," the team explained. "Beyond standard media practices, our goal is to spread a culture of peace where diverse members of society can coexist. Instead of only featuring expert voices, we focus on the lived experiences of everyday citizens. Rather than just scratching the surface of problems, we try to look at their roots."

When asked about their revenue model, the team was resolute. "We've thought about it a lot... but we decided to remain a nonprofit. Many media startups disappear once they hit limits in their profit model. So we agreed: even if we have to earn income elsewhere, we'll sustain Media Noon as a civic, nonprofit effort."

Beyond Production: Fostering Dialogue

The team's work doesn't stop at creating content. "We don't just stop at producing articles and videos—we organize talk concerts to connect sources and citizens directly," they said. Their impact is growing; a 14-part series on North Korean defector youth was featured on OhmyNews, and in May 2019, they won the grand prize in the video category of the Ministry of Culture's "Cultural Diversity and Value-Tourism Content Contest."

Projects Born from Personal Stories

Project ideas often stem from personal experiences. One member's regret over resenting an autistic classmate's head start in a school race evolved into their project on disability rights. Another's encounter with a North Korean defector in a dance class sparked their series on defector youth. "Someone else practiced not using shampoo for a month," the team recalled, "that experience inspired our Eco Youth content."

Funding with Purpose

The team has been resourceful in securing funding from various foundations, including Kyung Hee University's 'Transition 21' program, the Dongcheon Foundation, the Forest and Sharing Foundation, and the Human Rights Foundation. These funds cover essential reporting and operational costs, with small stipends that often just cover public transportation.

Reflecting on the broader landscape, the team wishes for more support for non-profit ventures. "The government offers lots of programs for youth entrepreneurship—but most of the funding goes to startups with visible profit potential... We hope some support can go to youth civic groups or social enterprises that aim not to fail, not because they're profitable, but because they serve the public."

The interview concluded with one final, powerful Jenga question. When asked what she would do as Minister of Education, a mother responded, "I'd merge the training systems for special education and general education teachers... I believe inclusive education must start with inclusive teacher training."