BaeNaChi is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

What does BaeNachi Mean?   

BaeNaChi is an acronym of three Korean words (Bae-oom 배움, Na-noom 나눔, Chi-yu 치유) meaning respectively learning, sharing, and healing. 

What’s the BNC mission?

BNC is committed to creatively connecting all tangible and intangible values and resources from rural communities, agriculture (forestry and fishery included), and ecosystem: nature, food, language, culture, arts, history, tradition, people, community, etc. BNC’s mission is to provide both travelers and rural communities with the opportunities to connect, grow, and heal culturally, socially, economically, and spiritually. Global and cross-cultural urban-rural connection and regenerative community development through this connection take priority. 

As the name suggests, BNC is all about learning, sharing, and healing. Learning entails seeking wisdom and spiritual intelligence beyond knowledge and information. Sharing is deeply connecting and sharing life with all beings on this earth through genuine appreciation, respect, and love for one another. Healing (mind-body-spirit) emphasizes the compassionate inner connection with self, which will empower us to truly heal and love others.

What are the key features of the BNC programs? 

All BNC programs are glocal and cross-cultural in nature. "Glocal" refers to our basic approach to BNC programs and life in general with both global perspective and local connection. We also make all our programs "cross-cultural" by facilitating sharing and exchange of different cultures both locally and globally.   

1) Edu-Voluntourism Traveling with a main purpose of volunteering and education. Through a variety of innovative community partnerships and collaborations, we offer travelers opportunities to share their hearts, knowledge, talents, and skills in return for invaluable life experiences and learning along with precious memories, friendship, and spiritual growth. 

BNC edu-voluntourism programs are cross-cultural and interdisciplinary, creatively connecting and combining the participants’ diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives as well as work and life experiences. BNC will match these valuable resources with the needs of the destination communities. It will be an exciting travelling school of life, an earth village school without borders, in which travelers become both teachers and students at the same time. 

2) Social Agri-Eco-Rural Tourism Agritourism, ecotourism, and rural tourism from social perspectives. Travel themes are various social issues related with agriculture, eco-system, and rural communities, such as climate change, rural regeneration, and food equity, BNC programs are designed to help travelers learn about these social issues from diverse perspectives and empower them to take practical actions to bring positive changes to the world.        

3) Urban-Rural Heritage Exchange We are committed to building deeper and stronger urban-rural connections by bringing together the best of both urban heritage and rural heritage. We create and nurture environments where these unique social, cultural, and spiritual connections could grow and flourish. The ultimate goal will be oneness, understanding of the interconnectedness we all share with one another in this universe.     

What was the inspiration for the BNC vision?

BNC is more than a new project for me. It is a new lifestyle and a healing path I want to create and enjoy for the rest of my time as a planet earth citizen. It is an invitation from my soul to your beautiful soul for an exciting and rewarding life adventure together on an untraveled road. 

BNC vision has been crafted from my heart, soul, and all the life experiences and lessons I have learned, especially from many failures. The main direction may not change (the why question), but the details (what & how) will continue to grow and transform as I grow stronger and taller through my spiritual journey, along with like-minded fellow soul travelers. 

BNC vision is based on my deep passion for nature, agriculture and food related topics as well as my quest for an area where these topics meet with spirituality. It is also an expansion of “Namul Trail”, a project vision I was working on previously, with a focus on wild plants (including invasive species) and cross-cultural foraging. All concepts developed through Namul Trail are included in the BNC vision and programs.

BNC vision is an expression of my love and appreciation for both Kentucky (my home for the past 26 years) and South Korea (my home country). The initial BNC focus will be on creating cultural and spiritual connections between the two as well as sharing with the world the beauty of both cultures, especially hidden gems in their rural communities. 

BNC spirit represents diversity, equity, peace, freedom, compassion, and love, which I firmly believe should be valued and realized internally first. You can’t share what you don’t have. Unconditional self-love is the foundation of the BNC spirit. Being you by meeting your true self here and now is the ultimate goal for all BNC travelers including myself.