U.S.-Korea NextGen Scholars Program

The U.S.-Korea NextGen Scholars Program is an initiative by CSIS Korea Chair and USC Korean Studies Institute with support from The Korea Foundation to help mentor the next generation of Korea specialists in the United States.

Applications are now open for the 2022-2023 U.S.-Korea NextGen Scholars Program, a unique two-year program (non-resident) that provides opportunities for mid-career Korea specialists to discuss issues of importance to U.S.-Korea relations with policymakers, government officials, and opinion leaders in Korea and the United States, learn how to effectively engage with the media, participate in the policymaking process, gain experience as public intellectuals helping to bridge the scholarly and policy communities, and address issues of importance to the U.S.-Korea relationship.

The NextGen Scholars will be mentored by two renowned Korea specialists, program chairs Dr. Victor Cha of CSIS and Georgetown University and Dr. David Kang of the University of Southern California. The program will be further supported by an advisory committee of distinguished American and Korean advisers with vast experience in academia, government, and the private sector.

The 2022-2023 NextGen Scholars program will achieve deeper and more vigorous dialogue and research on topics of immediate concern to the bilateral U.S.- Korea relationship as well as a range of issues that affect the two countries. A core objective of the program is to identify, nurture, and build a community of American public intellectuals across a wide range of sectors and facilitate policy-oriented research teams and projects.

Three program seminars:

Washington, D.C. (December 2022) - Introduce and engage NextGen Scholars in policy discussions in the nation’s capital.
Los Angeles (Spring 2023) - Train NextGen Scholars to become stronger public intellectuals through op-ed writing workshops, media training and filming of Korea Questions videos at USC.
Seoul (Summer 2023) - NextGen Scholars have the opportunity to network with policymakers, government officials, and opinion leaders in Korea.

Program Goals:

Create a network of mid-career Korea specialists with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will make long-term contributions to the U.S.-Korea relationship.
Help Korea specialists become more relevant to the policymaking process.
Increase the visibility of young Korea specialists and provide opportunities for engagement with policymakers and the private sector.
Encourage new Korea-related research and projects and collaboration among participants.
NextGen Scholars will author an op-ed and film a video lecture (Korea Questions) as part of the program graduation.

Program Eligibility:

Professional interest in Korea and plans for long-term engagement with Korea.
Tenure-track assistant professors preferred, but open to all ranks, including postdoctoral fellows, non-tenure line faculty and non-academic appointments.
Basic knowledge of the Korean language.
Ph.D. degree.
U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

How to Apply:

You need to submit the following documents via email to alim@csis.org

A completed NextGen Application form.
Cover letter of interest.
Curriculum vitae.
Two letters of reference.
Writing sample.

Information

For further information, please contact Andy Lim at alim@csis.org.

Deadline to submit your application is June 10, 2022.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Korea Foundation and Hanwha.