U.S.-Korea NextGen Scholars Program

In June 2020, CSIS Korea Chair and the USC Korean Studies Institute announced ten NexGen Scholars for 2020-2021. These scholars were selected in a national competition. They all displayed exemplary scholarship in wide-ranging disciplines, from political science, Korean literature and film, communication, journalism to international relations.

The U.S.-Korea NextGen Scholars program is 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 2020-2021 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. (January 2021) - Introduce and engage NextGen Scholars in policy discussions in the nation’s capital.
• Los Angeles (Spring 2021) - Train NextGen Scholars to become stronger public intellectuals through op-ed writing workshops, media training and filming of Korea Questions videos.
• Seoul (Summer 2021) - 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.

Information

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

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