Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosts about 60-70 Visiting Fellows at any given time for a variety of countries and backgrounds. CSIS Visiting Fellows benefit from the bipartisan, independent platform CSIS provides while CSIS benefits from the unique and diverse perspectives Visiting Fellows bring.

The Korea Chair Visiting Fellow Program welcomes motivated public and private sector professionals with research interests on any aspects of U.S.-Korea policy to join CSIS for a fixed period of study in the heart of Washington, D.C. Through their studies and experiences at CSIS, the Korea Chair Visiting Fellows will be able to build the lasting networks and knowledge critical to the future foundation of the alliance.

Program Benefits

The Visiting Fellows have valuable opportunities to meet with policymakers, government officials and world class experts through access to all public events hosted by the Korea Chair and other programs at CSIS. Visiting Fellows are also encouraged to enjoy the benefit of attending countless conferences held elsewhere in Washington, D.C.

The Visiting Fellows are provided with a CSIS identification card, a CSIS email account, CSIS business cards, and other privileges. The Visiting Fellows can also request informal feedback from and interviews with CSIS experts, schedules permitting. Visiting Fellows can request administrative support offered by the Korea Chair.

Program Information

The Korea Chair offers Resident Visiting Fellowships with the option to choose between a private office, shared office, or a shared workstation (for multiple fellows to share).

Program Cost: The program cost includes workspace rent, J visa facilitation, CSIS email account, computer, printing cost, and program administration. Visiting Fellows should ideally be sponsored by their home institutions for a “sabbatical” period of study in the United States.

Program Period: The Visiting Fellows Programs at CSIS are for a period of one year. However, the length of stay can be adjusted upon the Visiting Fellow’s request.

For more information, please contact our office at KoreaChair@csis.org.

Remote Visualization

  


Image
Seoung-ho Francis Cho

Seoung-ho Francis Cho began his fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in April 2024. He has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea for 24 years, with extensive experience in ROK-U.S. relations, including as Director of North America Division at MOFA and as Counselor at the ROK Embassy in Washington, D.C. He has also served at embassies in London, Amman, and San José, Costa Rica. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in law. 

Image
Ju Yon Park

Ju Yon Park began her fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in August 2023. She has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea for 11 years. Most recently, she served as First Secretary in the Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs Bureau. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in St. Petersburg, Russia. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the St. Petersburg State University in Russia.

Image
Young Il Kim

Young Il Kim began his fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in August 2024. He has worked at the National Assembly Secretariat of the Republic of Korea for 23 years. Most recently, he served as Staff Director of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly. Prior to that, he served as Senior Legislative Counsel at the National Assembly. Also, he worked at the ROK Embassy in Washington, D.C., as Minister-Counselor, supporting parliamentary diplomacy between the U.S. Congress and the National Assembly of ROK. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Seoul National University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Missouri.

Image
Eun Ju Park

Eun Ju Park began her fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in August 2024. She has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea for 22 years and has extensive experience in multilateral affairs and international organizations. Previously, she served as Counselor at the Korean Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna and at the Korean Embassy in Austria. She has also served as Director of the United Nations Division in the Ministry, First Secretary at the Korean Embassy in Algeria, and Second Secretary at the Korean Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. She earned her Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. 

Image
Seil Jung

Seil Jung began his fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in October 2024. He served in the Republic of Korea Army for 15 years. As an infantry military officer, he has served in various positions, such as platoon leader, company commander, aide-de-camp, etc. His most recent position was multidomain operations planner, responsible for developing a new operational plan (OPLAN) in the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC). He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the Korea Military Academy and a master’s degree in diplomacy and national security from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

Image
Sokkwang Hong

Sokkwang Hong began his fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in December 2024. He has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA) for 19 years, with substantial expertise in trade, economic cooperation, and international law. He served as both a working-level official and Deputy Chief of Mission at Korea’s diplomatic missions in Japan, Panama, Norway, and Canada. He also worked as Director of the Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Division at the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea. Before joining MOFA, he worked as a lawyer at a domestic law firm. He holds an M.A. in Commercial Law and a B.A. in Political Science from Seoul National University and completed an LL.M. program in International Law at UC Berkeley School of Law. 

Image
Geun Young Park

Geun Young Park began her fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in December 2024. She has worked for the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of Korea for 15 years. She served as a Deputy Director in the Helicopter and Naval Ship Program Department. Also, she worked on defense cooperation with foreign countries. Most recently, she was the Director for Organization and Personnel Management at DAPA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration.

Image
Namyeon Kwon

Namyeon Kwon began her fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in January 2025. She has worked at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses of the Republic of Korea for 11 years. Most recently, she served as an Associate Research Fellow in the Logistics Policy Division of the Resource Management Center. Also, she served as a member of the ROK Ministry of National Defense Performance-Based Logistics Committee. She holds a bachelor's degree in systems management engineering from Sungkyunkwan University and a master's degree in industrial engineering from Seoul National University.

Image
Soonjeong Hong

Soonjeong Hong began his fellowship with the Office of the Korea Chair at CSIS in January 2025. He has worked at the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea for 19 years. Most recently, he served as Director of the International Policy Division. Prior to that, he was dispatched to the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea, and also served as Director of the Cyber Policy Division. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Seoul National University and a master’s degree in public administration from Indiana University.

Contact Information