The Next 70 Years: NextGen Leadership in US-ROK Science, Technology, and Industry Cooperation

Call for Applications

Open date: February 15, 2024 
Close date: March 15, 2024

The Korea Center at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars invites up-and-rising students, recent graduates, and early career professionals to apply for the 2024 NextGen US-ROK Leadership program. Applicants with an interest in US-ROK foreign policy, regional expertise on the Indo-Pacific, and/or functional research experience in economics, climate/energy, cybersecurity, and industry relations are encouraged to apply by the deadline on March 15, 2024.

2024 NextGen US-ROK Leadership Program

The US-ROK alliance plays an increasingly important role in US foreign policy towards the Indo-Pacific. Since the 1950s, relations between the United States and South Korea have grown, adapted, and strengthened. As the two countries look to the next 70 years of the alliance, the 2024 NextGen US-ROK Leadership program provides participants with capacity-building and leadership opportunities in critical areas of expanding cooperation (and competition) within US-ROK relations.

Selected applicants will attend a series of four (4) workshops and a closing ceremony to be held from April through August 2024 in Washington, D.C. Going beyond traditional security, each workshop will feature expert presentations and discussion on areas of critical importance in US and South Korean foreign policy to broaden understanding in science, technology, and industry relations. Workshop topics to be covered include (1) Cybersecurity & Digital Economy, (2) Climate Change & Energy Security, (3) Supply Chain & Trade Cooperation, and (4) Space Defense & Industry.   

The Korea Center empowers emerging professionals in the fields of international relations and S&T to expand their interests and understanding of the US policy towards the Indo-Pacific and South Korea. At the conclusion of the program, select participants may be asked to draft commentary upon the four key areas for inclusion in a Wilson Center NextGen publication late summer 2024.

Applicants with an interest in US-ROK foreign policy, regional expertise on the Indo-Pacific, and/or functional research experience in economics, climate/energy, cybersecurity, and industry relations are highly encouraged to apply.

Application Eligibility, Deadline, and Materials

Applications for the 2024 NextGen Leadership program are open until 11:59pm Eastern time on Friday, March 15, 2024. 

Eligible applicants will be among current students, recent graduates (either undergraduate or graduate), or early career professionals. Applications will be considered for applicants within the larger Washington, D.C. area and for those able to travel to the city for workshops and events. Travel stipends are not available for the 2024 NextGen US-ROK Leadership program, and all events will take place locally in Washington, D.C. 

The application period had closed.

At the time of application, applicants should have both their resume and Statement of Purpose (max. 500 words) ready for upload. All documents should be in PDF format and titled as follows: “LAST NAME, First Name – Resume.”

2024 Program Timeline

The program will run from March through August 2024. Selected participants will be expected to join all four (4) workshops to be held between April and June. Workshops will cover four key areas critical in US-ROK  policy engagement: (1) Cybersecurity & Digital Economy, (2) Climate Change & Energy Security, (3) Supply Chain & Trade Cooperation, and (4) Space Defense & Industry. 

Please see the tentative schedule below.

• Call for Applications (February/March)
• Spring 2024 – Selections & Program Launch
• Summer 2024 – Session One, Two, Three, Four
• Fall 2024 – Closing Ceremony

For more information, about the Korea Center, please visit the program’s website.