Notes from the Field: Della Jung '15

Student Intern: Della Jung


Internship Organization:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea
 
How would you describe your employer in one paragraph? What’s the elevator pitch?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of Korea establishes and regulates foreign policies, economic diplomacy, and economic cooperation. It also takes part in international economic communities, administers treaties and international agreements, protects and supports overseas Korean nationals, promotes cultural cooperation, and analyzes international affairs. The mission is to improve the socioeconomic and political situation of the Korean people by building peace and development in the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the broader global community.
 
What are your specific responsibilities in the organization?
I am working with the International Legal Affairs Bureau and the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Public Diplomacy Division. Some of my main responsibilities include reviewing policy analyses regarding the effectiveness of certain legal and public policies that have passed or are currently being considered by the Republic as well as other international organizations. Another aspect of my internship is to facilitate public diplomacy outreach between Korean locals and foreign peoples that reside in South Korea by organizing cultural events, such as the annual International Public Diplomacy Forum held in Seoul every November and the monthly Cultural Exchange events sponsored by MOFA.
 
What is your favorite part of the internship so far?
The most rewarding part is attending the monthly Cultural Exchange events sponsored by the Ministry where the other interns and I participate in programs to raise awareness on the broadening cultural diversity in South Korea. By attending these events and reporting research data to the Ministry, I can directly contribute to the implementation processes of public policy initiatives related to cultural diversity.
 
What challenges have you faced so far?
I found it a bit challenging that the Ministry, like any other bureaucratic organization, is very hierarchical in nature. After submitting research reports, I realized that they require approval by multiple officials in order to have them published for public access, which takes several weeks and is very inefficient. I responded to this issue by making my research reports as detailed as possible in order to foresee and avoid potential revisions or clarifications.
 
Broadly speaking, what do you hope to achieve by the end of your internship?
I hope to have contributed to the development and implementation of public policy initiatives and reform related to cultural diversity and international legal and foreign affairs and to have further improved my knowledge of diplomatic relationships.

Rockefeller Center-funded interns reflect on their experiences as part of our Notes from the Field series. The Rockefeller Center helps students find, fund, and prepare for a leave-term internship experience in public policy research, public policy analysis, issue evaluation, or activities which help shape and determine public policy.