The East-West Center is pleased to announce the 2025 Korea-United States Journalists Exchange.

Theme: “Internal uncertainty amidst external peril: US-Korea relations in 2025”

Dates: September 9-19, 2025

Korea Destinations: Seoul, Busan, and the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. 

US Destinations: Washington, DC and Atlanta, Georgia

All participants will meet in Seoul, South Korea for a one-day concluding dialogue.

The Korea-US Journalists Exchange was launched by the East-West Center in 2005 to increase public understanding through news media of the United States, Korea, and their relationship, through a 10-day dialogue, study, and travel program.

This year the East-West Center and Korea Press Foundation celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Korea-US Journalists Exchange. With a focus on “Internal uncertainty amidst external peril: US-Korea relations in 2025,” this exchange will look at the current issues related to US-Korea relations amidst uncertain leadership in South Korea and the return of the President Donald J. Trump Administration in the United States, including the strategic Korea-US alliance, the state of the US-Japan-ROK relationship, strategic cooperation, trade relations, and the continued threat from North Korea. Six Korean journalists will travel to Washington, DC and Atlanta, Georgia; and six US journalists will travel to Seoul, Busan, and the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea to meet with government officials and policymakers, business and community leaders, academics, security officers, civil society leaders, media colleagues, students, and others. Following these study tours, all of the journalists will meet for a one-day final dialogue in South Korea to report on their travel experiences and perspectives, and exchange opinions on how media coverage of US-Korea issues can be improved.
 

Who should apply?

Ideal candidates are print, broadcast, or online journalists working in the United States and Korea that possess a minimum of 5 years of professional journalism experience. 

Preference will be given to journalists who clearly articulate the relevance of the program and its theme to their areas of coverage and how they intend to use the knowledge gained to enhance the perspectives of viewers, readers, and listeners. Journalists are encouraged to generate content during and after the program in the form of formal print and broadcast stories, blogs, and social media communications. 

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Hawai'i Standard Time on June 27, 2025.

Application Guidelines: 

• Complete all required fields below marked with a red asterisk (*) in the online 2025 Korea-US Journalists Exchange Application Form
• Letter of Interest (maximum 3 pages, double-spaced) outlining a brief description of your news organization, job duties and experience; what you expect to accomplish and what issues you want to explore during the program, including specific story ideas; the relevance of the theme to your audiences and areas of coverage; and how participation in this Fellowship will benefit your work as journalist.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)
• An employer's statement of support completed by the applicant's supervisor/employer indicating that the applicant has the support of their media organization to attend the Fellowship. (Does not apply to freelance journalists.)
• One (1) professional reference with a letter of recommendation.

Participants are responsible for covering the cost of their own roundtrip international airfare to Seoul, South Korea, health insurance and airline baggage charges.

Journalists working in Korea, please contact the Korea Press Foundation to apply (www.kpf.or.kr)

In 2025, the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center (EWC) and the Republic of China's (Taiwan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA) will host a seven-week program that includes three-weeks in Honolulu, Hawai'i and four-weeks in Taiwan.

This program will provide individuals the opportunity to enhance their leadership capacities and build a network with other leaders from across the Pacific and Taiwan. Participants will engage in experiential learning in a cohort of 24 early to mid-career professionals from all sectors. PILP attracts participants possessing high leadership potential and a commitment to serve their national and regional development goals. The curriculum for these rising leaders will be centered around the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and thematically organized in the following areas identified in the 2050 Strategy Implementation Plan: Political Leadership & Regionalism, Peace & Security; Oceans & Environment, Climate Change & Disasters; Resources & Economic Development, Technology & Connectivity; and People-Centered Development. The program strengthens participants’ knowledge and understanding of key regional economic, social, political, health, educational and environmental issues, and cultivates culturally sustaining leadership capacities.

Program Dates:  August 1 - September 19, 2025 (Dates are tentative and subject to change)

Eligibility:

• Citizen of the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 
• Bachelor’s degree. Exceptions may be considered on the basis of other relevant experience and qualifications.
• The program is aimed at early- to mid-career professionals.
• A minimum of 3 years demonstrated impact in your professional career and/or local community.
   

 AI Transparency

We are looking for authentic and genuine submissions that reflect your individual experiences, perspectives, and unique writing style. We understand that AI (artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT) can be a helpful tool in crafting your application, and applicants are not forbidden from using it to help with responses. However, essays that are generated primarily or solely by such tools will be rejected. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE

• 11:59 pm, March 1, 2025 (Hawaii Standard Time)

NOTE: Reference forms will be due no later than March 8, 2025 (Hawaii Standard Time)
 

 IMPORTANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES
 

• Read the instructions for each item carefully before entering your information.
• The application software does not log you out automatically when you exit your browser.  Therefore, it is important that you sign out from your application account especially when you are using a public computer.
• Since you will not be able to edit your application after submitting, make sure to review your application before submitting.  If your application is not ready, you can save it as a draft and submit it at a later time.  The saved drafts of your application can be found in your account under My Submissions (or Submissions).
• If, after submission, you need to change something in your application, contact the PILP team at PILP@eastwestcenter.org