Meeting with a Former President, Touring Shipyards, Discussing Policy
SAIS students gain extraordinary insights in capstone study trip to South Korea
In a capstone study trip to South Korea from March 16–20, 10 students from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) gained extraordinary insights during a series of high‑level meetings, including a private roundtable discussion with former South Korean President Jae‑in Moon, as well as with current government officials, industry leaders, and academic experts.
The delegation was led by Adjunct Lecturer Amy Paik and supported by the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, a top graduate school affiliated with the Korea Development Institute. The students participated in more than a dozen meetings in Seoul, Sejong, and Ulsan as part of the SAIS Korea Study Trip capstone course.
The itinerary featured high‑level visits to GS Energy headquarters and the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard, offering a firsthand look at South Korea’s industrial and technological capabilities. During the tour in Ulsan, Hangyuan Yang, a second-year student in the Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) degree program, said he was struck by the “sheer scale and advanced capabilities” of South Korea’s shipbuilding sector, noting its growing importance to the nation’s naval modernization efforts.
A private roundtable with former President Jae‑in Moon and Tae‑han Lee, former senior secretary to the president for social affairs, was held on March 18. For many participants, the meeting was a highlight of the trip. Zihan Hu, a second year MAIR student visiting South Korea for the first time, described the trip as “an incredible experience,” adding that the opportunity to meet former President Moon in Ulsan left a lasting impression.
The delegation kicked off its study trip program at the National Assembly, where People Power Party legislator and former SAIS visiting scholar Myoung Gu Kang hosted the group. After reviewing student research topics, Kang invited fellow lawmaker Dong‑jin Koh—a former president and chief executive officer of Samsung Electronics—to co‑host a SAIS–National Assembly policy exchange meeting. Koh later arranged a follow-up visit to Samsung’s Washington, D.C. office, enabling students focused on semiconductor policy to meet with Samsung executives, including executive vice president of U.S. public affairs HW Andrew Lee, and vice president of public affairs Steve Merlis.
The cohort also visited the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a stop covered by Yonhap News Agency, South Korea’s leading news wire service. Students toured the Seoul Gallery’s “My Friend Seoul” exhibition and received briefings at the Seoul Transport Operation & Information Service on the city’s use of artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and cybersecurity—topics closely aligned with their research. Speaking to Yonhap News, Vidur Kumar, a second year MAIR candidate, said he was impressed by how “a megacity like Seoul can be operated efficiently” through the integration of data and technology.
The students met with scholars from the KDI School of Public Policy and Management and University of Seoul. At KDIS, Professor Changkeun Lee provided historical context on Korea’s economic development and fielded questions on maritime issues, AI, and energy security. “The trip gave me an outstanding insight into Korea’s modern development and significantly deepened my understanding of the country’s maritime policy,” second year MAIR student Ronald Yang said, adding that it will shape how he approaches analysis in the future.
At the University of Seoul, President Yongkul Won highlighted the growing significance of hybrid learning models, while Professor Junghee Lee discussed the distinctions between the Korean and U.S. governance systems. Dean Se Hyun Ahn—a former secretary to the president for economic security—provided in‑depth feedback on the students’ research, noting the relevance of their topics and the unique value of their access to senior practitioners. He emphasized the significance of students engaging directly with leaders, such as GS Group Vice Chairman and GS Energy CEO Yongsoo Huh, who met with the class later in their week.
The SAIS delegation also met with alumni based in Seoul, including Acting U.S. Ambassador James “Jim” Heller, Professor Eunjung Lim of Kongju National University, and Ju Hyung Kim, president of the Security Management Institute. A seminar with former Democratic Party Leader Yong Gil Song provided the students with exposure to both progressive and conservative viewpoints as students advanced research on maritime security, energy policy, AI and digital platform governance, and semiconductor strategy. Across all meetings, they posed a standardized set of questions to ensure a consistent framework for comparative analysis.
Dylan Armstrong, a second year MAIR student participant, highlighted the value of integrating study trips into academic research, “This capstone course has provided me with invaluable firsthand experience in South Korean politics and economics,” Armstrong said. “From meeting with members of the National Assembly to touring the HD Hyundai shipyard, every opportunity has helped strengthen my professional skills for a future career in public policy.”
Enjoyed reading, Meeting with a Former President? Learn more about what Washington DC campus has to offer.