Building Trade Ties with South Korea’s Emerging Female Leaders

In recent years, the Republic of Korea has been at the forefront of negotiating free trade agreements with partners in all regions of the world. Yet the diplomats and negotiators tasked with forging these deals have been almost exclusively male. As highly educated and qualified Korean women are entering government service and related private-sector jobs at increasing rates, they have few female role models and mentors to offer advice and support their career growth and success. This reality can have a limiting effect on their career trajectory and ability to reach positions of leadership, and impacts the overall interests of the country.

In light of this, the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) launched the initiative “Building Trade Ties with Korea’s Emerging Female Leaders” in partnership with the Korea Foundation. In its inaugural cohort, the Asia Society Policy Institute hosted an outstanding group of seven early career South Korean female trade professionals – four from the public and three from the private sector – for a 10-day program with the goal of empowering them to be leaders in their field as well as strengthen ties between the United States and Korea. In 2021, due to the pandemic, a virtual program was held over a two month period in the form of seven interactive webinars. The cohort included 20 impressive women across multiple sectors including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and some of Korea’s most preeminent companies and institutions.

This initiative aims to promote the career development of up-and-coming women in trade, provide them with training and mentorship to thrive in their respective careers, and support their professional development as the Republic of Korea’s next generation of female trade negotiators and experts.

Given the success of this program, ASPI is launching similar programs for Japanese and ASEAN women in 2022. The inaugural program for Japanese emerging leaders took place virtually from January – February 2022 and an in-person program for ASEAN emerging leaders will take place in fall 2022. The Asia Society envisions that the Emerging Female Leaders program will grow with each new group and eventually transform into a wide network of working female trade professionals, experts, and leaders across Asia.

About the Building Trade Ties with Korea’s Emerging Female Leaders Program

The Emerging Female Leaders program offers the opportunity for female professionals from the Republic of Korea with interest and experience in international trade to participate in an intensive 10-day long program in the United States featuring workshops, briefings, and capacity-building exercises in Washington, D.C., New York City, and San Francisco. The inaugural program took place in Fall 2019 and included meetings with current and former U.S. officials, trade experts, female business leaders in the media, and tech sectors, and other speakers.

The program focuses on developing skills and competencies for trade negotiations and working in the trade field more broadly. It seeks to deepen understanding of trade negotiations and trade policy making, and provides mentorship and guidance for women’s empowerment in the workplace. Sessions covered a range of relevant topics, including:

• Understanding the trade negotiating process
• Gaining negotiating skills, including strategies and tactics, creative problem solving, and “getting to yes”
• Working with the private sector, legislative, and other government ministries through trade policy consultations
• Navigating the media and public perceptions of trade
• Developing skills to advance in the work place and providing career development guidance

2022 Program

Building on the success of the cohorts in 2019 and 2021, and with the generous support of the Korea Foundation, ASPI will be continuing this program in person in 2022. This year’s program will be held in person and will include an intensive 10-day long program in the United States featuring workshops and briefings in Washington D.C., New York City, and San Francisco/Silicon Valley and is tentatively set for July 11th – 20th 2022. The program will cover travel and related expenses, including round-trip airfare from Seoul to the United States, travel within the U.S., lodging, local transport, and some meals during sessions. 

Eligibility

• Age: 40 or under (to be eligible for this year’s cohort of Korea’s Emerging Female Leaders, candidate must be born on or after March 21, 1982.
• Language Skills: Fluent in Spoken and Written English
• Professional Experience: Background in a trade-related field and some work experience preferred. Relevant fields include:
  • Government agencies involved in international trade
  • Private sector and businesses engaged in international trade
  • Legal professions, particularly related to trade law
  • Other relevant trade backgrounds including academia
• Career Path: Strong interest in continuing to pursue a career in trade.

Application Timeline

• Application window opens – March 21, 2022
• Deadline for Application Submissions – April 20, 2022
• Candidates Selected and Notified – May 2, 2022

* Please note this timeline is subject to change.

Application Process and Materials

Applications should be sent by email to femaleleaders@asiasociety.org with the subject line “Korea’s Emerging Female Leaders Application.”

Applications should include the following:

• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Statement of Interest - A 1-page explanation of why the applicant is interested in the program, what they hope to gain from participation, how they will contribute to the success of the program, and how participation aligns with their career goals.
• 1 Letter of Recommendation

For questions about the program and to submit applications please email femaleleaders@asiasociety.org

2021 Program

The Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) held a virtual program with impressive, up-and-coming women in government and the private sector for its second program year, which was held from September 9 to October 20, 2021.

The second EFL class included:

• Min Ae Cho, Senior Manager, International Trade Division of the Korea Chamber of Commerce
• Jeongyeon Choi, Deputy Director, Multilateral Trade Cooperation Division of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
• Jingyeong Choi, Assistant Director, FTA Negotiation Coordination Division of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
• Jeannie Kim, In-house Legal Counsel at Samsung
• Kyounghwa Kim, Researcher at the Center for Trade Studies and Cooperation
• Min-hee Kim, Senior Manager, Strategy Consulting Group International Trade Practice at KPMG
• Miseon Kim, In-house Legal Counsel at POSCO
• Sujung Kim, Manager, Trade Policy Cooperation Department at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency
• Sung-Eun Ko, Deputy General Manager, International Cooperation Department of Korea International Trade Association
• Sujin Kyung, Attorney at Kim & Chang
• Jumi Lee, Manager, Trade Policy Cooperation Department at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency
• Kwang Bin Lee, Trade Specialist, Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul
• Yoo Song Lee, Paralegal at Kim & Chang and J.D. Candidate at Georgetown Law School
• Mi Jung Lim, Deputy Director, Petroleum Division of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
• June Park, International Sales Representative at Boeing
• Jieun Shim, Policy & Press Secretary, National Assembly
• Jungmi Shin, Assistant Director, Trade Legal Affairs and Planning Division at Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
• Semi Shin, Assistant Director in the Trade Policy Division at Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
• Ji Yeong Yoo, Associate Research Fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute
• Kyungmin Yoon, Deputy Director in the Americas Trade Division at Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Inaugural Program, Fall 2019

The Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) hosted an impressive and dynamic group of women both comprised of government and non-government participants for the inaugural cohort of the Emerging Female Leaders program from September 30 to October 9, 2019.

The first EFL class included:

• Eunhee Bae, second secretary in the East Asian Economic Affairs Division in the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Sunghwa Chung, senior deputy director in the FTA Agreement Services and Investment Division of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
• Boyeun Kim, deputy Director working in the Korea-U.S. Trade Division in the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).
• Sung Min Koh, deputy director at the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
• Jahye Park, senior manager at the Hyundai Motor Group
• Song-I Seol, deputy general manager at the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), a Korean private sector trade association
• Ji Yeon Song, attorney at Kim & Chang, one of the most prestigious law firms in Korea

Building a Network of Emerging Female Leaders

Following the programs, Emerging Female Korean Leaders participants returned home with new skills and competencies to lead in their field. As some participants conveyed:

“This program was a turning point for me to pursue my career as a leader.” – Song-I Seol, KITA.

“My attitude toward life and the workplace has changed after taking this webinar.” - Jumi Lee, KOTRA 

"I’ve learned how to become a better negotiator both in my professional and personal life." – Sung-Eun Ko, KITA 

"The program was a good opportunity to learn how the U.S. government works on forming trade policy and how the private sector plays an important part in this process." – Miseon Kim, POSCO 

“This was one of the most valuable webinar programs I participated in this year.” - Sujin Kyung, Kim & Chang  

“Learning from other women who have grappled with similar challenges – pursuing career goals while raising a family – gave me great confidence that I can also succeed.”  - Kwang-bin Lee, U.S. Embassy, Seoul 

“An all-women group in a professional setting is rare and it was uplifting getting to know a group of emerging female trade leaders.” - Ji Yeong Yoo, STEPI 

Please keep an eye out for updates and new developments about this program. To learn more about the program, please email femaleleaders@asiasociety.org.