By Mason He

Yonsei GSIS Newsletter Editor

On June 30, the Youth Envoy of KCCEA and China Southern Airlines held a Youth Insights Exchange Event at the headquarters of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), which the theme was based on Aviation. Invited professionals and academic professors attended this event. It also served as an opportunity for students from 10 different countries and backgrounds to learn more about trilateral relations, exchange conversations, engage in meaningful dialogues, and broaden their perspectives on global issues. 

The event began with the opening performance of the Arirang medley sung in Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese, along with a mid-rap section adding a modern flavor. Then, it proceeded to a variety of speakers sharing their experiences and hopes for the event to bring insights to the participants.

The following speakers and attendees in this event: Mr. LI Guanyu, Director of the Department of Social & Cultural Affairs at the TCS; Mr. WANG Xun, President of China Southern Airlines Korea; Professor KIM Dongchan, Program Chair at Yonsei University; Mr. ZHANG Zhongyi, President of the Yonsei Charhar Center, and Mr. Eric Du, Senior Executive Vice President of Huawei Technologies Korea. 

During the event, two MCS who are current Yonsei GSIS last semester students and former Yonsei GSA Managers, Yeri Kim and Hugo Zheng, worked hard to ensure the event went smoothly, and their great hosting skills were a great addition to making everyone feel comfortable. They both expressed their after-thoughts as this is not their first time hosting an event. Yeri enjoyed seeing various organizations come together and collaborate but wished more time was allocated for interaction, especially for students to share their thoughts during the event. Hugo found the experience meaningful and helpful as he learned how to prepare quickly. Though it was challenging to balance the different needs of the participants, he still saw value in being part of the event. 

I had the honor of interviewing Professor Kim Dong Chan, the current head of the GCC program at Yonsei GSIS, I also attended the Youth Insights Exchange event as a participant and speaker. This interview allows us to understand his history of being part of GCC and its current developments at Yonsei GSIS.

-Please introduce yourself, your role, and your academic and professional background. How did you end up teaching at Yonsei GSIS? What brings you to CJK & Beyond’s Youth Insight Exchange Program?

-Hello! My name is Kim Dong Chan. I am currently in charge of the GCC Program and joined Yonsei GSIS in March 2023. I graduated from Yonsei University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Diplomacy. I received a Master's Degree in history and Ph. D in international politics from Fudan University in Shanghai. Recently, I am studying China’s foreign policy, the impact of US-China strategic competition on the Korean peninsula and ROK-China and DPRK/China relations.

CJK & Beyond’s Youth Insight Exchange Program was hosted by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat(TCS). I held an event to provide internship opportunities for GCC program students this spring semester. At that time, TCS participated in a GCC event and explained its internship program to GCC students. So, after receiving a contact that the TCS would hold a meaningful event for international students, I decided to participate in this event with joy.

-As the Head of GCC, could you briefly explain the GCC program? What is the typical career path for GCC graduates? 

-Compared with PIC, ITFM, and KSP, Global Citizenship and Cooperation(GCC) is a relatively new program. GCC was established in March 2022, and our first students graduated in February of this year. There are two unique points about GCC. First of all, all GSIS courses have been taught in English until the GCC program started. However, all required courses of the GCC program are conducted in Chinese, and students of the GCC program can choose to take elective courses taught in Chinese, Korean, or English based on their language abilities. Second, the GCC program offers courses related to three subfields: international politics and international economy, finance, trade, and cultural diversity. Students in the GCC program can study the subfields they want according to their interests and career plans. The second batch of GCC students is scheduled to graduate at the end of August, and some students already found jobs in state-owned companies, private companies, and research institutions in China. Some others decided to study for a Ph. D program in Korea, Singapore, Japan, and China. Others have prepared for the civil service exam in China, and some students will set up a new business or succeed in their family business.

-Have any GCC students stayed in Korea to find a job?

-Not many students stay in Korea to find a job because the biggest difficulty is overcoming the language barrier. However, I knew that some students had already decided to look for jobs in Korea. I will support them in making their hopes come true.

-As you mentioned, GCC is a relatively new major at GSIS. Has there been any challenges or difficulties being part of GCC?

-Opening a new program was the first challenge and difficulty. However, Dean Jung-Hoon LEE and Professor Sukhee HAN put a lot of effort into applying for the new program and getting permission from Yonsei University. When conducting the GCC program's first student recruitment in 2021, the COVID-19 situation was not completely over. So, there was no way to promote and advertise this program enough to overseas students. However, with the help of many professors and administrative team members of GSIS, the GCC program is now on track to develop stably.

-Do you have any plans for GCC, such as opening new courses or possibly networking or other activities? 

After the GCC program was formally launched, the GSIS continuously improved the quality of the GCC courses. Yonsei GSIS is currently in talks with one of the top universities in China to open joint degree courses. I am also personally paying attention to students’ future paths after they graduate. As the chair of the GCC program, I am doing my best to hold more career fairs or talks to help students get more opportunities.