From April 1-5, the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s eight US-based Korea Journalist Fellows traveled to Seoul for a trip to increase their understanding of the most critical security and economic issues on the Korean Peninsula. This trip was the highlight of their one-year fellowship, during which they engaged in back-to-back meetings with ministerial level officials from key government agencies, with the US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, and with the Blue House.
The journalists also paid a visit to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission at the Demilitarized Zone to get a hands-on experience of the divide between two countries and how the United States and United Nations are helping to maintain the armistice. Meetings with private-sector representatives from SKT and Hyundai Motors provided them the chance to examine Korea’s private sectors, as well as discuss with its executives current economic and trade issues in Korea. The journalist fellows also held meetings with Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng/JTBC, two major subscription/broadcasting multi-platforms in Korea. Deep-dive discussions with the chairmen and their Korean journalist counterparts helped expose them to a bipartisan picture of Korean politics.