In partnership with the Korea Foundation, the Atlantic Council’s Asia Security Initiative, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, recruited the program’s third annual class of Fellows in 2022. The Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellowship is a unique opportunity for early/mid-career, US-based journalists working in US media to make a reporting trip to South Korea. They meet with leading experts and government officials in Seoul and Washington, DC to develop a deeper knowledge of South Korea’s evolving role in Indo-Pacific geopolitics and across the world, as well as the most critical economic and security issues within and beyond the Korean Peninsula.

The overarching theme for the 2021-2022 program is South Korea’s rapidly evolving role within the shifting geopolitical and economic landscape of the Indo-Pacific. From the deepening of the US-ROK alliance in key areas such as critical technologies and trade, to the rapid increase in private investments made by South Korea’s leading firms in the United States and throughout the region, to Seoul’s growing “soft power” influence in pop culture worldwide, international media coverage of South Korea’s heightened presence within the region and the globe has expanded significantly. In the same vein, the 2021-2022 program covered a wide set of key policy issues, including: heightened tensions between North and South Korea driven by recent nuclear missile tests conducted by Pyongyang; the results and policy implications of the presidential election in the ROK in March 2022; Seoul’s stance on new regional multilateral security mechanisms such as the Quad and AUKUS; prospects for US-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation; and other non-traditional security issues such as supply chain resiliency, energy security, digital trade, and emerging and advanced technologies.

The 2021-2022 delegation convened with several Korean Ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Unification, Office of National Security, and Seoul Metropolitan Government. The journalists also deepened US-ROK relations by meeting with organizations from diverse sectors including economically with LG Energy Solution, culturally through news outlets Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng Daily as well as HYBE entertainment company, and socially through engagements with North Korean defectors and visits to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the War Memorial of Korea.  

2021-2022 Fellows

Highlights from the tour

2021-2022 Fellows Articles

Distrust and unease loom as South Koreans grow wary of China’s clout

  • Jacob Fromer, South China Morning Post, July 21, 2022

As Security Threats Mount, Japan and South Korea Begin (Carefully) Mending Fences

  • Robbie Gramer, Foreign Policy, June 30, 2022

Pyongyang’s Not Picking Up the Phone

  • Robbie Gramer, Foreign Policy, June 28, 2022

South Korea would expect U.S. to intervene if China invades Taiwan, official says

  • Dave Lawler, Axios, June 27, 2022

Gender divide between young people shakes South Korean politics

  • Dave Lawler, Axios, June 24, 2022

What South Korea’s power transfer means for China and Japan

  • Dave Lawler, Axios, June 24, 2022

Bolstered U.S. Military Presence Possible in Asia

  • (Found in “The Inbox” subsection of the National Security Daily newsletter) Alex Ward, POLITICO, June 24, 2022

South Korea Stares Into the Nuclear Abyss

  • Robbie Gramer, Foreign Policy, June 23, 2022

Looming North Korea nuclear test leaves U.S., South Korea waiting for bad news

  • Dave Lawler, Axios, June 23, 2022

South Korea Signals Rapprochement with Japan

  • (Found in the “Flashpoints” subsection of the National Security Daily newsletter) Alex Ward, POLITICO, June 23, 2022

South Korea Sours on China

  • (Found in “The Inbox” subsection of the National Security Daily newsletter) Alex Ward, POLITICO, June 22, 2022

Explaining Pyongyang’s Silence

  • (Found in “The Inbox” subsection of the National Security Daily newsletter) Alex Ward, POLITICO, June 21, 2022

In the news

In the News

Jul 26, 2022

KF Journalist Fellow Fromer featured in South China Morning Post

On July 21, 2022, Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellow Jacob Fromer published an article, “Distrust and unease loom as South Koreans grow wary of China’s clout,” in South China Morning Post. In this article, Fromer discusses South Koreans’ view of China, drawing on insights from conversations with South Korean government officials, a roundtable with Dr. […]

China Korea

In the News

Jul 1, 2022

Gramer featured twice in Foreign Policy upon return from Seoul

After wrapping up one week in Seoul, Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellow Robbie Gramer published two articles in Foreign Policy titled, “As Security Threats Mount, Japan and South Korea Begin (Carefully) Mending Fences” (June 30, 2022) and “Pyongyang’s Not Picking Up the Phone” (June 28, 2022). Based on interviews with South Korean officials and experts […]

Japan Korea

In the News

Jun 28, 2022

Lawler featured in Axios upon return from Seoul

On June 27, 2022, Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellow Dave Lawler published an article, “South Korea would expect U.S. to intervene if China invades Taiwan, official says,” in Axios. After wrapping up one week in Seoul, Lawler reflects on a discussion from the trip of the new South Korean administration’s foreign policy priorities. In particular, […]

China Korea

In the News

Jun 27, 2022

Lawler’s continued coverage from Seoul featured in Axios

On June 24, 2022, Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellow Dave Lawler published two articles, “Gender divide between young people shakes South Korean politics” and “What South Korea’s power transfer means for China and Japan,” in Axios. With regards to the gender divide, Lawler shares that South Korean politicians from both parties agree that economics primarily […]

China Japan

In the News

Jun 24, 2022

Ward’s continued coverage from Seoul featured in POLITICO

June 22-24, 2022, Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellow Alex Ward was featured daily in POLITICO‘s The Inbox for “South Korea Sours on China,” “South Korea Signals Rapprochement with Japan,” and “Bolstered U.S. Military Presence Possible in Asia.” Based on continued conversations with South Korean experts and officials while in Seoul, Ward shares his insights on […]

China Japan

In the News

Jun 24, 2022

KF Journalist Fellow Gramer featured in Foreign Policy

On June 23, 2022, Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellow Robbie Gramer published an article, “South Korea Stares Into the Nuclear Abyss,” in Foreign Policy. From Seoul, Gramer reports broad agreement that Kim Jong Un will persist with North Korea’s nuclear weapons’ program. Following meetings with South Korean government officials and thought leaders, Gramer cites Dr. […]

Korea Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jun 24, 2022

KF Journalist Fellow Lawler featured in Axios

On June 23, 2022, Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellow Dave Lawler published an article, “Looming North Korea nuclear test leaves U.S., South Korea waiting for bad news,” in Axios. Following a roundtable discussion with Korean thought leaders, including Dr. Chung-in Moon, chair of the Sejong Institute think tank, Lawler shares insights on the threat of […]

Korea Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jun 22, 2022

KF Journalist Fellow Ward featured in POLITICO

On June 21, 2022, Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Journalist Fellow Alex Ward was featured in POLITICO‘s The Inbox for “Explaining Pyongyang’s Silence.” Based on conversations with South Korean experts and officials while in Seoul, Ward shares his insights on North Korea’s recent silence. He highlights North Korea’s ravaged economy, US preoccupation with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, […]

Korea Politics & Diplomacy

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