The Asia Foundation released a set of recommendations to the U.S. administration, developed by leading international relations, security, economic, and trade specialists from across the Asia-Pacific. The report was chaired by Ambassador Han SungJoo of South Korea (Board Emeritus of the Friends of The Asia Foundation Korea), and co-chaired by Dr. Kirida Bhaopichitr of Thailand, and Dr. Raja Mohan of India.

The Korea Global Forum for Peace is a track 1.5 multilateral forum hosted by the Ministry of Unification of the Republic of Korea. The Asia Foundation’s Korea office organized a session on Asian Views on Peace and Stability in the Korean Peninsula on August 31, 2021.

The Asia Foundation presented Dr. Eun Mee Kim, President of Ewha Womans University and Board member of the Friends of The Asia Foundation Korea, with the Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Leadership Award. Dr. Kim received the award for her commitment to a better Korea and Asia through women’s empowerment and her contributions to international development. She joins other Chang-Lin Tien awardees, including His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon (2018 awardee).

Four women entrepreneurs in Gyeonggi province received a total of 115 million KRW from individual investors through online crowdfunding campaigns (thanks to The Asia Foundation’s initial support of 9.2 million KRW to help fund the campaigns). Among the women entrepreneurs, Miran Jeon, CEO of Good Place used the fund to strengthen online marketing / branding, and Yoonsun Lee and Jiyoung Park, Co-founders of Collabowithus used the fund to create a mobile version of their existing product: both to adapt to the new normal after Covid-19.

With support from the Community Chest of Korea, The Asia Foundation Korea office continued the Personal Initiative Training program, training an additional 15 refugee entrepreneurs from North Korea. Held between August and September 2021, this 6-week program aimed to strengthen the entrepreneurial mindsets of North Korean refugee entrepreneurs in South Korea.

The 2021-2022 class of Luce Scholars have been selected after a three-month long interview process. Among the newly selected scholars are Maame Boatemaa (left) and Elena Castellanos (right), who arrived to Korea in September. Interested in Urban Planning, they have begun their professional placements at the University of Seoul.