As part of its effort to produce well rounded development professionals, the KDI School offers great internship opportunities for both international and Korean students. One such opportunity was through the Korean Railway Network Authority (KRNA).  As one of the five students selected for participation, I was lucky to have this chance to learn more about Korea’s most cutting edge industry. This internship offered us the opportunity not only to learn about the advancements and programs of Korean railway system, but also to take part in the unique experience of working for a large and respected Korean company.

It was fascinating to learn about the history of Korea’s Railway system. We learned about the company’s vision and expansion plans, not just to improve Korea’s transportation system but also to contribute to the development of worldwide railway systems. The KRNA is actively participating in capacity building and consulting projects, and has contributed to the improvement of railway systems abroad.  

The internship included trips to important railway project sites, such as the Hyundai Rotem’s train facility. There, we were able to witness the train assembly process and the test run of the high speed trains. It was particularly impressive to learn about the new technologies that are incorporated in the Korean railway system like the driver-less subway lines in Busan, the high tech train monitoring systems, and the solar/battery charged tram system that the KRNA is currently developing.

The internship program has really served to enrich our education in the KDI School. We were able to the directly learn the strategies and policies of the KRNA, which has deepened our insight in Korean development and culture through a closer look at the life of Korean employees.

By Marjorie San Pedro (2014 MDP, Philippines)