Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Kee Hoon Chung: I am an Assistant Professor at University of Ulsan focusing on public administration looking at behavior and human resources. My majors are in International Relations and Political Science with a key interest in institutions and public administration. 

Eunjin Ryu: I am currently working at the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), and my department is Development Cooperation Research. I conduct research and projects on ICT policies for developing countries. I am currently working with countries like Ghana, consulting on digital economy policy and Uganda evaluating digitalization for financial cooperatives. 

How did you find out about KDI’s post-doctoral fellowship? What was the application process like?

Kee Hoon Chung: The application process was very rigorous. Post-doctoral fellowships usually ask for your CV and a motivation letter, but the KDIS process felt like you were applying to be a professor there! The application asked for recommendations, writing samples, research purpose, and capacity. It can seem daunting. However, it was such a refreshing experience as the interview was engaging and there was a lot of back and forth which made me feel more comfortable to articulate my research interests. I believe the way it’s designed helps you grow. 

Eunjin Ryu: At the time of the application, I was finishing off my PhD in Japan, and one of my seniors sent me the application link. At the time I had not started applying for jobs, so the timing was perfect. I felt like it was the right fit because I wanted to expand my knowledge on international development. After the document screening process, it felt similar to my PhD defense in that there was a job seminar similar to an academic one and professors engaged my proposal, and I have to say KDI professors were supportive through that entire process.

What was your experience like in KDIS? What research did you focus on and how long was your post doc fellowship for?

Kee Hoon Chung: The post-doctoral fellowship helped me a lot in that I was under the Experiment Lab for Public Management Research (EXPMR) with Professors Rhee Inbok and Lie Cheol. I also had the opportunity to work with individuals like Jim Perry, and this helped me realign public administration with my prior training in International Relations and Political Science. In fact, I believe this fellowship helped get the job I currently have at Ulsan. Experimental learning through the lab allows you to have hands on deep learning. Having done other post-doctoral fellowships before, the KDIS post-doc fellowship challenges you to develop core competencies and expand your skillset through doing experimental research. I was at KDIS for about a year and eight months. 

Eunjin Ryu: I was in the Experiment Lab for Public Management Research (EXPMR) and also focused on Seoul impact bonds. I enjoyed understanding these fields and expanding my research understanding in these areas. I also had exposure to work and learning from the Inclusive Finance and Growth Lab through Professor Wook Sohn and participated in policy research. As I studied in Japan, it was difficult to have exposure to the Korean perspective and policy environment regarding research, and so this helped ground my knowledge more. I was also in KDIS for over a year and a few months.  

Did you have any challenges whilst you were doing your fellowship? How did you overcome them and who was supportive of your journey?

Kee Hoon Chung: Typical learning institutions prioritize administrative tasks and organizational culture; however, at KDIS I had to quickly adapt to the fast paced, unbureaucratic culture. I was treated as more of a peer than a fellow by the professors, and so I had to focus on my research and ensure I was delivering on my work. While the staff and faculty were always supportive and provide a wonderful working atmosphere, I felt the strain and disappointment when my journal articles got rejected. It was challenging, but the environment created allowed me to persevere. 

Eunjin Ryu: I would consider the experience as a process of growing. During my PhD, I had supervisors who were there to offer guidance. However, this was more about working independently and learning to expand my research areas which of course has its challenges. I also struggled with what my career prospects would be at the time. Thankfully, the professors were friendly, supportive, and offered a lot of advice on how I can approach those uncertainties. The KDI staff were also very supportive and very open minded. Since I did the fellowship during the pandemic, it was hard to interact and meet people, but the staff were wonderful and made me feel welcomed. 

Any key learnings from your post doc fellowship that you will implement in the next part of your journey?

Kee Hoon Chung: My post-doctoral experience allowed me to eventually succeed in that I published four journal articles while I was at KDIS, and the interview process in a way prepared me for my current role and work. I do not think I would have been able to get the job I have now if it wasn’t for the fellowship. My takeaways are the values of working in a horizontal organizational structure, and I would like to incorporate the same culture in my work by always being open, lending a listening ear and how when you focus on the work and not just people, you can have high productivity and impact. 

Eunjin Ryu: The policy related research was a key component in assisting me with my current role. The work I was exposed to led me to understand programs like KOICA, EDCA, working with the Prime Minister’s Office of Korea also allowed me to secure my current job. It expanded my research interests because of the high quality and standard in KDIS and the policy-oriented research environment it creates. Conversations with professors in the Open Government Lab, for example, allowed me to develop my interest in digital transformation for developing countries and understand related work as my organization is an ICT policy research institute. I also enjoyed the exposure and interactions I had with North Korean refugees through research that was being conducted by Professor Han Baran, which all linked to my own interests. 

What do you think makes the KDI post-doctoral experience unique, Eunjin Ryu?

What makes the fellowship unique has to be the amazing professors. It also allowed for collaborative opportunities with government agencies and many other opportunities like workshops and forums. KDIS is also a truly international environment, and it was an incredibly wonderful and immersive experience. I also had the opportunity to share my PhD dissertation through one of Prof. Han Baran’s classes focused on financial inclusion in Ethiopia and Nigeria. 

Any advice for future applicants, Kee Hoon Chung?

I would advise anyone interested to be prepared to work, learn a lot at an accelerated pace, and have humility. It is not about knowing all there is to know but rather it’s okay to show that you don’t know everything. The key is making sure you understand what your research area and agenda is as you won’t be treated like a freshman but instead it will be a collaborative peer experience among researchers.

Anything you miss about Sejong?

Kee Hoon Chung: I miss being able to walk around in Sejong at night just to think and focus. While I missed my family, the time away gave me the freedom to focus entirely on my research.

I would walk around late at night in the school and would see some professors’ office lights on which motivated me to believe that we are all working towards similar goals and that would give me the extra push to keep going. I also miss playing ping pong and video games with Professor Yoon. 

Eunjin Ryu: I miss walking around the river in Sejong and the mountains that you could walk that were near KDIS. It’s a quiet but beautiful city.