My name is Femke Rijpkema, a third-semester graduate student at Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies where I am pursuing a degree in Global Affairs & Policy with a focus on Law & Organisations and Security & Foreign Policy. During my winter break, I had the opportunity to intern at the East Asia Institute (EAI) in Seoul, South Korea.
Coming from the Netherlands, I have always been eager to deepen my understanding of East Asia and its political and international dynamics. Being able to further explore this interest as an intern at one of Korea’s leading think tanks has been an incredibly valuable experience.
During these eight weeks, I was fortunate to work alongside the skilled EAI staff, contributing to key EAI projects, with tasks such as proofreading, copyediting, and formatting. Most notably, I developed a particular interest in topics related to Global NK as well as projects concerning South Korea’s current political affairs, often revisiting the documents I worked on to gain a deeper understanding out of personal interest.
Furthermore, I had the opportunity to attend and assist with a variety of conferences including the ‘Korea-Japan Normalization 60th Anniversary Conference’, the conference on ‘Korea's Democracy Future and Institutional Reform: Crisis and Alternatives’, and all seminars of the 8th edition of EAI Academy on ‘Korean Politics for Future Generations: Political Polarization, Martial Law and Impeachment, and Political Reform’. Allowing me the responsibility of capturing these conferences through photography, videography, and editing.
Outside of working hours, I had the chance to practice my Korean in a professional setting and experience Korean office culture - attempting to trade my Dutch directness for the Korean Nunchi (눈치). Moreover, I got to try new Korean foods such as Ongsimi (옹심이), a traditional Korean potato dough soup, which has now become one of my favorite winter dishes.
As my time at the East Asia Institute draws to a close, I reflect with gratitude on the enriching experiences I’ve gained. The knowledge and insights I acquired will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors. Finally, the kindness and support of the EAI staff made my internship all the more rewarding, and I am truly thankful for their warm welcome.