Korea Research Fellows

About the Program

The Korea Research Fellows program is a visiting scholar program at the Carolina Asia Center with a focus on Korean studies in all disciplines. This program offers visiting scholars with Korean research interests strong opportunities for mentoring and academic research.

Korea Research Fellowship Components:

• Active mentoring by faculty coordinators
• Engagement in regular seminar meetings led by faculty coordinators
• Regular reporting for funding agencies
• Access to UNC libraries
• Arrange meetings with Faculty Adviser
• UNC OneCard (University ID Card) that will allow the scholar to access facilities at UNC. Additional fees may apply for accessing certain facilities such as gyms
• UNC email address
• UNC internet access
• Ability to audit courses offered at UNC with instructors’ permission
• Access to all talks and seminars sponsored or cosponsored by the Carolina Asia Center (CAC)
• Opportunity to present the scholar’s work (optional) at UNC, for which the CAC will provide a venue at the FedEx Global Education Center building and will help advertise the event
• Library Carrel (not guaranteed – dependent upon demand)

The Carolina Asia Center cannot offer the following:

• Funding
• Housing/Accommodation
• Logistic support to find housing etc
• Transportation (although UNC provides bus services for free in certain areas)
• Salary
• Office Space

The United States Government’s Minimum Requirement to Visit USA as a Visiting Scholar with J-1 Visa:

Sufficient Funding:  The J-1 Exchange Visitor program at UNC requires a minimal funding of USD $2000.00 per month. If you are planning to bring dependents, below is the additional amount required per dependent: 1) Spouse = USD $800.00 per month and 2) Child = USD $400.00 per month

Medical Insurance and Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance requirements:

J-1 scholars are required to have a medical coverage during their stay in the United States. Following is the minimum coverage requirements. This is required of every scholar who comes to the United States of America as a Visiting Scholar with J-1 visa:

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness;
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;
• Expenses associated with medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000; and
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

English Proficiency Requirement: The scholar must possess sufficient proficiency in the English language to successfully participate in the visiting scholar program and to function on a day-to-day basis in the United States, as determined by an objective measure of English language proficiency. If you have taken tests such as TOEIC/TOFEL /IELST/CEFR, please send us the test score. If you have spent more than a year in an English speaking country, please indicate that in the application.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested parties should send a curriculum vitae and cover letter to Shuyi Lin at shuyilin@unc.edu. Please note that administration fees will apply according to the length of the fellowship (one semester, one year, etc.). Appointments of one year or less are preferred, with the option to renew. We encourage applicants to apply to the program at least six months in advance.

UNC Faculty Mentors

Dr. Ji-Yeon Jo Assistant Professor Department of Asian Studies

Dr. I Jonathan Kief Assistant Professor Department of Asian Studies

Past Korea Research Fellows

2016 – 2017 Fellows

• Dr. Hyun Young Jung, Associate Professor, Department of Food and Nutrition, Mokpo National University, South Korea
• Dr. Yongjae Kwon, Assistant Professor, Department of Finance and Accounting, Kookmin University, Seoul, South Korea

2014 – 2015 Fellows

• Dr. Byung Hwan Hyeon, Director of the KBPI (www.kribb.re.kr) and Professor of Technology Management & Policy at University of Science and Technology, South Korea
• Dr. Tae Hee Kim, Director of Social Economy Division, Seoul Metropolitan Government, South Korea
• Dr. Wonjeoung Lee, Assistant Professor & Chief Professor in the Department of International Trade, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea
• Dr. Jinyoung Seo, Lecture Professor, Faculty of Liberal Education, Seoul National University, South Korea
• Dr. Sangwoo Shin, Professor, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, South Korea
• Dr. Byung Won Yoo, M.D., Pediatric Cardiologist, Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea

2013 – 2014 Fellows

• Dr. Lakhyung Kim, Associate Professor at the Woosuk University, College of Korean Medicine in Jeonju, South Korea
• Dr. Haemo Park, Associate Professor, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, South Korea

2012 – 2013 Fellows

• Mr. Joon Ha Park, Deputy Director, Human Resource Management Division, Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF), Republic of Korea
• Dr. Yoonbeom Kim, Professor, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, South Korea
• Dr. Changhyun Jeong, Professor, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, South Korea

2011 – 2012 Fellows

• Dr. Hijoon Park, Professor, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, South Korea