The POSCO Visiting Fellowship Program

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The POSCO Visiting Fellowship Program, endowed by POSCO, is intended to promote research activities on Korean topics at the East-West Center. The program invites outstanding scholars and policymakers to engage in policy-relevant, contemporary research on political, security, and economic issues in Northeast Asia, as they relate to Korea.

Nature of the Fellowship

Each year, from the beginning of March to the end of February of the following year, the East-West Center hosts four to six POSCO Visiting Fellows. The POSCO Visiting Fellows are in residence at the East-West Center for one to two months and undertake research and writing on an agreed topic. Fellows are provided with a stipend and round-trip economy airfare between their home base and Honolulu. They are required to give one seminar, prepare a high-quality paper to be submitted for publication, and join in East-West Center activities. Fellows may also be asked to participate in local outreach and public-diplomacy [JB emphasis] activities. Proposals for cost-shared fellowships are welcomed.

Areas of Research

POSCO Visiting Fellows carry out policy-relevant research on contemporary issues in Korean studies. In particular, the POSCO Fellowship Program is intended to generate constructive and informative research in four important areas: (1) The two Koreas and Northeast Asia; (2) Security issues for Korea and Northeast Asia; (3) Economic and social issues in South Korea; and (4) Political challenges in Korea.

Expected Outputs and Publication Opportunities

Under the Korea Foundation grant agreement, POSCO Visiting Fellows are required to prepare a quality paper addressing an issue in one of the four priority areas or as developed in the fellowship proposal for publication in an academic journal or in book format. POSCO Visiting Fellows customarily provide a presentation on their research activities and findings at a center-wide seminar at the conclusion of the fellowship.

Application Procedures

Applicants must submit the following by 31 December in any year to be considered for a fellowship during the period of 1 March to 28 February of the following year:

• Application form
• A cover letter indicating the research theme or project for which the applicant is applying
• Curriculum vitae, which may be circulated among East-West Center staff (For security purposes, please do not include any personal information—e.g., birthdate, social security numbers, and/or passport number.)
• Names of three referees, including full name, title, postal address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address
• Research proposal (3 to 5 pages), which should do the following:

1. Set out the issue or issues of the proposed investigation
2. Describe the research method
3. State the relationship of the proposed study to ongoing work in the area
4. Explain how the proposed study can advance regional development and cooperation
5. Propose the duration of fellowship required, the expected time that the applicant can be in residence at the East-West Center
6. Describe the anticipated publication product

Applicants who can provide some of the cost of the fellowship should indicate what costs they are able to cover.

Applications should be emailed to fellowships@eastwestcenter.org or mailed to:
Denny Roy
Coordinator of POSCO Visiting Fellowships
East-West Center
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-1601
USA