Korean Youth Empowered Through Global Internship in Developing Nations

The Export-Import Bank of Korea announced Thursday it will send 44 Korean interns to 10 developing countries as part of its Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) Global Internship Program.

Initiated in 2010, the program aims to cultivate the next generation of international development cooperation experts by providing overseas experience to undergraduate and graduate students from Korea.

Interns will gain hands-on experience in all aspects of EDCF projects, including consultations with local governments and international organizations, project management, field research, and community outreach.

This year’s cohort will be deployed in two groups across seven Asian countries – Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India, and Uzbekistan – as well as two African nations, Tanzania and Ghana, and Colombia in South America.

In addition to their overseas assignments, interns will spend three months working in Eximbank’s EDCF-related departments, both before and after their international placements. This arrangement will provide them with practical insights into project planning and implementation.

“This internship program opened my eyes to the crucial role of concessional loans in international development and significantly contributed to my professional growth,” said Park Jung-eun, a former intern at the National Children’s Medical Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, who recently joined the bank as a full-time employee.

Since its inception, the program has provided international experience to 485 young professionals, underscoring the bank’s dedication to fostering global talent for sustainable development.