Internship Opportunity / FAQ

KEI Fall/Winter 2025 Internship 

The KEI Internship Program offers current undergraduates, master’s students, and occasionally recent graduates an opportunity to engage in career exploration and learn new skills in research, writing, and communications. Through the program, interns will gain a deeper understanding of policy issues impacting U.S.-Korea relations and work experience related to their career interest.   

The Fall/Winter Internship begins mid-August and ends in December. The internship program and all programming take place in-person in Washington, DC. Interns are required to be physically located in the Washington, DC, metro area for the duration of the internship. 

To apply for the internship, please send your resume and cover letter to Mai Pressley at mp@keia.org. The subject title should be as follows: “2025 Fall/Winter KEI Internship Application – Communications” or “2025 Fall/Winter KEI Internship – Research.” We will review applications on a rolling basis until positions are filled.  

RESEARCH INTERNSHIP. The main duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on political, economic, and trade issues related to the United States and South Korea. 

• Compile, process, visualize, and analyze quantitative data, occasionally from Korean-language sources. 

• Provide research and data analysis for various reports produced by the KEI economics program. 

• Contribute to KEI’s The Peninsula blog. 

• Track daily news relevant to the Korean Peninsula. 

• Attend and draft reports on conferences and seminars. 

• Provide administrative and event support. 

Qualifications: 

• Undergraduate or graduate student with a background in economics, trade, statistics, public policy, international relations, political science, or Asian studies. 

• An interest in international affairs and trade policies, especially related to the Korean Peninsula. 

• Excellent writing and analysis skills. 

• Korean language skill is preferred but not required 

• Data visualization and manipulation skills, preferably with Microsoft Excel and R, SPSS, or STATA. The ability to perform simple regression analysis in R is preferred but not required. 

COMMUNICATIONS INTERNSHIP. Main duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Assist with various multimedia projects, including the identification of appropriate images and video clips. 

• Help draft collateral for KEI’s public-facing social media platforms, including graphic and video materials. 

• Participate in discussions to shape the direction of the organization’s public-facing multimedia products. 

• Assist with collecting data for inclusion in KEI’s measurements of its performance in traditional media and social media. 

• Contribute to drafting segments of KEI’s newsletter. 

Qualifications: 

• Experience with managing social media platforms, particularly creating and scheduling social media content. 

• Experience acquiring multimedia materials from creative commons. 

• Copywriting experience (preferred but not required). 

• Experience with open-source research. 

• Experience with graphic design using Adobe Creative Suite or Canva. 

• Journalism or communication background (preferred but not required). 

KEI pays $18.00 per hour. Interns can work up to 24 hours a week. KEI offers the following benefits: 

• Commuter benefits for public transit 

• Paid holidays 

International students with a student visa are eligible to apply for the KEI internship if they would be applying for CPT or OPT or if they have employment authorization. 

Academic credit is generally available if KEI can work with the university’s requirements. KEI does not offer intern housing but can assist with finding housing if needed.