International Development Consulting in Seoul
By: Junfang Zhang, CAS ’25
First day of work! On the bus with a fellow intern from Penn, Lynn, on the company drop-off arranged by CRCC for our first day.
International Development in Seoul
I’ve pondered various ways to begin this article, but perhaps a straightforward opening captures my sentiments best: the past two weeks working in Seoul have been one of the most eye-opening and enriching experiences I’ve had. Having an interest in international development with a particular focus on water and maritime affairs, it has always been a struggle to find opportunities well-aligned with my career goals. Hence, when I saw the “International Development (ID) in Seoul” GRIP listing on Penn Abroad’s site, I knew I had to give it a shot.
During the company-matching phase of the program, I could already sense that this program might be the one to finally connect me to a bespoke work experience that I wouldn’t have in my home country – Singapore – or in the US. As ID in Seoul is a cohort internship, we apply first to the program, then upon admission, the program coordinator, CRCC Asia would begin connecting us to companies on the ground based on our sector preferences. Of the six focuses offered – International Development & NGO, Business, Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Advertising, Green Tech & Sustainability, and Technology – I ranked “International Development” and “Green Tech & Sustainability” as my top two choices. In a couple of weeks, CRCC Asia reached out to me with a company that would like to offer me an interview: JHSUSTAIN.
JHSUSTAIN is an international development consulting specialist based in Seoul, South Korea, with particular expertise in sustainable development and water management. JHSUSTAIN’s mission is to share know-how for sustainable development and strengthen the international community’s capacity to adapt to climate change (1). To achieve this, JHSUSTAIN offers its expertise in a range of governance-level projects.
At JHSUSTAIN, I’m currently involved in two main projects. The first is a Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)-sponsored project, entitled “Establishment of Effective Water Resources Management System and Enhancement of Disaster Response Capabilities for Nam Ngum River Basin, Lao PDR.” The other is Jeju Carbon Free Island 2030 (CFI 2030), which aims to transform Jeju island into a carbon net-zero hub through two main pillars: renewable energy and electric vehicles.
In both projects, my role has mainly been to provide research and technical support, including data collection and analysis. In the longer-term, I am also tasked with producing a report, summarizing key arguments that existing reports by organizations like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or AUSAID make on institutional improvements for sound water management, with particular focus on enhancing multi-level stakeholder engagement at the national, provincial and community level. These organizations have extensive experience in water management in Laos, and JHSUSTAIN wants to take a stock-take of what knowledge already exists out there, before building on it to make specific recommendations for the Nam Ngum River Basin.
In short, my work experience in Seoul with JHSUSTAIN has been nothing short of incredible. I never imagined I’d be able to connect with such a unique company that was also so aligned with my personal and professional interests. In equal measure, the work I’ve been able to do at JHSUSTAIN has also allowed me to usefully apply classroom-knowledge I learnt at Penn, while gaining real-world exposure to the field. If you’re a future applicant and found a program under GRIP that seems perfect for you, don’t hesitate – I can’t recommend the experience enough!
1 – JHSUSTAIN: “About.” Jhsustain.com. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2022, from https://www.jhsustain.com/?lang=en
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce.