James A. Kelly Korea Fellowship

The James A. Kelly Korean Studies Fellowship Program will promote academic study, research, and professional career paths focused on Korean Peninsula studies by young Kelly Fellows.

It recognizes the exemplary efforts of Jim Kelly to improve US-ROK relations and encourage the DPRK to denuclearize and join the international community of nations.

The overall objective of the fellowship is to promote stronger US-ROK, US-DPRK, and inter-Korean relations through a variety of Pacific Forum programs. The fellowship makes a deliberate effort to encourage the study of Korean economic and security issues, with particular focus on raising awareness among the next generation of scholars and officials in the US, ROK, and worldwide about the vital role the Korean Peninsula plays in regional and international affairs.

Kelly Fellows will develop their knowledge of Korean Peninsula issues through participation in the Pacific Forum’s Young Leaders program, research under the guidance of Pacific Forum senior staff, and the continuing series of U.S.-ROK and broader tri-/multilateral forums.

Applications are due on November 7. 2022. 

Eligibility and How to Apply:

  • Open citizenship
  • Have completed their undergraduate education and
    • Have several years of experience in Indo-Pacific security issues, or
    • Has completed or is completing their graduate education (master’s or doctoral)
  • Proficient in English (verbal and written skills)
  • For non-U.S. citizens, applicant must possess or be eligible for an extended stay visa

To apply for the Kelly Fellowship, please complete the Non-resident Kelly Fellowship online application form and include all materials listed below. All materials must be written in English. Any statement in your application that is found to be false will be grounds for disqualification.

  • A cover letter detailing interests and why the Kelly Fellowship will contribute to the applicant’s professional development
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • A letter of recommendation
  • A description of a research project to undertake as a Kelly Fellow (not to exceed 1,500 words)​

Important Notice: Pacific Forum is closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and following the latest guidance from the Office of the Mayor, City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii. 

Current Resident Fellows:

Akhil Ramesh (IND) holds an M.S. with a concentration in global macroeconomics from New York University in New York, a certificate in business and geopolitics from HEC Paris, France and a BBA from Amity University, India. Born and raised in India, Akhil started his career in the Philippines, and over the past seven years, he has lived and worked across three continents, wearing different hats with risk consulting firms, think tanks and governments. Most recently, he worked with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on geo-economic issues in southern India. Prior to that, based out of New York City, worked as a project coordinator and lead of the mapping project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative at the EastWest Institute. With research interests at the nexus of geoeconomics and security policy, he is currently working on a number of projects related to infrastructure development in Asia, supply chains, grand strategy in the Indo-Pacific. His analysis has been widely published across global and regional journals such as Nikkei Asia, South China Morning Post, The Hill, The Diplomat, National Interest, Economic Times and Hindustan Times.

Current Non-resident Fellows:

Jiyeon Kim (ROK) is a Nonresident James A. Kelly Korea Fellow at the Pacific Forum. She holds a combined BA in Political Economy from Pitzer College, an MSc in International Relations from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Her master’s research at Fletcher focuses on the evolution of the North Korea sanctions regime and its impact on the North Korean economy. Jiyeon previously served as a researcher at Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) and completed her internships at Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) and with the 38 North program at Stimson center. Jiyeon’s research interests include North Korea sanctions regimes, North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile program, nuclear nonproliferation, US-China relations, and International Relations of East Asia.

Hannah Cole (USA) is a current Advisor at Pacific Forum and Nonresident James A. Kelly Korea Fellow. She entered this role following the conclusion of her role as Program and Publications Manager as well as a formative research internship with PF, focused on Northeast Asian security concerns and Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Hannah has had a plethora of international experiences across Asia and Europe, spending a cumulative 6+ years abroad. In addition to the US-ROK alliance, Hannah’s professional interests include the nexus of public affairs and national security, and WPS. Hannah has previously held internships with the Department of State, Brookings Institution, and George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. Hannah received her Master’s of Asian Studies with a focus on Korean studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2021 and received a dual BA in International Conflict Analysis & Resolution and Asian Studies from George Mason University in 2019.

Alexander M. Hynd (UK) is a PhD candidate in international relations at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, and a research associate at UNSW’s Korea Research Initiatives. His research interests include South Korea’s regional strategy, nuclear non- proliferation, energy transition and maritime security. Since 2017 Alexander has worked as a corporate security analyst in Seoul, most recently as senior research analyst in the Risk Management Group of top-ten South Korean law firm DR & AJU LLC. In 2020 his policy- oriented papers on Korean Peninsula issues were awarded three prizes, including a presidential citation from President Moon Jae-in; and in 2021 he was selected as an emerging leader for the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) and as an associate fellow at the Higher Education Academy. Alexander holds an MA in international studies from Korea University and a BA in politics from SOAS, University of London.

Yong Jae Kim (ROK) is assistant professor of political science and international studies at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU). Previously, he was post-doctoral fellow at International Training Institute/Asian Affairs Center at University of Missouri – Columbia. His academic interests cover political behavior, political institutions, political economy, East Asian politics, national security, foreign policy, and research methods. He presented his papers at the conferences of the American Political Science Association, the Midwest Political Science Association, the Western Political Science Association, and the Southern Political Science Association. He was also invited for the discussion on “China – India Relations” at University of Hawaii – Manoa and participated in the Symposium of Air War College, HPU, UH Manoa, and the East – West Center as a panelist to talk about “South Korea’s International Relations and Politics.” His research articles were published in the journals: Asian Survey and Government and Opposition. Yong Jae Kim received a Ph.D. in political science from University of Missouri – Columbia, an MA in political science and international relations from Korea University, and a BA in political science and international relations from Dongguk University.

Jung Eun Lee (ROK) is an editorial writer and a reporter at the Dong-A Ilbo Daily in South Korea. She worked as a Washington correspondent from 2019 to 2021. She specializes in national security and foreign affairs, and has been reporting on North Korea, denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy. She was dispatched to Channel A, the affiliate broadcasting company of Dong-A Ilbo, as a senior reporter at the political desk in 2014. She was a visiting scholar at the U.S.-Korea Institute (USKI) at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies from 2014 to 2015. She obtained her B.A. in journalism from Seoul National University, and M.A. from the Graduate School of North Korean Studies.

Andrew I. Park (USA) is currently serving as senior analyst for the Center for Maritime Strategy at the Navy League of the United States. In this capacity, he is primarily responsible for leading the center’s research and projects on the Indo-Pacific region. He is also president of the Sejong Society of Washington, D.C., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to informing, developing, and connecting young professionals interested and engaged in U.S.-Korea affairs. Andrew has participated in numerous projects including the U.S.-Japan-ROK Emerging Leaders Working Group, commissioned by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy; U.S.-Australia-ROK Track 1.5 Dialogue, commissioned by the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Preventing Strategic Deterrence Failure on the Korean Peninsula Tabletop Exercise, commissioned by the Atlantic Council. Andrew’s authored works have appeared in Foreign Policy, The Hill, War on the Rocks, Stars and Stripes, South China Morning Post, The National Interest, and Japan Times. He previously worked for The Asia Group, Lockheed Martin and the Council on Foreign Relations, where he conducted research on geopolitics, security threats and the defense industry of the Indo-Pacific region. Also, he served as an interpreter/translator at the United States-Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea (US-ROK CFC/USFK) between 2011 and 2013, where he was awarded a U.S. Army Commendation Medal and several other commendations. Andrew received a bachelor’s degree in political science, international studies and Asia studies from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and a master’s in Asian Studies from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.