U.S. Congress - Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange Program
Senator Mark Kirk with Washington, D.C. intern William Parsons from Lake Forest, Ill. and Jin Young Kim from South Korea, both participants in the exchange program
International exchange programs give participants the opportunity to learn invaluable lessons about international relations and domestic policies. Yesterday I was honored to meet with this year’s participants of the US Congress-Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange program, which I have been a Congressional sponsor of since 2003. Through this cultural exchange, these young men and women learn about the legislative process of both countries, as well as about American and Korean history and culture.
For over three decades, the US Congress-Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange Program has united students from both countries to learn about the ties between our nations. Each summer, a group of American students nominated by members of Congress and Korean students nominated by the Korean National Assembly spend three weeks in the U.S. and South Korea. This year, one of my Washington, D.C. interns, Will Parsons from Lake Forest, Ill., will be participating in the exchange. For Will and all of the other participants, the exchange is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the history, politics and economies of the two countries.
The program is administered by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by the Meridian International Center. To learn more about the program, visit the Meridian website.
