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The Korea-America Student Conference

About 18th KASC:

Our Story

The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC) is a student-led, academic and cultural exchange program launched in 2008 to build closer ties between young leaders in both countries. Each year, an equal number of students from the US and South Korea are competitively selected to spend time together in the summer, studying and analyzing US-South Korea relations while visiting diverse regions in both host countries. The 18th Korea-America Conference is congregating in New York City and Seoul.

  • Online Orientation: TBD
  • In-person Conference: July 12th ~ July 26th

“There are many ways to learn about Korea. However, there are hardly any opportunities to deeply interact with students, freely discuss contentious issues, and build lifelong relations with Korean and American students—KASC is one of these and a category of its own.”

John Kim
3rd KASC alumnus

Make History with KASC

Established in 2008, KASC supports a deep bilateral relationship between the US and Korea. By exploring this relationship on multiple levels (politics, economics, culture, media, and more), students gain knowledge and confidence to discuss, debate, and co-create bilateral and international relations.

A unique feature of KASC is that an Executive Committee of students organize each Conference, working together across the Pacific throughout the academic year. The ECs also host Roundtables throughout the Conference, discussing critical issues outside the traditional classroom setting with other students from across the globe.

Constructing Identity in a Globalized World: KASC 18

Greetings!

The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC) is an international cultural exchange and academic program between Korea and the United States. It is parented by the Nonprofit Organization, International Student Conferences (ISC).

ISC currently operates three programs: JASC, KASC, and CHASC. In the case of JASC, it boasts a tradition of about 88 years, influencing many people, including former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa. As a result, KASC was created in 2008, and at the second conference in 2009, former President Lee Myung Bak and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a letter congratulating the opening, showing interest in KASC’s infinite possibilities.

In 2025, KASC 18 will bring together young leaders from the Republic of Korea and the United States. Delegates will be divided into groups based on their RT topics to share ideas and foster a deeper understanding of Korea-U.S. relations. Through various activities, discussions, research, and collaborations, delegates will critically analyze key aspects of bilateral relations, such as politics, economics, the environment, identity, and human rights. We will present our findings at the Final Forum. After the two-week program, delegates will not only gain a deeper understanding of both countries but also form meaningful connections.

“We look forward to discussing the coexistence, as we approach the hot summer with hotter spirit in hearts!”

KASC 18 Executive Committee

Designed for students by students, meet the bright young minds leading the 18th Korea-America Student Conference.

KASC 18 Sites

The 18th Korea-America Student Conference will travel to the USA and Korea, taking place in New York City and Seoul.

KASC 18 Roundtables

Each year, several Roundtable topics are chosen as major discussion points to deepen Delegates’ understanding of bilateral issues.

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Past Conferences

Supporters

Thank you to the generous supporters of the 17th Korea-America Student Conference (to date):

2024 Scholarships Provided by:

  • International Student Conferences Plant a Diplomatic Tree Scholarship
  • University at Buffalo
  • Jenny Town
  • University of Hawaii – Manoa
  • Indiana University

2024 Program Partners

  • Korea Economic Institute America
  • Korea Foundation USA
  • The Korea Society
  • The Asia Group

2024 Program Highlights

  • Visit to the U.S. Department of State and briefing from the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
  • Multinational simulation and lunch provided by the Korea Economic Institute America
  • Reception at The Asia Group with a speech by Ambassador Julie Turner, U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues
  • Lecture and networking the Korea Foundation;
  • Tour of the Old Korean Legation Museum
  • The Korea Society
  • United Nation Development Programme
  • KASC X JASC Collaboration on Japan-Korea relations
  • Presentation from the American Chamber of Commerce in Seoul
  • American Diplomacy House & Final Forum

Thank you to the generous supporters of the 16th Korea-America Student Conference:

2022 Scholarships Provided by:

  • International Student Conferences Plant a Diplomatic Tree Scholarship
  • University at Buffalo