Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center (Director Baek Suk‑hee) created a forum to nurture global ODA talent by sharing field experience with young people aspiring to careers in development cooperation.

The Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center said it held the event "Jeonbuk YP Gae‑Gonggam" for KOICA YP (Young Professional) and young people interested in development cooperation on the 9th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Donghaeng Hall on the 7th floor of the JBNU International Center.

The event title conveys the idea of "a place to empathize with development cooperation and thoroughly resolve questions." It was organized to provide young people interested in development cooperation with practical job information and opportunities to explore career paths, and to expand networks among local youth.

Four young presenters who had served as YPs at KOICA development cooperation project implementing organizations in the Jeonbuk area or who are from Jeonbuk and gained YP experience at metropolitan institutions presented at the event.

Kim Hye‑in of the Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center, Park Se‑min of the Jeonbuk International Cooperation Promotion Institute, Ra Hanna of the JBNU International Development Cooperation Office, and Chae Woori of Hepper Korea candidly introduced their organizations’ projects and motivations for applying, and the competencies they developed through approximately seven months of work. The presenters concretely shared the challenges, lessons, and career preparation processes they encountered in development cooperation fieldwork, drawing empathy from participants.

After the presentations, a networking session allowed participants and presenters to converse freely. Participants asked practical questions about preparing YP applications, the characteristics of work at each organization, and the competencies required in the development cooperation field, and expanded their youth development cooperation network.

In particular, the remarks by YP Kang Su‑jeong, who served as the event moderator, deepened the event’s significance. Kang YP attended the first "Jeonbuk YP Gae‑Gonggam" as an audience member last year, chose a career in development cooperation afterward, and has been working as a YP at the JBNU International Development Cooperation Center since the first half of this year. A young person who heard seniors’ experiences as a participant a year earlier has now grown into a practitioner supporting juniors’ career paths and served as the event moderator.

This case is seen as an example of the virtuous cycle unique to "Jeonbuk YP Gae‑Gonggam," in which a senior in the development cooperation field shares experience and a young person who has grown through that experience becomes a guide for the next generation.

Baek Suk‑hee, Director of the JBNU Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center, said, "The Jeonbuk region KOICA YP program is emerging as a cradle for cultivating global ODA talent. We will continue to operate regular outcome‑sharing meetings and career support programs so that local potential talent can develop their capabilities and inherit field know‑how."

Kim Tae‑eun, Director at the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), said, "Jeonbuk YP Gae‑Gonggam is a meaningful opportunity for local youth to gain a closer understanding of development cooperation fieldwork and to concretize their potential. KOICA will also actively support young people so they can grow into development cooperation professionals who connect the world and the region."

Meanwhile, the Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center was established in 2015 through an agreement among JBNU, the Jeollabuk Provincial Government, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) as a regional ODA platform. The center was recognized this July for its operational achievements in utilizing KOICA YP as educational instructors and project practitioners, and won the Grand Prize (first place) at the "KOICA YP Best Practices Competition for Development Cooperation Project Implementing Agencies."