When classes started on the CU Denver Campus, five South Korean graduate students were among about two dozen students now enrolled in the intensive, year-long School of Public Affairs’ (SPA) Accelerated Masters of Public Affairs (AMPA) program. During the second year of their studies, students in the program complete the Advanced Seminar course and participate in “Field Studies” of U.S. government institutions and processes.
The South Korean students arrived in Denver during June for an English Language Training prep program prior to the start of the fall semester. Spring International Language Center instructor and School of Public Affairs alum Steve Lawrence (MPA, 2007) has helped facilitate this summer program for South Korean students during the past five years.
“Each year the government of South Korea selects about 200 government officials for graduate study abroad,“ Lawrence explains. “It is highly competitive and a great honor to be selected by their government. These students come to Denver for two years with their spouses and children, and their kids enroll in U.S. public schools.”
The summer program consists of classroom work on conversational English, guest visits, field trips and preparatory work related to their SPA studies.
“Through his contacts developed from SPA and his personal network, Steve brings together a panel presentation of Denver-based elected officials from state, local and federal government to discuss important topical policy issues,” Scott Steinbrecher, coordinator, SPA International Student Programs says.
Topics for this year’s participants in the summer program included the influence of party politics on the policy process, government officials’ corruption, the new Denver Crime Lab and DNA analysis, career/internships with public agencies, and what ‘power’ really is vested in public officials.
Noteworthy this year says Lawrence, “the guest panel also initiated a discussion with the Korean students regarding public sentiment in their country about the possibility of reunification with North Korea and the possible impacts on international relations in Asia.”
Photo (L to R): Jim Gibson, former President of the Colorado Democratic Leadership Council; Park Jin Woo (Daniel), Deputy Director at Statistics Korea; Steve Lawrence, Instructor; Lee Joon Ho (Joon Lee), Deputy Director (Prosecutor) at the Supreme Prosecution Service; Miller Hudson, former Colorado State Representative; Lee Sanghoon (Klaus), Senior Inspector at the National Police Agency; and Mitch Morrissey, Denver District Attorney
The South Korean students on campus are:
--Choi WonYoung (Won-Young), Director at the Small and Medium Business Administration
--Ha InHo (In-Ho), Director at the Ministry of Public Administration and Security
--Lee Joon Ho (Joon Lee), Deputy Director (Prosecutor) at the Supreme Prosecution Service
--Lee Sanghoon (Klaus), Senior Inspector at the National Police Agency
--Park Jin Woo (Daniel), Deputy Director at Statistic Korea