KNDA Welcomes 8th Batch of Student Diplomacy Supporters

On April 3, the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA), an affiliate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held an inauguration ceremony for the 8th cohort of its Public Diplomacy Academy Supporters, known as ‘Keunda(KNDA)’. Twenty university students, selected for their keen interest in diplomacy and public outreach, were officially appointed to their roles during the event.

The ‘Keunda(KNDA)’ supporters program, now in its eighth year, serves as a crucial bridge between the KNDA and the Korean public. The name ‘Keunda’, chosen through a 2021 public contest, is a phonetic rendering of the Academy’s English acronym, KNDA, and also means “to grow” in Korean, symbolizing a shared journey of growth between the supporters and the institution. During the ceremony, KNDA Director Choi Hyung-chan emphasized the supporters’ vital role in making complex diplomatic issues accessible and engaging for a wider audience.

The Public Diplomacy Academy, launched by KNDA in 2021, is a key government initiative aimed at fostering public understanding and engagement in foreign policy. It offers diverse, tailored educational programs for various groups, including youth, university students, graduate students, professionals in international affairs, and the general public. These programs provide experiential learning opportunities and share real-world diplomatic cases, featuring courses such as:

• Youth Diplomacy Learning Centers
• University Student Diplomacy Training Courses
• Future Leaders Courses
• International Relations Practitioner Courses
• Special Public Lectures

Over the next eight months, the newly appointed supporters will actively cover the Public Diplomacy Academy’s educational courses and KNDA’s domestic and international events. They are tasked with producing engaging content, including ‘card news’ (a popular Korean format for concise, visual information) and videos, to communicate KNDA’s activities through the Public Diplomacy Academy’s official social media channels. In return, supporters gain invaluable opportunities to audit all Academy courses and network with experienced current and former diplomats and foreign policy experts.

Through their energetic efforts, the ‘Keunda(KNDA)’ supporters are expected to act as enthusiastic ambassadors, significantly enhancing public awareness of Korea’s foreign policy endeavors and the vital work undertaken by the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.

Source: 외교부 보도자료 — Original Article (Korean)