Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(2)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes 

Though somewhat unfamiliar to most Korean people, Indonesia is the 3rd largest producer of coffee globally after Brazil and Vietnam. My desire to truly explore the local coffee culture becomes stronger as my experience on Indonesia gets richer in both quantity and quality. 

That finally led to my frequent visits to cafes in the country. By that time, I also started working as an Indonesian correspondent for COFFEE SPACE, a monthly coffee magazine issued in Korea.

How I became interested in Southeast Asia(7)

Brief story of how I became interested in Southeast Asia including Indonesia

Nowadays the importance of Southeast Asia is getting highlighted as the region's economic clout has been growing in the international stage. In fact, more and more Korean people and Korean companies are turning their eyes toward Southeast Asia. 

However, the presence of Southeast Asia in the Korean society is unfortunately a long way to go. This especially poses pity in the wake of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN this year. My job description for a senior researcher will be prioritized if I am lucky enough to be a part of the Mission of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN in Jakarta. 

Moreover, I'd like to actively exercise my extensive knowhow on Southeast Asia, expertise of a former journalist and global sense to let the Korean public know more about ASEAN.

Walking around Cafes in Indonesia(1)

Introduction of Indonesian Cafes

It was back in 2013 when I first tapped into Indonesia. Since then, I sometimes stayed in the country over several months, sometimes purchased round trip flight tickets between Seoul and Jakarta twice a month. 

It all has severed me a precious opportunity to come closer with the 'Country of Equator'. As my horizon on Indonesia got broadened, the country came to me with diverse attractions. Coffee, called 'kopi' in the local language is one of the charming characteristics. 

Though somewhat unfamiliar to most Korean people, Indonesia is the 3^rd largest producer of coffee globally after Brazil and Vietnam. My desire to truly explore the local coffee culture becomes stronger as my experience on Indonesia gets richer in both quantity and quality. 

Current duties for EWKLP application

Current duties for EWKLP(East-West Knowledge Leaders Program) application

Since late 2008, I have been mainly covering educational field. Schools and private institutions from elementary to adult level are all my coverage. Among them, I spent most of my time by visiting and meeting university personnel and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. 

Like most Asian countries, Korean people pay great attention to education. I have wrote articles on many issues, establishment of two international middle schools in Seoul(capital of South Korea), shortfalls of Korean MBAs and globalization of Korean universities, to name a few. 

I am also interviewing people with interesting stories or influential achievement in the educational circle in particular. My experience says that timely and touching people stories can give the nation hopes for better tomorrow. 

Recently, I covered two Korean professors at KAIST(Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) whose paper will be published in Marketing Science this year. They are highly regarded of doing excellent analysis on ‘Netizen Funding’ in the Korean film industry.