Visiting Scholars & Research Fellows

The Center for Korean Studies regularly hosts visiting scholars and research fellows seeking to join a law school community known for its expertise in international and comparative law.

2022-23 Visiting Scholars

Hyeon Jeoung photo

Hyun Jeoung Lee is an attorney at Kim & Chang in Seoul where she specializes in Corporate Investigation & White Collar Defense Practice and Fair Trade & Consumer Regulation Practice. Since 2013, she has also served as Commissioner at the Consumer Dispute Settlement Commission, Korea Consumer Agency. As a Visiting Scholar she will conduct a "Study on the Online Dispute Resolutions for Improving and Empowering the Consumer Dispute Resolution System in Korea and the U.S.”

 

Center for Korean Studies Visiting Scholars and Research Fellows Program

Every year the Center hosts a number of highly-qualified academics, professionals and post-graduates intending to carry out legal research in the United States that has a clearly defined Korea focus. Hosted scholars and fellows join a law school community that is renowned for its expertise in international and comparative law.

In the past, the Center has sponsored scholars and practitioners primarily from Korea and will continue to do so in the future. However, the Center recognizes the increasing role of Korea in the world economy, so it welcomes applications from prospective visitors from a broad range of backgrounds, experience, and geographic locations, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, and elsewhere.

Applications for visiting scholar status at Columbia Law School are processed through the Office of International Programs. For purposes of Center sponsorship, the "Visiting Scholar" designation refers to academics and practitioners at mid-career to senior level status. "Research Fellow" status is open to Ph.D. candidates or recent graduates, and recent J.D. or J.D.-equivalent graduates.

Application Guideline

Formal application for the Center's Visiting Scholar or Research Fellow status begins with submitting an application to the Office of International Programs.

Please note that the International Programs application asks for faculty sponsors. If you would like the center to consider hosting you as a Visiting Scholar or Research Fellow, you must enter the name of the Center's director, Jeong-Ho Roh, in the first slot.

The remaining slots may contain other Law school faculty who would likely have an interest in your area of research (though this is not required). If the center decides to host you, we will make every effort to gain and coordinate the support of the other faculty you have listed.

It is highly recommended that you contact the Center's director with a brief self-introduction and summary of your research aims as part of the application process.

Research Topic

Your application should describe a research topic that is directly related to some aspect of Korean law and legal institutions.

These topics can be:

  • Purely domestic in nature.
  • Comparative between Korea and one or more other jurisdictions.
  • Involve issues in international law impacting Korea.
  • Involve Korea's role in the development of international standards.
  • Involve Korean legal history and philosophy.

Law School Community Involvement

Study and research at Columbia Law School in New York offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from some of the top law faculty in the world. The opportunities range from building new and lasting relationships with fellow community members to explore new or continuing directions for intellectual development, and to take advantage of the many resources available in the New York metropolitan area.

With these resources, Visiting Scholars and Research Fellows are expected to be actively engaged in the proceedings of the center, as well as events hosted by International Programs throughout their residency. This includes regular attendance at Visiting Scholar Forums organized by International Programs, gatherings organized by the Center to share progress on your research project with other Center-sponsored scholars and fellows, and networking, career and social events.

A strong application will indicate your commitment to this involvement.