Congratulations on the publication of the 16th volume of Infusion!
It has been one year since I arrived in the Republic of Korea and have had the honor to join the Fulbright Korea community through my role as Chair of the Korean-American Educational Commission. Over the past year, I have been fortunate to witness tremendous developments in the relationship between the United States and Korea. This year, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of our Alliance, and what was once primarily a military relationship has been transformed into today’s truly comprehensive global partnership. U.S. President Biden put it well when he said that “the alliance formed in war has flourished in peace.”
For the past 70 years, people-to-people exchanges have been the cornerstone for the advancement of our relationship, as more than 7,000 Korean and American Fulbright alumni have played a key role in building bridges between the two countries. During President Yoon Suk-yeol’s State Visit to the United States earlier this year, the leaders of our two countries agreed on the New Educational Exchange Initiative to further deepen our people-to-people ties and educational cooperation for future generations in the fields of humanities and social sciences, as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The multi-year, $60 million educational exchange program includes the largest-ever Fulbright graduate program focused on STEM research. I am confident that this program will further advance Fulbright’s role in making our relationship closer and more vibrant.
I hope that all of you will continue to advance your education and careers and promote our countries’
close ties.
Robert Post
Minister-Counselor for Public Diplomacy
Embassy of the United States of America
Chair, Korean-American Educational Commission