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Sung Kim

U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea

Senator J. William Fulbright, the major proponent of legislation that established one of the most prominent and effective international exchange programs in the world — a program which famously bears his name — once said: “From the beginning, my hope with the Fulbright exchanges was to generate a deeper understanding — especially on the part of potential leaders — of the differing cultures and peoples of the world.”

For over 60 years, the Fulbright Program has taken on this task and helped foster meaningful cultural exchange between nations. In the Republic of Korea, one of the United States’s closest allies, Fulbright has done much to help Americans and Koreans better understand each other. One of Fulbright Korea’s signature initiatives, the English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Program, has been hailed as a benchmark and model for all other Fulbright ETA Programs. This year we celebrate the 20th year of the ETA Program in Korea, and look forward to many more years of its success.

The Fulbright Program continues to play an important role in maintaining the long-lasting friendship between our two nations and cultivating an even deeper mutual understanding. On behalf of the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Korea, it is my pleasure to congratulate Fulbright Korea, as well as past and current ETAs, on their efforts to contribute to these important goals, and I wish you continued success in the future.