The EDCF internship program of Korea Eximbank is proving to be an effective bridgehead into leading international organizations.

Korea Eximbank announced on Nov. 17 that two former EDCF interns gained employment at the ILO and OECD Development Center.

Ji-hae Ha, hired by the OECD Development Center, and A-lim Jang, hired by the ILO, began their EDCF internship with the Bank last March in Manila and Jakarta, respectively.

Ha will begin working for the OECD Development Center based in Paris, France on December 8. When asked how she felt about her new job, Ha said, “I’m ecstatic to be working for an international organization. I’ve dreamt about it for a long time. I think that my EDCF internship experience, which I never would have gained at school, was a big factor in getting the job at the OECD.”

During her internship in Manila, Ha accumulated a great deal of knowledge and work experience in the identification and management of ODA projects in developing countries and broadened her understanding of major issues and trends in international development cooperation by attending numerous international conferences such as the Korea-Philippines PPP Forum and the 4th High Level Forum in Busan.

As for Jang, she began work at the ILO office in Jakarta last September overseeing communications between the ILO and local companies.

With greater national prominence and interest in the international community, a rising number of new graduates are hoping to work for international organizations.

The vast majority of new graduates however, do not have the work experience such organizations require. Most international organizations hope to secure people who are capable of taking on work responsibilities from the first day on the job.

Considering this trend, Korea Eximbank’s EDCF internship program is an excellent bridge for graduates hoping to enter international organizations because the dispatch of interns to developing countries helps them build upon their college education with hands-on work experience.

Director General Young-hoon Chang of the EDCF Planning Department said, “Although Korea is increasing commitment amounts to international organizations every year, only a minimal number of Koreans have joined the organizations as employees. I hope more young people will participate in Korea Eximbank’s EDCF internship program and acquire comprehensive work experience in international development cooperation.”

Since 2010, Korea Eximbank has selected 20 EDCF interns each year. Among them, ten interns have been dispatched to developing countries that receive a large proportion of EDCF support such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.