Richard Won Seok Chung
Class of 2025
"'In-betweener:' the label affixed to my generation in Korea. We exist between those who suffered through the Korean War and those who are oblivious to North Korea’s existence. I am also an in-betweener as my family, particularly my grandfather, has roots in the North, while my parents and I were born and raised in the South. Additionally, my education placed me between the West and East— having studied in Korea, Canada, the UK, and the US.
Both my unique heritage and diverse education have taught me about the various lenses applied to history.It is my mission to assist in pressing and complex global affair. To do this, I require a robust, holistic, and contextual understanding of the history of diplomacy and foreign affairs in East Asia. Thus, I seek to gain the skills to draft and formulate policies that will prove tangible outcomes upon execution in East Asia.
I see how being an “in-betweener” is the ultimate boon, allowing me to merge, discard, adapt, and adopt interests and ideologies, which ultimately coalesce into visions for the greater good. Thus, my status as an “in-betweener,” combined with the excellent education I receive at Walsh, will lead me to become a non-partisan expert in North Korean affairs and enable me to draft brighter futures for many."
Concentration: Politics and Security
Hometown: Seoul, Republic of Korea
Academic Background: B.A. in History, Washington University in St. Louis