The Institute for Korean Studies is partnering with the George Washington University Institute for Korean Studies and the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) to host the Midwest Korean Policy Op-Ed Contest. The contest is open to any policies related to South Korea. Some examples include but are not limited to:
- AI Standards
- Defense industry cooperation
- Non-traditional security
- Immigration policy
- Trade policy
- Low fertility rate
- Constitutional reform
- Challenges to existing political systems
- Non-traditional security
- Tensions around the freedoms (of speech, protest, expression)
Eligibility
- Any undergraduate students currently enrolled in universities in the Midwest
Requirements
- Op-eds must be between 800-1200 words
- Submissions must be in either PDF or Word Doc format
- Use hyperlinks for all sources. If quoting from a secondary source that is not available online, hyperlink to the book on the publisher's website or the Amazon page for the book. (necessary for publication on KEI blog).
Criteria
- Analysis of a specific policy issue and its significance
- Content of proposed policy recommendations
- Evidence to support the policy recommendations
- Technique (writing, sources, etc).
Submission Method
- Submit op-eds to iks@iu.edu
Prizes
- Cash prizes: $500 for 1st place, $300 for 2nd place, $100 for 3rd
- Winning piece will also be published in Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI)’s flagship blog “The Peninsula.”
Deadline: December 1, 2025
If you have any questions about the project, please contact iks@iu.edu