Call for Applications - The May 18 Academy 2023

The May 18 Academy is an international educational/training program designed for civil society activists, especially for human rights and democracy activists from all around the world. Being held for nearly 2 weeks each year, the curriculum includes courses which provide all participants a special experience through lectures, activities and field trip. This not only helps to promote better understanding of democracy, human rights, and peace, but offers a valuable opportunity to communicate with other activists with their specialized fields, building a network. Furthermore, the program gives all the participants a chance to learn about South Korea democracy and its history.

The May 18 Foundation has invited over 347 NGO workers from over 50 countries since 2014. This year, the Foundation plans to invite about 14 participants through selection process, taking place for nine days from July 26 to August 3 2023.

The May 18 Academy, 2023, with the theme of “Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights Defenders”, will focus on understanding transitional justice process of May 18 Democratic Uprising and building solidarity with activists in and out of Korea.

The participants will be selected in a way to ensure diversity in terms of professional and academic backgrounds, religion, ethnicity, gender, and field of interests. The selected participants are expected to attend all the Academy sessions and actively participate in them. The selection will be conducted through document screening and the interview screening.

The Foundation will only consider the applicants who comply with the application guidelines and regulations. Hence, applicants are advised to read the guidelines in the May 18 Academy 2023 Application Form before applying. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Further information is provided within the application form attached below.

Applicants must submit their Application Form along with required documents according to the May 18 Academy 2023 Application Form to may18academy@gmail.com before the deadline, which is May 23, Tuesday, 15:00(GMT +09:00, KST).

● Applicants should ensure that they have no potential visa problems. If an applicant’s entry to Korea is denied because of their personal circumstances, the Foundation will not be liable for this matter.

● The May 18 Foundation will cover selected applicants’ international airfares between their home countries and Korea, accommodation and meals during the program.

● However, the applicant must cover their domestic transportation in both of the countries(their home countries and Korea), including domestic flights in the home country, visa fees, and all the personal expenses(individual dinner meals arranged in the schedule etc.) in Korea during the program.

● If you wish to extend your stay in Korea for any other reasons after the program, you are responsible for the entire extra cost.

● The selection process consists of the first document screening and the interview screening. Those who passed the document screening will be notified of the interview separately. The interview screening will be held via Zoom.

● If the selected applicant does not reply to the acceptance mail within 48 hours (both for the interview and the final selection), the selection will be canceled and the chance will be given to next applicant.

● The final results will be posted on the notice board of the Foundation website. Also, the final selected participants will be contacted individually via mail

● Key Date

Apply Term: From May 15, Monday to May 23, Tuesday, 15:00 (Korea Standard Time, GMT +09:00)

Document Screening Result: May 31, Wednesday

Interview Screening: June 7, Wednesday

Final Result: June 12, Monday

※ The schedules may be changed.

Inquiry & Submission Contact :

Doeun Yoo, The May 18 Glocal Center

may18academy@gmail.com / +82-62-360-0536

※ Contact via email is strongly recommended