Haeun Lee

Hometown: Sejong, Republic of Korea (South Korea)

Current position and employer: Deputy Director, Ministry of Science and ICT in the Republic of Korea

Why did you choose McCourt? First, I chose Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy for its outstanding reputation and its location in Washington, DC — the global center of politics and policymaking. I believed this environment would enhance my understanding of U.S. and international policy. Additionally, McCourt’s exceptional faculty, with extensive experience in influential institutions, bring real-world expertise that helps students develop their policy skills. Lastly, McCourt supports students in exploring specific policy areas or regions through various learning opportunities and activities.

What professional/ work experience did you have prior to coming to McCourt? I have been working as a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Science and ICT in the Republic of Korea. Over the past five years, I have been responsible for Korea’s Space and AI chips policy.

What has been the best part of your experience so far? Taking advantage of both McCourt and DC’s resources, I have participated in a wide range of programs both on and off campus. As part of Tech and Public Policy (TPP) activities, I visited organizations such as the White House and Meta. Additionally, I independently attended events in DC, including the NVIDIA Summit and a conversation with Jensen Huang.

Undergraduate University, degree, and major: Seoul National University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and International Relations

Hobbies/ Interests: Science and tech policy, visiting galleries, museums, and classical concerts, traveling (I have traveled to about 35 countries and continue to explore various U.S. states), running, walking, trying new restaurants, and reading books.