The May 18 Memorial Foundation
International Internship Program 2015
About the May 18 Memorial Foundation
The May 18 Memorial Foundation was founded in 1994 with the precious funds of the May 18 victims,
Gwangju citizens, overseas Koreans and Korean nationals in order to continue and develop the great democratic
spirit and solidarity of the May 18 Democratization Movement. Along with the aims of spreading the history of
the struggle and its generous spirit to the global community, we hope to march altogether for the promotion and
protection of democracy, human rights and peace building regionally and internationally. (For more information,
please go to http://eng.518.org)
Introduction to the Foundation Works
Since 1994, the May 18 Memorial Foundation has been conducting and expanding many projects to
commemorate the spirit and struggle of the May 18 Democratization Movement, eventually contribute to the
peaceful reunification of Korea; and to work towards peace and human rights throughout the world.
The Foundation has carried out numerous projects in various fields, including organizing memorial events,
establishing scholarships, fostering research, disseminating information to the public, publishing relevant
materials, dispensing charity and welfare benefits, building international solidarity, and awarding the Gwangju
Prize for Human Rights.
These are main projects of the Foundation:
Exchange & Solidarity Project
Education & Culture Project
Truth & Research Project
· Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
· May 18 Teachers Training
· May 18 Archive Collection
· Gwangju Asia Forum
· May 18 Education Support
· May 18 Archive Preservation
· May 18 International Solidarity
· May 18 Education Materials
· May 18 Archive Utilization
· May 18 Domestic Solidarity
· May 18 Red Festa
· May 18 Archive Study
· May 18 Folk Academy
· May Road Tour and Field Study
· May 18 Research Support
· Recruiting and Dispatching May 18
Interns
· May 18 Volunteers
· May 18 Quarterly, Jumeokbab
· Publication of Asia Journal
· Publication of May Literature Series
About the International Internship Program
The International Internship Program strives to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights
throughout our international network by recruiting 2 interns from overseas, who have been working for human
rights, democracy, and peace building organizations in their home countries, and by giving them an opportunity
to experience and learn the history and development process of human rights and democracy in the Republic of
Korea, particularly the May 18 Democratization Movement in 1980. Interns will have the chance to exchange
and network with Korean civil society groups. They can also choose or will be assigned research during the
course of their internship. As interns, they will be assigned particular duties and responsibilities as part of the
May 18 Human Rights Resource Exchange Project.
Goals of the International Internship Program
The annual internship program is an imperative part of the Foundation’s mandate to promote international
solidarity and further the promotion of human rights across the world. Through the internship program the
Foundation aims:
1) to build concrete solidarity through the exchange of human resources.
2) to nurture outstanding individuals to lead global civil society.
Main Policy
· The May 18 Memorial Foundation believes that the International Internship Program is a part of the
international networking efforts of the Foundation with international civil communities. It is a program which
allows individuals to build their career and network organizations to share ideas and strengthen mutual
prosperity for a better future.
· In this sense, the May 18 Memorial Foundation seeks applicants who are supported by their organizations and
who are required to go back to their organizations after finishing the internship.
·The Foundation requires a recommendation letter from the representative of the organizations with which
applicants are involved.
·This is a co-partnership program, so organizations are also encouraged to select staff who is interested in
applying for this internship program.
Eligibility
· Applicants should be a working member of an organization. Applicants cannot apply as individuals without the
knowledge/support/recommendation of their current organization or network.
· Applicants who have a minimum of 3 years NGO or social development work experience, though not
necessarily in the field of human rights, are encouraged to apply.
· Applicants need to have received a proper education. Preference will be given to those with degrees in human
rights-related subjects such as social sciences and communication, and to those who have specialized in human
rights issues within these disciplines.
· Applicants must be computer literate (email/internet, web page, lay-out/design, etc.) and proficient in English;
a working knowledge of Korean is an advantage.
Time Frame
Two interns accepted for this program will participate for 10 months, for the period March to December 2015.
Conditions of Service
· The relationship between the Foundation and the intern is one of mutual benefit. Interns are assigned to a unit
of the Foundation according to the needs of the office and their own areas of interest. They are involved, inter
alia, in managing international conference such as Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, Gwangju Asia Forum,
preparing for the May 18 Folk Academy, conducting their own research, working on human rights issues,
drafting analytical papers and reports, providing substantive and technical service, depending on the needs of the
office. At the same time, the program aims to increase the intern's understanding of current human rights issues
at the international level.
· Interns are assigned to work with a supervisor who is responsible for providing them with an orientation of
duties and a work plan. Upon completion of the internship, the interns are required to complete their final
reports describing what was attained during the internship. Additionally, every intern is required to complete an
evaluation questionnaire on his/her assignment and to submit it to the May 18 Memorial Foundation.
· Interns must fulfill their duties and abide by the rules and regulations of the program.
·In case of illness or other circumstances that might prevent the completion of the internship, interns will inform
their supervisors.
·There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship and interns cannot apply for any jobs or
pursue a higher degree until the termination of the internship.
·Interns are supposed to work from 9 AM to 6PM Monday through Friday and to carry out the duties assigned to
them. They receive a summer holiday and a special holiday in December. They are compelled by the same
duties and obligations as regular staff members; in particular, all confidential and unpublished information
obtained during the internship may not be used by interns.
Sojourn Expenses
Travel costs, airfare and living expenses are provided by the Foundation. Housing will be provided but utilities
(telephone, electricity, and gas) will be paid by interns. Public health insurance will be given to cover
accidents/illness incurred during an internship. If interns would like more personal coverage they are
encouraged to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy before arriving in Korea.
Requirements
Applicants should submit the following documentation:
· Completed, dated and signed internship application form
· Curriculum Vitae
· A scanned copy of valid and not expired passport
· A write-up detailing your expectations, objectives, and interest in the International Internship Program (not
more than two pages).
· An official endorsement letter from your superior or head of your organization
· An endorsement/referral letter from any alumni/contact/network of the Foundation in your country or abroad
(Optional)
· A copy of your full academic transcript from your current university or learning institution or other universities
or institutions which you graduated from earlier; a written sample of research work or an abstract of academic
papers (3-10 pages maximum).
Please send all the documentations listed above with the application form as scanned documents either in PDF
format or as WORD attachments.
Application Deadline
December 9, 2014 until January 19, 2015
Notification
Selected candidates will be informed within the last week of January 2015 on the official website. Unsuccessful
candidates will be notified by email and are encouraged to apply again the following year.
Contact
Solidarity Team
The May 18 Memorial Foundation
Postcode 502-260 Naebangro 152 5·18 Memorial Culture Center Seo-Gu, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
Phone: +82 62 360 0520
Fax: +82 62 360 0519
Email: 518interns@gmail.com/
FAQ of the Internship
1. When is the deadline of the application?
It depends on the year’s plan but usually the application deadline is on January.
In 2015, it is January 19, 2015.
2. How long is the internship program?
The program lasts for 10 months from March to December.
3. I am not from Asia countries. Am I still eligible to apply for the internship?
Internship is open to everyone regardless of one’s nationality.
4. Am I eligible to apply for the internship without an official endorsement/referral
letter from any alumni/contact/network of the Foundation provided on the official
website? I don’t know any of them and have difficulty to ask a letter for me.
Enclosing an endorsement/referral letter from those organizations with your application
is optional. However, you must at least get an official endorsement letter from your
supervisor or head of your organization.
5. I am a NGO worker but my experience is less than 1 year. Am I still eligible to apply
for the internship?
If your work experience is less than 3 years you must have at least 3 years of social
development/human rights related experiences such as volunteering, internship,
community activities, etc.
6. I would like to apply for the short term internship. Does the Foundation offer
summer internship program?
The Foundation does not offer summer internship program. It only runs regular 10 month
internship program.
7. What should an official endorsement letter from head of my organization exactly
contain?
The letter must show that the organization fully supports applicant’s internship in the
May 18 Memorial Foundation aside from describing his/her contribution to the work of
the organization.
8. My English proficiency test certification is still being processed. Could I submit it
after the deadline?
The Foundation can discuss with an applicant and decide what to do if the certification is
being processed.
9. Is there a need for an English certificate even I am a native speaker?
Native speaker does not need any English proficiency test.
10. I have no passport now. Could I submit it after I knew the result?
If you don’t have a passport, it is highly recommended that you apply for a passport
within the application deadline.
11. Is there any financial support during the internship? (accommodation, food, airticket and so on)
The Foundation provides round trip airfare, accommodation and monthly stipend to
defray living expenses in Korea.