KIC FISIP UI Holds Study Trip to South Korea: Bridging Scholarship and Cultural Understanding

Depok, September 15, 2025 – The Korea-Indonesia Connection (KIC) FISIP UI, with support from the Korea Foundation, successfully held the Study Trip to South Korea 2025 as the strategic agenda of the Indonesia–Korea Social & Humanities Research Apprenticeship 2025. The program took place over eleven days, from August 21–31, 2025, featuring a series of conferences, seminars, academic visits, and field observations in the two major cities of Busan and Seoul.

The Study Trip was designed to strengthen the research capacity of emerging scholars through a comprehensive international experience. The selected participants, consisting of postgraduate students and young researchers, had the opportunity to build academic networks, receive constructive feedback on their ongoing research, and conduct first-hand data collection in South Korea. Through this program, participants were expected to disseminate their research findings via panel presentations and seminars, as well as refine their academic papers based on the feedback obtained.

The agenda began with the KIAS–BUFS Conference in Busan on August 22–23, 2025, co-organized by the Korea Institute for ASEAN Studies (KIAS), Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS), and the International Federation of Social Science Organizations (IFSSO). The conference featured academic panel sessions, scholarly discussions, and a field trip introducing participants to Korea’s local context. Representatives of KIC FISIP Universitas Indonesia—Rizky Kertanegara, Elvira Nuraini, Isman Habibillah, and Intan Syafira Gustia—presented their research on gender equality, soft power and the digital economy, rural development, and Indonesian diaspora issues, with Intan also serving as a panel discussant.

Following the conference, the KIC FISIP UI team and apprentices participated in a study trip around Busan. This activity complemented the academic agenda by deepening understanding of Korean society and history, while strengthening engagement and collaboration among participants in a more informal and cultural setting.

Participants then continued to Seoul to attend the KASEAS Conference (August 25–26, 2025), held at Yonhee Hall, Yonsei University under the theme “Opportunity for Transformation in Southeast Asia amid Crises.” The conference brought together scholars, researchers, and policy experts to discuss Southeast Asia’s responses to overlapping challenges, including geopolitical pressures, environmental issues, social change, and development cooperation. Through active attendance across keynote sessions, panel discussions, and thematic parallel panels, participants engaged with current academic debates on ASEAN politics, governance, economy, gender, migration, education, and Korea–ASEAN relations, while also strengthening academic networks and contributing to institutional capacity building and future collaborative initiatives.

In addition to the conferences, the program included academic visits to the Korea University ASEAN Center (KUAC) and a Research Seminar with the SNU Asia Center (SNUAC) at August 27th, which provided a multidisciplinary forum to discuss contemporary issues in Indonesia–Korea relations. From August 28–30, 2025, participants engaged in field observations, data collection, and academic supervision at several partner institutions. The agenda also included visits to the ASEAN–Korea Center (AKC) and Ewha Womans University Graduate School, offering participants the chance to deepen their research, engage with local academics, and enhance the quality of their data for further study.

According to Getar Hati, Ph.D., Program Director of The Korea-Indonesia Connection, “The Study Trip is part of the ongoing collaboration between FISIP UI and the Korea Foundation and represents an important effort to strengthen academic partnerships between social sciences and humanities students at Universitas Indonesia and leading professors and researchers from top universities in South Korea, such as Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University, Busan University of Foreign Studies, Ewha Womans University, and Sogang University. Through this program, we hope to foster more supportive academic interactions that will have a tangible impact on strengthening Indonesia–Korea relations.”

The program underscored KIC FISIP UI’s role as a bridge for academic collaboration and cultural diplomacy, while also highlighting the Korea Foundation’s commitment to supporting the next generation of policy experts in Asia.