“Humphrey fellowship is the opportunity that you could not have anywhere else. Just enjoy every minute.”
Gahyeok Lee, the inaugural Humphrey cohort from South Korea in Cronkite School, advised the current and future fellows to enjoy the academic support of ASU and Cronkite and enjoy the life in the U.S. Lee started his career as a journalist of JTBC, which is one of the major TV stations in South Korea. He worked as the team leader of JTBC’s Fact Check program, which pioneered the fact check journalism in South Korea. His team also got the certificate by International Fact Check Network, which is the first case in South Korea.
Recently, I had a chance to interview Gahyeok on his experiences and learning during Humphrey fellowship.
Q: Please tell me who you are and what you do.
“My name is Gahyeok Lee. I completed my Humphrey fellowship
at Cronkite in 2021-2022. I am a TV journalist and news
anchor at JTBC, one of the major TV stations in South Korea.
I host JTBC’s morning news show, ‘Sangamdong Class,’ on
weekdays.”
Q: Why did you apply for this fellowship?
“I started my journalism career in 2011. After 10 years of
working, I really wanted to have a special moment for
refining my insight in a more colorful way. The Humphrey
fellowship was the right choice for me at that time. The
fact that it is supported by the U.S. government also
fascinated me.
Q: What is the No. 1 asset you gained from the Humphrey
fellowship?
“Definitely cultural diversity. Diversity is one of the
most important values in journalism, but I rarely realized
it in my ordinary days, with the excuse of being busy.
Cronkite Global is a truly diverse atmosphere, and I enjoyed
enriched discussions with fellows from Belize to South
Sudan. As a TV presenter and journalist, the value of
diversity I learned at Cronkite is very helpful for me now.
Q: What kind of student were you at Cronkite?
“I was simply enjoying the entire academic journey at
Cronkite. I relished the reflection papers by Dr. Marianne
Barrett, and I also received valuable mentoring from Dr.
Jeff Timmermans. I recall exploring many hidden places in
Arizona with my cohort, including Balint Fabok from Hungary
and Elita Karim from Bangladesh. The beautiful nature of
Arizona is still vivid in my memory. The sunsets of Sedona,
the cool breeze of Flagstaff, and the welcoming atmosphere
of Tucson all remind me of the golden times in Arizona.
Among them, my family and I miss the beautiful city of
Phoenix.”
Q: You had a hard time caring for your newborn daughter
during the fellowship.
“Yes, my daughter was born in July 2021, while I was in the
pre-academic English program in Kansas. She joined me in the
U.S. in September. I spent almost a year in Phoenix with my
newborn daughter, Ajeong. As an international student, it
was quite challenging to care for a baby. Going to the
nearby pediatric hospital and getting vaccinations for her
was difficult. However, the more challenging my fellowship
was, the better my life was with my little daughter. I was
fortunate not to have her experience any serious medical
issues other than some minor colds.
I also received significant help with caring for my daughter
from my Cronkite Global friends. I particularly remember
when we had a Christmas party at Dr. Juan Mundel’s house. At
that time, my Humphrey coordinator, Ms. Adrienne Spencer,
and her family cared for my little daughter. Adrienne’s
intention was to give my wife and me some ‘freedom’ from
baby care. I felt her kindness and deep consideration as if
she and her family were my family in Korea. My daughter also
enjoyed interacting with Adrienne and her daughters.
For
my family, my global friend Mrs. Henrietta Andersson was a
big friend and mentor for me. I would also like to thank her
and her family. They made people feel the lives of American
people. For example, on Easter and Thanksgiving, my spouse
and two daughters visited her house and could feel the love
of the warm family.”
Q: Who was your favorite professor during your
fellowship?
“I cannot name just one. Of course, my favorite professor
is Dr. Juan Mundel. Dr. Mundel refined my insight in terms
of PR strategy, digital engagement, diversity, and
internationalization. He was a dedicated professor to us. As
a teacher, a friend, and a scholar, he was a wonderful
mentor. I also want to mention Dr. Jeff Timmermans, who was
my mentor during my fellowship. A well-known business
journalist from WSJ and a journalism scholar, his advice was
very helpful to me.”
Q: But it seems like you miss Kansas more. How was your
life in Kansas for English training?
“I completed a two-month pre-academic English training at
KU. I also cherished my peaceful life in Kansas. I am very
grateful for the support and efforts of the KU International
Short Program team. I successfully finished my pre-academic
English training at the University of Kansas. Lawrence, the
city of KU, was a peaceful and academic location. However,
if I had to choose one, my answer is being a Sun Devil.”
Q: If you were to return to Cronkite as a Humphrey
fellow, what would you do?
“I hope to prepare for my English skills before returning
to Phoenix. I would take more classes at Cronkite, as well
as at ASU Tempe campus. I want to improve my communication
skills by meeting more friends at ASU. After my Humphrey
year, I realized that the most important thing is how to
enjoy and learn in the U.S. and at ASU.”
Q: Feel free to add your advice for future fellows and
applicants for the Humphrey fellowship.
“If you need a substantial career upgrade as a mid-career
expert, the answer is the Humphrey fellowship. If you are
hesitating, just apply. And if you are currently a Humphrey
fellow, participate in every activity or event without
exception. Don’t make any excuses. Every minute is yours.
For some, it may seem like just a year without much insight,
but it can be a year as meaningful as 10 years.”
