Theresa Lee, '26, Economics/Computer Science, Intern at CJ Cultural Foundation in Korea, Summer 2024
It feels like only yesterday I had traveled 13 hours into the future from EST to KST, launching my first corporate experience in a country across the globe. Yet in the blink of an eye, I found myself reminiscing on an episode that felt like a lifetime. Time is indeed fleeting, but memories prevail.
This past summer, I had the privilege of working as a Global Intern at CJ Corporation in their Seoul Headquarters. More specifically, I interned for CJ Cultural Foundation, whose mission is to support young creatives to enrich the cultural sphere of Korea.
My main task as an intern was to conduct market research and develop improvement strategies for filmmaking support programs. By the end of the summer, I produced a comprehensive research report and delivered a cumulative presentation sharing my research and strategies with my team along with heads of the corporation. As I shared an office space with Corporate Finance and Corporate External Affairs teams, my daily responsibilities varied. Aside from completing my assigned research, I assisted individuals of other corporate divisions with their projects (i.e. UNESCO campaigns, Toronto International Film Festival programs) and attended meetings with CJ’s corporate partners.
I also received the opportunity to work with CJ Welfare Foundation, for which I delivered presentations about my cultural background as a Korean-American at two children’s centers. This unforgettable experience allowed me to interact with kids of multicultural backgrounds in Korea, teach them values of developing an appreciation for cultural diversity, and share my own unique cultural background.
Even as a native speaker, the projects allowed me to greatly improve my language and communication skills, and the dynamic work environment consistently drove me to explore various sectors of the ever-growing arts and media industry. Amidst the fast-paced nature of the corporation, my team warmly welcomed me, entrusting me with assignments that not only allowed me to learn extensively about CJ’s operations, but also grow as an individual exploring corporate product management. In addition to dining together at CJ’s excellent cafeteria each day, they often invited me to lunch outings over the course of the summer, providing me with personalized opportunities to taste new Korean cuisine.
Beyond my internship, CJ invited me to partake in exciting events, including visits to their exclusive studio centers, CJ-funded productions, and the music show M Countdown.
As I reflect on my summer experience, I would like to express deep gratitude to the Korea Institute for providing this wonderful internship opportunity, as it left me with an inclusive introduction to Korean corporate culture, eye-opening excursions, and lifelong friendships. As I look towards a future of more diverse experiences, I have no doubt that this internship will serve as a cornerstone for my aspirations of bridging my Korean and American identities to enhance global cooperation and collaboration.