South Korea's diplomatic training needs a shake-up

The Korea National Diplomatic Academy is now twelve years old - time to review its achievements and challenges

South Korea’s government think-tanks and training institutes are launched with great intentions when there’s a clear need to transform and change - usually after a crisis that shocks the public and pushes politicians to action. The think-tanks or training institutes perform well for an administration or two, but once the crisis has been addressed they slowly fade to irrelevance with lack of support and neglect. 

Not all reflect this pattern, but at the age of twelve years, it’s reckoning time for the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA). The training of diplomats is undergoing momentous changes across the globe, but with so little interest in diplomatic studies in Korea and declining support for the KNDA, there’s a risk that Korea’s diplomatic performance will soon suffer.

Remember, this place is where the country’s future diplomats are supposed to get their superpowers - and at the moment, it’s facing a few challenges. In recent research with student applicants, recent graduates, and recently retired diplomats, a few ideas came to the fore:

Greater diversification in training

Imagine going to a school where you only learn how to bake bread, even though you might need to whip up a whole three-course meal someday. That’s kind of what’s happening at the KNDA. They’re really good at teaching the old-school stuff—protocol, international law, and negotiation. But here’s the catch: the world’s changing, and diplomats need to know about things like cybersecurity, global health, digital diplomacy, and the environment. The KNDA is stuck in the past, and their curriculum hasn’t caught up. So, when it comes to dealing with modern challenges and innovation in diplomacy, these future diplomats find themselves scrambling, and falling back into the ol’ routine of doing what is already done.

An apprenticeship or a master’s course

You know how sometimes you can study for a test, but then when it comes to actually doing the thing, you’re like, “Uh, how do I do this again?” That’s kind of what’s happening at the KNDA. The students spend a lot of time in the classroom, but when it comes to getting real-world experience, they’re left hanging. Other countries—like Australia, the US, and UK get their diplomats out into the field early on, with placements and rotations in and out of the training institute that really test their skills. But in South Korea, many diplomats don’t get that hands-on practice until they’re already on the job. Further, once they’re on the job, returning to learn more seems like a waste of time, a burden, and a drain. This is not good for building a learning workplace!

What really annoys some students is the added pressure that spending time in KNDA counts for nothing unless you are selected by MOFA for entry. Every year, there are a few unlucky students who are not selected. Other countries with formal diplomatic academies, such as Russia and Vietnam, award students who secure access to the academy a postgraduate degree. Some countries arrange linkages between the training institute and national universities  with joint recognition of courses so that entrants can drop out and pursue other studies if they lose interest in diplomacy. Providing some form of certification is important. It is after all a year or two of their young lives dedicated to study! 

The exam is pointless

The KNDA’s entrance exam is like that super tough test everyone dreads, where you need to memorize everything down to the last detail. But here’s the kicker: the exam doesn’t really measure things like creativity, emotional intelligence, or the ability to think on your feet—all of which are kind of important when you’re dealing with international relations. So, the academy is missing out on some real talent just because they didn’t ace a memorization test. Plus, the intense competition might be scaring off people who could’ve been amazing diplomats but didn’t want to put themselves through the wringer. Further, the modern diplomat is meant to be representative of the country - where are Korea’s small but significant minorities? Where are Korea’s disabled diplomats? Affirmative measures have seen enormous improvements in representation for the UK, Australia, the US and Canada - maybe it’s time Korea started thinking about this?

Time for horizontal entry

Here’s where things get a bit frustrating: the KNDA is sometimes seen as just another cog in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ bureaucratic machine. And, as we all know, bureaucracy doesn’t exactly scream innovation. The academy could use a serious shake-up to encourage more creative thinking and less “this is how we’ve always done it” attitudes. Because, in diplomacy, being able to think on your feet and come up with new solutions is key. But instead, the KNDA might be churning out diplomats who are more comfortable with following rules than breaking new ground.

One way to do this is to encourage horizontal entry. Have incoming diplomats not just from universities, but also mature age career changers, sports people, local council workers or teachers. At the moment, horizontal entry into MOFA is limited to political appointees and professors. There’s a world beyond this that promises to open up and innovate Korea’s diplomatic practice.

What’s diplomatic empathy?

While it’s totally understandable that the KNDA would have a South Korea-first approach, there’s a downside to this. The academy sometimes teaches international relations with a narrow focus, which might not prepare diplomats to fully understand or engage with perspectives from other countries. A little more global exposure—like interacting with foreign diplomats, studying international case studies, or inviting foreign professors—could go a long way in broadening their horizons and making them more effective on the world stage. Under current regulations, there’s no capacity for a non-citizen to be employed full time at KNDA. This needs to change!

Time for a shake-up!

The Korea National Diplomatic Academy is doing some important work, but it’s also got a few wrinkles that need ironing out. From updating its curriculum to offering more practical experiences and shaking up its recruitment process, there’s a lot of room for improvement. If the academy can address these issues, it’ll be much better equipped to produce diplomats who are not just well-trained, but also adaptable, creative, and ready to take on the challenges of the 21st century. Let’s face it, Korea’s diplomatic environment isn’t getting any simpler!

Image: KNDA