By: Chaeyeon Ahn, KGGTF 2026 Youth Intern
The Korea Green Growth Trust Fund (KGGTF) hosted the kick-off event for its third Youth Internship Program (YIP) on January 9, 2026, at the Seoul Global Center. The program is designed to support Korean youth in developing into the next generation of international development cooperation professionals, serving as a platform to learn, network, and gain work experience through lectures, mentorship, and assignments. As demonstrated by past KGGTF YIP alumni, the program not only introduces interns to KGGTF and the principles of green growth, but also acts as a stepping stone that equips them to advance further in their professional and academic careers.
The event began with welcoming remarks from Hyoung Gun Wang, KGGTF Program Manager, and Jason Allford, Country Manager of the World Bank Group (WBG) Korea Office. They congratulated the 15 interns on joining the program and encouraged them to actively participate and engage throughout the internship to make the most out of the opportunity. The speakers also pointed out the long-standing partnership between Korea and the WBG, emphasizing KGGTF’s role in bridging the two as knowledge sharing partners. This was followed by an overview of the program delivered by Jiyon Shin, Consultant and YIP Coordinator, and a speech by KGGTF YIP alumni Jiyeon Park, who shared her personal experiences and practical advice with the new cohort.
Following the opening ceremony, members of KGGTF and WBG Korea Office greeted the interns and provided an outline of the roles and work of their organizations. The session continued with insightful lectures on WBG’s operations and from Milen F. Dyoulgerov Vollen, Senior Environmental Specialist of WBG Korea Office, Myoe Myint, Senior Energy Specialist of WBG Korea Office, Hoonhee Park, Underwriter at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) Korea Office, and Jie-ae Sohn, Senior Consultant of WBG Korea Office. The interns had an opportunity to engage with the panelists through an active Q&A session, seeking insights into their respective areas of expertise.
The second part of the event featured Career Talks led by Jae Hyoung Park, Senior Economist of WBG KGGTF, and Joonyeol Yoon, Analyst at WBG KGGTF, alongside a lecture on green growth and sustainability delivered by Jiyon Shin. The first session offered the interns a broader and deeper understanding of career pathways within international financial institutions, including the WBG and KGGTF, as well as Korea’s role of knowledge sharing, technical partnerships in sustainability. The subsequent lecture emphasized the urgency of green growth, combining economic growth and climate action, highlighting how “the developing countries, who are the least to blame, are most adversely affected by climate change.”
An overview of KGGTF-supported case studies and a team-based exercise wrapped up the orientation, with the 15 interns working in groups to brainstorm ideas and present proposals addressing sector-specific challenges across urban, environment, energy, agriculture, and transport, in different cities. Additionally, icebreaking activities, including self-introductions by all the interns, further facilitated collaboration and interaction among the participants by allowing them to become more familiar with one another and fostering a sense of teamwork.
The orientation marked the beginning of the interns’ experience at the WBG KGGTF. As the Program Manager, Hyoung Gun Wang advised, the interns were urged to “be curious and courageous, ask questions, learn, and collaborate,” as they move forward in pursuit of green growth and sustainability.