Student Profile: Hyun Jung (Sarah) Lee, MPP Class of 2024

Based in South Korea, incoming Master of Public Policy student Hyun Jung (Sarah) Lee’s interest in international affairs began with studying abroad.

In fourth through sixth grade, Lee lived with a host family and attended a performing arts school in Australia. "I arrived in Australia not knowing a word of English. Everything was very scary for me at that time. I still remember my first English sentence—I  was in a grocery store with my mother, who was also learning English at the time, and she encouraged me to ask my question. Eventually, I gathered the courage to approach an associate to ask, ‘Where is the cereal?’”

After that initial struggle, Lee said she gained some valuable English language experience and cultural exposure. “Overcoming that initial fear taught me to not be afraid to be in another country—to not be afraid of anything, really.”

After moving back to South Korea for middle school, Lee said she closely followed news about the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) in 2014. KAFTA helped protect and enhance the competitive position of Australian businesses in Korea, one of its largest trading partners. The agreement also helped eliminate tariffs on Australia’s exports to Korea. “The whole thing was very impressive to me back then,” Lee recalls. “Everyone was suited up, shaking hands, and clapping, and it was very exciting for me to see on the news.”

After seeing this news, Lee asked her father, who works in international trade, to teach her more about free trade agreements. “That was the first step that got me into international relations and trade. This curiosity drew me into the regulation world through middle school and culminated in me graduating with a bachelor's in political science and international relations from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.”

Since graduation, Lee has worked as a market promoter for KOTRA Chicago, a South Korean government agency in the Ministry of Trade. “Through KOTRA, I gained a better understanding of the Korea-US relationship, connected Korean and American businesses, and witnessed how policies can support trading networks. This inspired me to think about both governmental and societal consequences of international affairs.”

Prior to applying to Harris, Lee also volunteered through the United Nations as a remote English-Korean translator for Wise Enterprise, translating surveys for Korean residents of different Southeast Asian countries regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lee anticipates gaining quantitative skills and a broader perspective on political science and international relations through her Harris coursework. She is particularly interested in the Global Conflict Studies and International Policy & Development Certificates offered through The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflict as ways to deepen her knowledge and develop valuable skills for her future career.

Upon the completion of her MPP degree, Lee envisions herself as a Korean international affairs analyst or in a similar role where she can analyze negotiations and cultural and social responses to international regulations.