Since March 2026, the International House of Japan has been sending Mr. Yoshida to the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in South Korea as the inaugural LEAP Overseas Fellow. Going forward, we will publish reports on his activities every two months. In this inaugural report, we will share highlights from March to May, the first months of his assignment.

Participation in and operational support for the International Security Symposium ‘Asan Plenum’

On 8 April, the Asan Institute for Policy Studies held the Asan Plenum in Seoul, South Korea. With speakers from Japan, including former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Minister of Defence Gen Nakatani, this year’s event emphasised Japan’s presence. Mr. Yoshida participated as a member of the support team.

As a rapporteur, he was responsible for creating session sketches and detailed summaries for the press. While playing a key role in the conference’s operations, he also had a valuable opportunity to further his research into security cooperation between Japan, the US and South Korea by interacting with fellow young researchers and networking with leading experts.

Visiting historical and cultural sites in South Korea

Alongside his research, he has been visiting historical and cultural sites in South Korea to deepen his understanding of the multifaceted relationship between Japan and South Korea. To date, he has visited key sites spanning from premodern to modern times, including the National Museum of Korea, Seodaemun Prison, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the War Memorial of Korea, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Haenggung Palace.

The core of the Fellow’s activities is interconnecting research, dialogue and understanding of historical societies to accumulate practical insights that contribute to the future of Japan–Korea relations. He plans to continue focusing on the historical continuity of Korean society and deepening his learning.

Information Sharing and Exchange with Students from Japan and Other Countries

On 19 May, he held an information-sharing session for a total of 11 students and guests from Japan and other countries who will shape the next generation of Japan–Korea relations. He introduced his career, research and activities at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. A special session led by Mr. Kang Chungku from Asan was also held for some participants in the morning.

The participating students are interns supporting the operation of the ‘Asian Leadership Conference’, often referred to as the ‘Korean Davos’. Among them are four interns from the International House of Japan who travelled to Korea specifically for this international internship programme.

Following his presentation, students asked several questions about Japan-South Korea relations and the international situation. One of the Japanese students in attendance commented, “Hearing about his career, I learned a lot from how he flexibly shaped his current area of expertise and the path that led to his selection as a fellow.

After the session, the group visited a relevant museum in Seoul with local university students and attended a social gathering to promote mutual understanding between Japan and South Korea. As a LEAP Overseas Fellow, he will continue to actively promote exchanges between the younger generations of Japan and South Korea.

*What is a LEAP Overseas Fellow?

LEAP Programme is a people-to-people exchange program of the International House of Japan. It aims to strengthen relations between neighbouring countries at the grassroots level and promote peace in East Asia, centred on the themes of ‘peace, reconciliation and mutual understanding’. LEAP Programme consists of three fellowship programmes, and as of May 2026, the LEAP Overseas Fellowship Programme is being implemented in South Korea.

International House of Japan Appoints Yuichi Yoshida as Inaugural LEAP Fellow; Activities Commence at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul