- MOFA has finalized selection of 2026 JPO cohort for dispatch and offered orientation -

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held an orientation session in a hybrid form for the final successful candidates for the 2026 Junior Professional Officer (JPO) program on Monday, January 5.

A total of 30 young Korean nationals have been selected as JPOs and will be dispatched this year to 21 international organizations, including the United Nations Secretariat, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The JPO program is a government-funded initiative designed to dispatch young professionals to the United Nations and other international organizations for them to work as regular staff members thereof. Since 1996, MOFA has dispatched a total of 343 JPOs, including the recently selected cohort.

※ In order to step up support for Korean nationals’ bids to build presence in international organizations, MOFA extended the JPO assignment period from a maximum of two years to three and increased the number of participants from 25 to 30 starting in 2025.

In his remarks at the orientation session, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Chang Wook-jin emphasized that, amid the ongoing restructuring and reform efforts of international organizations such as the UN, it is important for the JPOs to enhance their expertise and international competitiveness. He also encouraged the JPOs to carry out their duties with the understanding that they are staff members of international organizations as well as representatives of the Republic of Korea, and thereby contribute to Korea’s efforts to bolster its activities in international organizations.

Kim Yeonji, an Evaluation Uptake Specialist at the Green Climate Fund (GCF) (a member of Korea’s 19th JPO cohort), and Park Chanju, a former Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Specialist at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Uganda Office (a member of Korea’s 24th JPO cohort), participated in the event as mentors. They shared with the successful candidates their experiences as JPOs, provided guidance on career development at and cultures of international organizations, and engaged in a Q&A session. Following a briefing on dispatch procedures and preparations, the candidates will be assigned to their respective duty stations.

MOFA remains committed to supporting Korean nationals’ bids to join international organizations through various initiatives, including the JPO program, the UN Volunteers (UNV) program, International Career Fairs, and uploads of relevant information on the website of the International Organization Recruitment Center.