After a long and festive holiday season, AAJA-Asia’s Seoul contingent kicked off the Year of the Black Dragon with some much-needed hobnobbing during happy hour at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club. In addition to our current members, we welcomed a lot of bright, young faces, including some prospective new members!

Topics of discussion over the evening included new job opportunities, reporting on K-pop, the sartorial choices of the South Korean president and first lady and, of course, future events.

Famished after all that networking, the crew headed out to a crowded downtown bindaetteok joint for some deliciously crispy mung bean pancakes.

Interested in attending AAJA-Asia’s events in Seoul? Check back here for news on future events and email aajaseoul@gmail.com. In the planning stages now is a panel on freelancing in Korea.

Photos by Hannah Bae, AAJA Seoul VP

GlobalPost is looking for part-time writers to join their Breaking News and Social Media team. The writers will be responsible for contributing three or four 250-word news briefs a day. The stories will be a mix of important breaking news pieces and fun or quirky global stories that have the potential to go viral.

We are looking for people with strong news judgment as well as strong online skills. Writers are responsible for producing their own pieces – entering them into our system, adding links, adding photos, writing web-friendly headlines, sending them to our community on Twitter and Facebook.

Writers can be based anywhere. Send resume, Twitter handle and links to articles and/or blog posts to Hanna Ingber at hingber@globalpost.com.

Working print, broadcast, and on-line journalists in the United States, Asia and the Pacific Islands are eligible to apply. Five years of experience preferred. English fluency required. 12-14 fellowships will be awarded, 4-5 for American journalists, and 7-9 for journalists from Asia and the Pacific. Deadline to apply is February 15.

Go to the East-West Center’s website for more.

If you’ve been meaning to join as an AAJA member or renew your membership, it’s the perfect opportunity to do it at the event. Also, meet AAJA members from CNN, Bloomberg, Reuters, SCMP, TVB, University of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific, US Consulate.

When: Friday, February 3, 7-­9:30pm

Where: Grand Central Bar and Grill, 3/F Civic Square, above Elements Mall @ the Kowloon MTR (Map)

The Deal: Two drinks and two appetizers for HK$100 (for members) and HK$120 (future members)

(Draft Carlsberg, Asahi, GC Ale, red and white wines, orange juice; +10% service)

Inquiries: aajahk@gmail.com

Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea is a world-class research university, which launched a bilingual campus program in March 2010. As a result, lectures at POSTECH are now delivered in English and university publications and materials are extensively translated and produced in English. The Bilingual Campus Program is responsible for overseeing this ground-breaking venture, providing visioning, translation and editing of articles and transcripts. This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of work promoting world-class innovation and collaboration across languages.

See job descriptions after the jump.

POSTECH is recruiting for two positions within the Bilingual Campus Office: Chief editor and Editor.

Responsibilities include:

1.    The Chief editor and Editor provide self-sufficient professional bilingual service, which includes translation of Korean documents into English;

2.    The Chief editor additionally:

a.    makes final review of all documents translated by Bilingual Campus editors;

b.    coordinates bilingual activities of POSTECH.

Qualifications of the candidates:

1.    Fully bilingual or near-native in Korean and English;

2.    Advanced training and skills, and extensive experience in professional writing beyond foreign schooling and conversational fluency;

3.    Intimately familiar with Korean and American cultures, societies, and customs beyond foreign schooling or living.

Compensation is competitive.

The ideal candidate is willing to relocate to Pohang, South Korea, if necessary. Telecommuting  may be considered.

Please e-mail your cover letter, resume and sample articles to:

Dr. Daniel Suh

Editor-in-chief, Bilingual Campus Program

danielsuh@postech.ac.kr

When: Friday, Jan. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club Bar
Korea Press Foundation Building, 18th floor
25 Taepyeongno 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
서울 중구 태평로1가 25
Cost: No entry fee. 1,000 won/beer at the bar.

AAJA-Hong Kong kicked off 2012 with dim sum, one of many monthly brunches to come this year. It was good to see old acquaintances, new faces and a pair of New Yorkers passing through the city!

Next month’s event should be an even bigger one. Stay tuned.

We’ll be discussing AAJA-HK events for 2012, including plans for a regional media conference. It’s the perfect time to meet the crew and get involved!

When: Sunday, January 15, 12 noon
Where: Fung Shing Restaurant, 2/F, Pearl City, 24-32 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay

RSVP or contact us on our Facebook page.

The job posting reads:

You will have the opportunity to assume a key role in developing a range of English-language information media (Press, e-news, websites, blogs, social media) serving the resident expat community and foreign-owned business interests.

You will be able to work quickly and accurately, will have an interest in layout and presentation, and will be familiar with publishing programs (we are currently using PagePlus). You will be able to take photographs (digital).

Go here to find out more or apply.

JOB OPPORTUNITY #1

The Korea Office of The Asia Foundation (TAF) is seeking a Resource Development and External Relations Officer.  Duties include:

Resource Development

• Coordinating fundraising activities with public and private sector donors.
• Developing contacts and coordinate meetings with potential donors.
• Developing, managing, and implementing strategies for expanding individual and corporate membership in the Friends of TAF/Korea.
• Serving as secretary to the Board of Directors of the Friends of TAF/Korea, including organizing regular Board meetings, and producing annual reports.
• Editing and translating funding proposals for submission to prospective donors.

Public Relations

• Designing and implementing a public relations program that will raise and expand awareness of TAF among various audiences.
• Coordinating and managing all aspects of TAF/Korea’s relationship with the media.
• Coordinating production of English and Korean-language print materials and on-line newsletters on TAF/Korea and TAF regional program developments.
• Maintaining and updating TAF/Korea website.

REQUIREMENTS 

Experience & Qualifications: 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, public relations, media, and/or advertising.  Should be articulate, well organized, and creative with a capacity to build new relationships and network strategically in a wide variety of areas.  Should possess knowledge of the structures and major figures in Korean government, academia, and business sectors. Fluency in written and spoken Korean and English required.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.  Master’s degree desirable.

Application Deadline:  January 6, 2012.  Please submit a resume and self-introduction with cover letter in English and Korean to eylim@asiafound.org.  For further information about The Asia Foundation, please refer to our international website (www.asiafoundation.org) and our Korea Office website (www.asiafoundation.or.kr).

JOB OPPORTUNITY #2 

The Korea Office of The Asia Foundation (TAF) is seeking a Program Assistant.  Duties include:

• Assisting Program Officers in planning and monitoring the progress of TAF’s international development cooperation projects.
• Assisting with regional dialogue and North Korea-related programs.
• Supporting public relations and fundraising efforts related to these projects and programs.
• Preparing proposals and reports for submission to donors.

REQUIREMENTS

Experience & Qualifications:  Prior experience in developing and managing public events and international exchanges desirable.  Knowledge of international development cooperation, Korea’s ODA experience and inter-Korean relations. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside of the organization.  Fluency in written and spoken Korean and English required.

Education:       Bachelor’s degree in international development cooperation or related area.  Master’s degree desirable.

Application Deadline:  January 6, 2012.  Please submit a resume and self-introduction with cover letter in English and Korean to eylim@asiafound.org.  For further information about The Asia Foundation, please refer to our international website (www.asiafoundation.org) and our Korea Office website (www.asiafoundation.or.kr).