From the time Chong-Wook Chung enrolled in international relations classes as an undergraduate at Seoul National University, he knew he wanted to become a diplomat, and his distinguished career in Korea shows that he achieved that goal. Following a two-year term as the senior secretary for foreign policy and national security in the office of the Korean president, Chung was appointed Korea’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.

This spring, as the Freeman Foundation Visiting Professor of Asian Affairs, he is teaching Topics in U.S. Relations with Asia to CMC students. It is not his first time on campus. He served as a fellow for the Keck Center for International Strategic Studies at CMC from 1985-1986.

“It is important to have exposure to many different leadership styles in order to develop one’s own leadership skills,” Chung said.

In class, he speaks from his experience with the Korean government to help students gain insight into diplomacy---what works and what doesn’t. He is particularly interested in the psychology of leadership and how it affects presidential decision-making.

Chung emphasizes the importance of understanding other countries’ cultures, language, and keeping up with current events in order to have an effective dialogue.“As a diplomat, you need to have a background in the global economy, have a nice and prudent personality, and never get angry or impatient,” Chung said.

During his two-year appointment as ambassador, Chung focused on bilateral economic and trade issues. “The trade imbalance is a major problem between China and South Korea,” he said. From 1988-92, he was the first senior member on the Korean Presidential Commission for the 21st century, a group of scholars and experts chosen to address national unification, foreign policy and national security in their research.

Chung earned a master’s degree in international studies and a Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in 1972 and 1975, respectively. He is currently a professor of political science at Ajou University in Suwon, Korea. Among his many published books and articles are Maoism and Development, Major Powers and Peace in Korea. He currently is writing a book on the late Zhou Enlai of the People's Republic of China, a leader who, Chung says, has been shrouded in mystery both as a leader and person.

Chung met his spouse, Hwawon, in 1968 while pursuing a master’s degree in political science from the University of Hawaii. They have a son and a daughter.

Chung will speak at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum on Thursday, April 10 at 12:15 p.m. on the topic, New Leaders in Asia: Implications for America. The talk is sponsored by the Keck Center and the Athenaeum.

Chong-Wook Chung is CMC's second Freeman Foundation Visiting Professor of Asian Affairs. "It is important to have exposure to many different leadership styles in order to develop one's own leadership skills," he says.