KASPA is proud to help promote the Korea–America Student Conference (KASC), a student-led diplomacy and leadership program connecting future Korea–U.S. leaders.

What is KASC?

The Korea–America Student Conference (KASC) is a student-led diplomacy and leadership program founded in 2008. Each year, an equal number of university students from South Korea and the United States are selected to participate in a three-week academic and cultural exchange across multiple U.S. cities.

KASC is one of the flagship programs of International Student Conferences (ISC) — the same organization that runs JASC, now in its 80th year.

KASC stands out because the entire program is planned and led by students through an elected Executive Committee (EC), who design the curriculum, lead roundtables, and facilitate cross-cultural dialogue.

KASC 2026 Program Overview

Theme: Navigating the future of the Korea–U.S. relationship in a fracturing global landscape
Dates: July 25 – August 12, 2026
Cities: San Francisco → New Orleans → Washington, D.C.

Delegates explore how the Korea–U.S. relationship can adapt amid global uncertainty—focusing on technology, culture, security, energy, economics, and diplomacy.

Roundtable Topics (2026)

Each delegate joins one Roundtable (RT), led by EC members:

  • Energy Policy and Nuclear Cooperation

  • Technology & Artificial Intelligence

  • Cultural Diplomacy, Art, Media, and Soft Power

  • International Business & Economic Interdependence

Roundtables meet throughout the conference to conduct discussions, research, site visits, and present findings at the Final Forum in Washington, D.C.

Delegate Experience

KASC offers:

  • Policy workshops with ambassadors, scholars, journalists, and tech/energy leaders

  • Site visits to government offices, think tanks, startups, labs, and cultural institutions

  • Daily roundtable work, cultural exchange, local immersion

  • Shared housing, meals, travel between cities, and 24/7 staff support

  • A collaborative, non-competitive academic environment

  • Lifelong friendships and a binational professional network

For More Information Visit https://iscdc.org/kasc

Application Timeline (for 2026 Conference)

  • Opens: October 21, 2025

  • Closes: December 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET

  • Interviews: Rolling (within 2 weeks of application)

  • Final Decisions: Mid–late January 2026

  • Deposit: $500 (to confirm placement)

  • Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students, 18+. All majors are welcome.

Cost & Scholarships

Participation Fee:

$2,500 for domestic delegates

$3,000 for international delegates

Every accepted delegate automatically receives $2,000+ in scholarships, bringing down the total program cost significantly.

Additional funding (30–50% of delegates) is available through:

ISC’s Plant a Diplomatic Tree Scholarship

University grants

Corporate/organizational sponsorships

Partnerships with supporting institutions

For Potential Sponsors & Supporting Organizations

KASC welcomes partnerships with companies, institutions, and foundations dedicated to:

  • Korea–U.S. relations

  • Youth leadership development

  • Technology, energy, culture, innovation, or diplomacy

  • Diversity, access, and global educatio

Sponsorship supports:

  • Scholarships for financially-challenged delegate

  • Site visits & speaker programming

  • Cultural activities and travel

  • Long-term binational student diplomacy

We are happy to feature supporting organizations on:

  • KASC website

  • Program booklet

  • Social media channels

  • Final Forum (Washington, D.C.)

  • Outreach materials to universities & stakeholders

For sponsorship conversations, please contact hkim@iscdc.org