KOREA FOUNDATION

I have been working at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) as KF Global Intern, since September 2013. Located in Solna, Sweden, SIPRI is a world-class think tank that dedicated to research into international security issues. Founded in 1966, SIPRI explores independent research activity, while receiving financial support from such international organizations as the United Nations and the European Union, as well as the governments of various countries, like Sweden, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, and the U.S. The research staff members also come from various countries, including the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, France, Ireland, and the U.S. This diversity of personnel contributes to SIPRI's endeavour to attain trailblazing high-quality work in pursuit of its vision and mission.

As the name of the institute suggests, SIPRI undertakes research and activities on peace, security and conflict. The areas of research at the institute can be divided into four general categories: arms control and non-proliferation, armed conflict and conflict management, military spending and armament, and global and regional security. I have been engaged in research projects in Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Programme. In addition, SIPRI has recently been expanding its security research into non-traditional areas, such as peace-building, development aid, and cyber security. Researchers at SIPRI actively contribute review articles and conduct conferences. Their passion for acquiring knowledge about international security is strong academic for me.

Sweden grabs the attention of the entire world each December when it awards the Nobel Prize. In November 2013, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) received the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of its efforts to bring an end to the ongoing Syrian conflict. SIPRI in cooperation with The Swedish Parliament, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI), hosted a lecture event in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2013, titled "From Ypres to Damascus: The Long Struggle to Abolish Chemical Weapons." Through this lecture event I was able to realize the growing international interest in preventing the use of chemical weapons.

The most memorable experience of my time at SIPRI has been the cultural diversity. In mid-December of every year - before the start of the Christmas vacation - SIPRI organizes a Christmas luncheon for all of its research and management staff. All of the people who attend bring a favorite food of their home country. Given the diverse home countries of the researchers, there are as many dishes as there are countries represented. While observing the researchers sharing different foods and their cultures, I found myself thinking that world peace is not necessarily some grandiose ideal but could instead be achieved gradually through ordinary daily occurrence. This cultural diversity must be an essential part of what enables SIPRI, located on the northern fringes of Europe bearing dark winters and lights under the midnight sun, to distinguish itself as a prominent global research institute.