Relevance in education, in particular the bridge between theory and practice, often remains an elusive goal. Nevertheless, students at the KDI School with different backgrounds, roles, and responsibilities gather together in classrooms to collaborate on developing course dynamics. The flourishing enthusiasm for education in various fields is the driving force behind the different programs. In the complex and volatile world of today, it is important for any individual to analyze what is on the horizon and anticipate the unforeseeable opportunities. To do so, education is the key which often provides the fundamental basis for these opportunities. In this article, two influential professionals - a doctor specializing in pediatrics. Dr. Ki-Soo Pai, and a lawyer specializing in tax laws, Mr. Ujin Noh, give their views in regards to what they believe the opportunities are and their motivations for pursuing an education at the KDI School.

Dr. Pai, Master’s in Foreign Direct Investment program (MFDI, 2008), is currently a Professor & Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Ajou University School of Medicine. He is also acting as Special Advisor for Medical Industry Promotion for the Gyunggi Provincial Government in Korea. Pai already appeared to be an extremely preoccupied professional and it seemed to be a miracle that he was able to attend classes regularly. "I am thinking of having seven different bags for the seven days of the week. That way, I don’t have to waste time packing the materials I need for the day," Pai joked. "I give medical treatments to patients, I research, I lecture medical interns, residents, and students, and I come to KDI School to learn”

Pai explained the reasons he chose to extend his knowledge in foreign direct investment. "I have an interest in community development and this led me to get involved with municipal and provincial governments, and NGOs as an advisor. From the meetings, I met a public officer who had graduated from the KDI School, and he recommended the KDI School Programs to me for in-depth knowledge in social sciences. "Pai spent a few minutes to give a big picture of the medical industry investment project in KwangGyo New Town. "We are planning to build a medical hub in the area and be competitive in the Asian market. The facility is going to be the hub for all medical/pharmaceutical industries, medical research and development, bio-ventures, medical equipment and products, and medical services. The medical services can attract foreigners to Korea if and only if these medical related facilities are well established and coordinated. We are also in talks with various internationally well-known institutes to collaborate on this project."

During my four semesters, I felt that there isn’t a better place for human networking. The program is extremely rigorous but I am sure it will pay off well in the future."On the other hand, Lawyer Noh, Master’s in Asset Management program (MAM, 2008), who is currently at the HBL Law Firm (Han Byul), stresses the importance of the financial sectors for the Korean economy to leap forward and become an advanced nation."Right after my judicial examination, I was temporarily given freedom from the hardcore legal texts and was able to spare some time to read numerous casual books in diverse areas. One of the books I read was Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I was stunned from the reading as it explained how the majority of people are unnoticeably working solely for the nation, for the banks, and for employers through taxation, various interest rates, and hierarchical systems, respectively. From that day on, my interest was focused mainly on the areas of tax, capital, and enterprises. As an initial step, I undertook the tax law program at the Judicial Research and Training Institute."

 Noh believed MAM had the ideal atmosphere to fulfill his hunger for understanding the overall financial structure of society. "I have a goal to become one of the best in the financial industry and also to be able to extend my network globally, especially with the scheduled opening of the law market in Korea. When the opportune time comes, I have a dream to establish my very own consulting firm specializing in finance, real estate, and M&A and be able to work with my fellow students from the KDI School in the future. It’s a pity a lot of them only consider it as a joke “I hope this article can make a point for them” Noh smiled. "A lot of the terminology used in the financial sectors used to be abstract for me, but the courses at the KDI School are providing me with a clearer picture of the complex financial network." Noh concluded, "I would like to thank God, the professors, and the MAM class of 2008 for all of their sincere help."

By Jun Hyun PARK (MPP 2009, Korea)