The Secretariat of the Association of North East Asia Regional Governments (NEAR) received applications for participation in the “2026 NEAR Member Government Officials Training Program” from member governments and associate members (including prospective regional government members) from March 26 to May 8. Through a selection process that considered a balanced arrangement by country and member government, a total of 17 final participants from five countries were selected. (official letter notification).
The training program attracted considerable interest, with 22 government officials applying from five countries: 5 from China, 13 from Mongolia, 1 from Russia, 1 from Uzbekistan, and 2 from Kazakhstan. The Secretariat selected the final participants through a review of submitted application materials and English interviews conducted by phone, while also taking into account balanced arrangement by country and member government.
The final participants consist of 5 officials from China, 8 from Mongolia, 1 from Russia, 1 from Uzbekistan, and 1 from Kazakhstan.
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The “2026 NEAR Member Government Officials Training Program” is organized by the NEAR Secretariat and has been implemented in cooperation with Yeungnam University since 2024 under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The program is sponsored by the budgets of Gyeongsangbuk-do and Pohang. The high level of participant satisfaction and continued requests from member governments allow for the program being held for the third consecutive year.
In particular, participants in last year’s program attended lectures on various topics of common interest in Northeast Asia, including successful regional development cases modeled after Korea’s Saemaul Undong, the digital economy, forest conservation, and the application of AI in local administration. As part of their completion requirements, participants developed Action Plans so that they can provide practical and tangible assistance to their governments through policy proposals after returning to their home countries.
In addition, some outstanding graduates of the training program may be given the opportunity to be selected as scholarship students for the two-year graduate school program at the Park Chung-hee School of Policy and Saemaul, Yeungnam University.