Il Hyun Cho

My research interests include international relations, nuclear proliferation, alliance, regionalism, energy, and environmental politics. I work on these topics with a primary regional focus on East Asia—specifically China, Japan, North Korea, and South Korea.

My passion for international relations began during my graduate studies in Seoul, South Korea. I was fortunate to receive a summer internship opportunity at a foreign policy think tank in Washington, D.C. During that summer, I worked on a range of international issues and visited the State Department, various foreign embassies, and the Congress for House and Senate hearings. That memorable summer experiencing world politics on the ground inspired me to pursue a doctoral degree in International Relations at Cornell University. As part of my dissertation research, I conducted yearlong fieldwork in China, Japan, and South Korea. I also received a research fellowship from Harvard University.