Chaeri Kim

Chaeri Kim is a third-year undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a simultaneous major in Media Studies and Environmental Economics & Policy. She is interested in how communication, markets, and policy interact to shape more sustainable and inclusive systems.

Growing up in a rural area in South Korea, Chaeri developed an early awareness of how land and resources are used in ways that directly affect community well-being. This perspective led her to approach sustainability not only as an environmental issue, but also as a question of coexistence and collective decision-making. At Berkeley, she has explored these interests through both academic study and practical experience, including supporting marketing initiatives for a vegan brand and managing a small-scale solar energy project.

She has also organized events for international students, creating spaces that encourage dialogue across cultural and linguistic differences. Through these experiences, she has become interested in how individuals and institutions can foster more inclusive and constructive forms of engagement. Through the UCDC program, she hopes to further explore these dynamics in the context of policy and civic life in Washington, D.C.