■ Institute of Russian Studies holds its annual seminar entitled ‘A Year of War: Prospects for Russia in 2023’ as part of its ‘Russia Report’ publication
To mark the publication of its annual ‘Russia Report,’ the HK+ Project Team of the HUFS Institute of Russian Studies (Director Pyo Sang-Yong) held its annual seminar entitled ‘A Year of War: Prospects for Russia in 2023’ on January 13, 2023 (Friday). The Russia Report seminar is an annual academic event held by the institute every January. This year’s seminar placed special focus on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The two-session seminar kicked off with the opening remarks by Director Pyo and the congratulatory remarks by Professor Emeritus Lee In-Ho of Seoul National University. Moderated by HUFS Professor Je Seong-Hoon (Department of Russian), the first session provided an opportunity to look back at Russia in 2022 in different areas of Russian politics (Research Professor Youn Damrin of Hanshin University), economics (Research Manager Park Ji-Won of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), and international relations (Research Professor Lee Joo-Yeon of Hanyang University). The second session, moderated by HUFS HK Professor Song Joon-Seo, presented an in-depth discussion in the various fields of military security (HUFS Lecturer Kim Gyu-Cheol), Korea-Russia relations (Professor Byeon Hyeon-Seop of Keimyung University), and social culture (HUFS HK Professor Rha Seung-Do).
■ HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency of the Center for International Area Studies holds the 2022 Northeast Asian Community Forum with South Korean Consular Office in Shenyang, China
The HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency (Director Kang Jun-Young) of the HUFS Center for International Area Studies Research held the 2022 Northeast Asian Community Forum together with the South Korean Consular Office in Shenyang, China, on December 23, 2022 (Friday).
The opening ceremony was moderated by Consul Kim Dae-Sik, followed by the opening remarks by Consul General Choi Doo-Seok and keynote speech by Director Kang of the HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency. Led by Senior Researcher Jeon Byeong-Gon of the Korea Institute of National Unification, the first session of the forum featured presentations by Assistant Director Jung Gi-Woong of the HK+ Project Team and Researcher 笪志剛 at Heilongjiand Academy of Social Sciences. The presentations were followed by a discussion between HUFS Professor Lee Gi-Hyun (LD Division) and Professor 滿海峰 of Eastern Liaoning University on the achievements and limitations of cooperation in Northeast Asia. It was originally planned that Director 呂超 of the U.S. and East Asia Research Center at Liaoning University would moderate the second session. However, he was not able to attend the forum because he contracted COVID-19. As a result, the second session was also moderated by Senior Researcher Jeon. The session featured presentations by Professors 张慧智 and Ham Myung-Sik of Jilin University, as well as a discussion between Professor 李凯 of Northeastern University and Researcher Kang Taek-Gu of the Korea Environment Institute. That discussion particularly focused on how to promote Korea-China cooperation for the development of Northeast Asia. The third session was held in a round table format, presenting overall comments by the moderators of both sides, open discussion, and a Q&A session. After the round table, the forum was concluded with the closing remarks by Consul General Choi.
■ Institute of Latin American Studies’ HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency holds a joint conference with Korea-Argentina Association
On December 14, 2022 (Wednesday), the HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency of the HUFS Institute of Latin American Studies (Director Shin Jeong-Hwan) held a joint academic conference with the Korea-Argentina Association. The conference was held in a lecture hall of the Faculty Office Building on the Seoul Campus under the title “60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties Between Korea and Argentina: Prospects for Antarctic Ecological Cooperation.”
At the event that kicked off with the opening remarks by Director Shin and the congratulatory address by newly appointed President Park Yoo-Jung of the Korea-Argentina Association, Professor Ha Sang-Seop gave a presentation entitled “Patagonia, the Last Land En Route to Antarctica: Green-Green Dilemma Between Development and Protection,” pointing out the issue of local ecological disruption caused by dam construction in Patagonia and stressing the need for environmental governance. Director Kim Bong-Chul of the HUFS Institute of EU Studies also gave a presentation under the title “Possibility of Korea-Argentina Cooperation on Polar Regions,” arguing that South Korea and Argentina should cooperate to improve access to Antarctica amid the growing importance of Antarctica in the international community on the issue of protecting Antarctic marine life. The last presentation was given by Deputy Head of Mission Julián Canessa of the Argentine Embassy in Seoul. On the topic of “The Argentine Presence in Antarctica,” he detailed his country’s role and efforts related to Antarctica with the other participants.
The conference offered an excellent opportunity to increase public interest in the Antarctic marine ecosystem in the era of climate change and also raise awareness of how important cooperation with Argentina is in expanding the nation’s activities in Antarctica. As the host of this meaningful academic event, Director Shin commented, “I hope that this event that has been with us since 2010 will serve as a springboard for our efforts to strengthen our friendly relations with Argentina and to make an entry into the polar regions, which are home to Earth’s final pristine ecosystems.”
■ Institute of Indian Studies’ HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency holds the ACSAS International Conference
The HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency of the HUFS Institute of Indian Studies (Director Kim Chan-Wan) held the 5th Asian Consortium of South Asian Studies (ACSAS) International Conference on the Seoul Campus from November 18 (Friday) to 19 (Saturday), 2022. ACSAS was launched as a platform for research and academic cooperation among India/South Asia research institutes in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Held in the spirit of cooperation in research on India and the South Asia region, the ACSAS International Conference marked its fifth anniversary after its fourth event held online in Vietnam last year.
Themed after the agenda of the HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency “Great Transition in India and South Asia: Past, Present, and Future,” the international conference presented five panel sessions along with a total of 18 presentations.
The event began with the opening remarks by Director Kim, followed by two congratulatory remarks by Indian Ambassador to South Korea Amit Kumar and HUFS Vice President of Finance and External Affairs Jang Tae-Yeop.
During the panel sessions, each presentation drew a variety of questions and opinions from the participating researchers from ACSAS member institutions as well as the general audience, cementing the event’s role as a platform of exchange among researchers and scholars in Korea and beyond and demonstrating the significant interest in research on India and South Asia within the nation.
At the closing ceremony, Director Kim expressed his special thanks to his fellow scholars and researchers of the research institutes from other Asian countries for making the conference a success. The participants from all participating nations also expressed their gratitude to the HUFS Institute of Indian Studies for its warm welcome and excellent event organization.
