August | 2013 | The Asia Institute

Asia Institute Seminar

Location: Starbucks at Gwanghwamun (across the Street from Kyobo Books)

스타벅스 광화문점 02 758-8036 3층

In light of the unprecedented environmental threat posed by the radiation leaking from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, it is urgent that the world come together as one to propose a long-term global solution that includes both experts and concerned citizens from around the world. That solution must stress international cooperation to develop new technologies and approaches to produce a permanent solution to this disaster over the next 30 years. But we also need to consider include social, cultural and institutional innovations that will make such massive collaboration possible. Continue Reading

A Different Republic of Korea

“한국인만 모르는 다른 대한민국:

버드 박사가 본 한국의 가능성”

이십일세기 북스

21 Century Books, Seoul

August 15, 2013 (68th anniversary of Korea’s Independence)

Emanuel Pastreich investigates the cultural and intellectual potential of the Republic of Korea in this book, stressing the tremendous richness of Korea’s tradition and how it could serve as a basis for Korea’s future development. The book also considers the particular psychology of Koreans that has led them to discount the true value of their traditional culture and led to serious historical and cultural misunderstandings among Koreans and others around the world. Pastreich calls for an accurate assessment of Korea’s true worth, suggesting that Korean organic farming, philosophy, traditional architecture and other traditions offer tremendous new horizons for the future.

Director Pastreich will be making a presentation at   J-Global Forum hosted by JoongAng Ilbo Newspaper. This year’s topic is “Towards an East Asian Community: Challenges and Opportunities.”

Students who attend this remarkable international event will have opportunities to interact with leading figures in international relations. A special certificate for participation will be issued and there is a chance to attend the lunch at the Westin Chosun Hotel.

If you would like to attend, you need  to indicate so to Director Pastreich by email so you can  be formally invited. Write to epastreich@asia-institute.org.

The J-Global Forum 2013

A New Model for Regional Cooperation and Integration in East Asia

The J-Global Forum is an annual gathering of leading journalists, scholars and important public figures hosted by the JoongAng Ilbo of Korea. The Forum serves as an opportunity for a frank exchange of opinions on critical issues for East Asia and the world between leading stakeholders.

Originally titled the Asia Press Forum when it was founded in 1996 the J-Global Forum promotes mutual understanding and presents new insights into the most critical issues in Asia.

The J-Global Forum 2013

DATE: Monday, September 9, 2013

VENUE: Westin Chosun Hotel (Seoul), Grand Ballroom

THEME: “Coming Together: A New Model for Regional Cooperation and Integration in East Asia”

The trends towards integration in East Asia are manifest, yet old modes of thinking and lingering historical legacies holds the region back from realizing its full potential. This year’s J-Global Forum brings together leading thinkers from China, Japan and Korea as well as from Europe and the United States, to consider what new models for cooperation and integration can invigorate the debate on cooperation and lead to substantial progress. How can European precedents for integration serve as models for East Asia going forward and what new opportunities are there for laying the foundations for an East Asian community? The Forum also considers the critical question of US-China relations and how that complex exchange will impact discussions on cooperation in the region.

9:00-9:20 Registration  
9:20-9:25 Opening remarks Hong Seok-Hyeon, Chairman, JoongAng Ilbo
9:25-10:00 Keynote Address TBA
10:20-12:00 Session I: “The Asian Conundrum: Historical and Territorial Disputes in East Asia and Effective solutions from the case of Germany and France Bae, Myung-Bok, Editorial Writer, JoongAng Ilbo (chair)

Park, Cheol-hee, Professor, Seoul National University (speaker)

Wieland Wagner, Asia Correspondent, Der Spiegel (speaker)

Zhu Feng,  Professor, Peking University (discussant)

Wakamiya Yoshibumi, Former Editor in Chief, Asahi Shimbun (discussant)

12:00-13:40 Luncheon  
13:40-15:00 Session II: “New Dimensions of US-China Relations: Cooperation or Competition?” Kim Sung-han, Professor, Korea University and former Vice Foreign Minister (chair)

Zhu Feng, Professor, Peking University (speaker)

Martin Fackler, Tokyo Bureau Chief, New York Times (speaker)

Chung, Jae-ho, Professor, Seoul National University (discussant)

Lee, Kyu-hyung, Former Ambassador to China (ROK) (discussant)

Melinda Liu, Beijing Bureau Chief, Newsweek/Daily Beast (discussant)

15:20-16:40 Session III: “Towards an East Asian Community: Challenges and Opportunities” Jusuf Wanandi, President Director, Jakarta Post (chair)

David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times (speaker)

Brahma Chellaney, Professor,,Centre for Policy Research (discussant)

Emanuel Pastreich, Director of the Asia Institute (discussant)

Ryu, Jae-hoon Editor, The Hankyorhe Shinmun (discussant)

(TBA) (discussant)

     

Director Pastreich visited Bangkok for a series of events (August 5-8, 2013) as part of Asia Institute’s efforts to expand our engagement with Thailand. Director Pastreich had a series of discussions with Michael Hartswell, Asia Institute’s research fellow and head of our technology convergence program, who is working currently as a coordinator between the P2P Foundation and Asia Institute in Bangkok. The two discussed potential engagement with Thailand on STS issues.

Director Pastreich and Mr. Hartswell met with Professor Soraj Hongaldarom, director of the Center for the Ethics of Science and Technology at Chulalongkorn University for a wide-ranging discussion of the impact of technology in Korea and Continue Reading

10 Magazine Book Club

&

The Asia Institute

Present

Saturday, September 14th 2013

“A Florence for the New Renaissance:

Seoul as a Mecca for the Creative Class in the 21st Century”

Emanuel Pastreich

Professor at Kyung Hee University

Director of the Asia Institute

&

Ogan Gurel

A director at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology

Visiting professor at SKKU’s Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology,

Hosted by Barry Welsh

Date: Saturday, September 14th. 날짜 : 09월 14일 Time: 2pm to 4pm. 시간: 오후 2시 Admission fee: 5,000won (students enter free) Place: Haechi Hall in Seoul Global Culture & Tourism Center

(5th Floor M Plaza in Myeong-dong)

“It was not that long ago that the only internationals you would find wandering around Seoul were missionaries, English teachers and GIs. But that has changed radically over the last few years, with the best and brightest of the creative class flocking to Seoul as the new-found cluster for culture, business, technology and education. What is it about Seoul that makes is a leading contender for the global city, like Florence at the dawn of the Renaissance? What are the blue oceans for internationals looking for unique opportunities? How does Seoul stack up against Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong? This talk will engage an informed and motivated audience in a frank and inspiring discussion about the true potential for Seoul and what we need to do to make Seoul realize its full potential.”

The second half of the session will be a question and answer session with the audience in which we can ask both guests about their work and experiences of Korea.

(Call Barry on 010 5138 8859 if you get lost or can’t find it and I will come meet you at exit 6 Myeong-dong station.)