The Asia Institute
Activities
August, 2016-March 2019
Seminar
“Coal and Micro-particle Pollution in Korea and Northeast Asia”
Saturday, August 20th 2016 (5-7 PM)
(Seminar for the public cosponsored by Korean Federation of Environmental Movements)
Seminar
“Asia Institute Chinese Language Seminar: Urban Environment in Korea & China”
Saturday, July 6th 2016 (6-8 PM)
(Cohosted by Kyung Hee Cyber University & Confucius Academy of Kyung Hee University) Presentation by Professor Jeong Jeonhwi정전휘（郑殿辉）.
Seminar
“Visions For East Asia’s Future”
Saturday, July 24th, 2016 (3:00-4:30 PM)
Speakers:
Benjamin Butler Director of Emerging Future Institute
Philip Franses Senior Lecturer Holistic Science at Schumacher College
Emanuel Pastreich Director of the Asia Institute
David Mason Professor at Jungang University
Seminar
“Korean Public Diplomacy”
August 12th 2016
Discussion with active Korean diplomats and young Koreans interested in international relations about the changing nature of diplomacy in today’s world.
Seminar
“The Nuclear Power Question in Korea and Northeast Asia”
Saturday, October 15th 2016
(Cosponsored by the Korean Federation of Environmental Movements)
A discussion of the history of nuclear power in South Korea and the political and economic forces behind its development.
Seminar
“The Spread of Deserts in Northeast Asia”
Saturday, November 19th 2016
(Cosponsored by the Korean Federation of Environmental Movements)
An open discussion led by experts from KFEM about the spread of deserts and its implications for the Korean Peninsula.
Seminar
“Recycling in Korea and Northeast Asia”
December 1, 2016
(Cosponsored by the Korean Federation of Environmental Movements)
Discussion of the misunderstandings about recycling in Korea and its neighbors and the powers behind the failure to address the recycling crisis.
Seminar
“The Future of North Korea and Its Implications For Northeast Asia”
Wednesday, October 26th, 2016 (5:30-7:00)
Speakers: Wang Son-Taek (Reporter at YTN)
A discussion of the growing influence of North Korea and its impact on the region as a whole.
Seminar
“Korean and International Perspectives on Journalism in Seoul”
September 29th, 2016 (5:30-7:00)
Speakers:
Wang Son-Taek Reporter YTN
Don Kirk Reporter The Daily Beast
Steven Borowiec Reporter Christian Science Monitor
Seminar
“History, Memory, and the Promise of Peace in Northeast Asia”
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016 (5:30-7:00)
Hope May Professor of Law Central Michigan University
Seminar
“Is a Soft Landing Possible as the Global Overreach of the United States Collapses?”
November 15th 2016
Open on-line seminar with participants from the United States, Japan, China and South Korea.
Seminar
“What Do Young People in Korea Want?”
Wednesday, December 21st 2016 (6-7:30 PM)
Speakers:
Lee Jin-woo, Undergraduate student of Kyung Hee University
Yaerin Ku, Undergraduate student of Kyung Hee University
Michael Lammbrau, Korea Representative of the Arirang Institute
Emanuel Pastreich, Director of the Asia Institute
Future Forest-Asia Institute Memorandum of Understanding
January 14th, 2017
Signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Asia Institute and Future Forest concerning collaboration on the response to climate change. Former ambassador to China Kwon Byung-hyun, the president of Future Forest, signed a MOU with the Asia Institute the spelled out concrete cooperation in the effort to stop the spread of deserts in Northern China through close collaboration. Future Forest brings youth in Korea and in China together to cooperate in the planting of trees in regions of China subject to desertification.
Seminar
“Apocalypse Yesterday: The Climate Crisis as the Ultimate Boon For Innovation”
Monday, February 27th, 2017
Speakers:
Daniel Garrett Senior researcher, The Asia Institute (former US diplomat)
Emanuel Pastreich director, the Asia Institute
Seminar
“The Arteries Beneath the Skin: American and Russian Pivots to Asia and Liquid and Natural Gas (LNG) Geopolitics”
Thursday, April 13th (5:30-6:45)
Keun-wook Paik
Senior Research Fellow
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
Mason Richey Professor of International Relations
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
A discussion of the deeper economic relations between the United States and Russia related to energy, and their implications for Korea and the international community as a whole.
Senior Associate Jin Kai publishes book (Rising China in a Changing World: Power Transitions and Global Leadership)
March 8th, 2017
Asia Institute’s senior associate Jin Kai published a new book “Rising China in a Changing World: Power Transitions and Global Leadership” (Palgrave McMillan) in which he presents the influence of China globally in detail.
Seminar
“Cooperation in the Future of East Asian Security: How the United States Can Work Together With Korea, Japan, and China”
Wednesday, April 12th, 2017 (5-6 PM)
Speakers:
Raekyung Lee President, The Tomorrow
Emanuel Pastreich Director, The Asia Institute
Lee Jong-heon Director General, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (China, Japan & Korea)
Seminar
Asia Institute Seminar in Japan: “Anti-Intellectualism and the Undermining of Science in Contemporary Society”
March 18th, 2017
Speakers:
Inobe Kota Researcher, The Asia Institute of Japan
Nakafuji Hirohiko Acting director, The Asia Institute of Japan
Senior Associate John Feffer publishes book “Splinterlands”
March 25th, 2017
Asia Institute’s senior associate John Feffer published Splinterlands, a fictional work which predicts the future of human civilization in a period of cultural fragmentation, rapid technological change and the onset of climate change.
Seminar
“Hell Chosun and the 5.9 Election”
April 17th (6:30-8:00)
Speakers:
Emanuel Pastreich Director, The Asia Institute
Jeong Sang-kyu Undergraduate, Kyung Hee University
Park Kyung-hong Undergraduate, Kyung Hee University
A seminar exploring the perception of politics and society of young people in the age of “Hell Chosun” (the narrowing of potential in a radically competitive Korean society).
Seminar
“The Road to a Shrinking Society: How To Make Ourselves Truly Renewable”
Monday, May 15th, 2017 (6:00-7:30)
Speaker:
Matsuhisa Hiroshi Professor emeritus, Kyoto University
Matsuhisa Hiroshi discussed the imperative for a low-consumption society in this age of radical climate change and presented precedents from Japanese society.
Senior Associate Daniel Garrett publishes three books: Chronicles of a New Tibet: Book 1: Entanglement, Pieces of the Moon, The Sustenance of Words: Selected Essays 2009-2016)
April 10th, 2017
Senior associate Daniel Garrett has published three books that include essays and poetry about Tibetan and Asian culture as part of his greater project of redefining our global culture.
Seminar
“A European Perspective on Korea and Its Potential”
June 13th, 2017 (5:00-7:00)
Speaker:
Christoph Heider
President
European Chamber of Commerce, Korea
Seminar
Asia Institute & Korea Peace Movement March For Peace
May 15th, 2017
Speakers and Performers:
Lakvinder Singh Director, Korea Peace Movement @ The Asia Institute
Kawanaka Yo Reseacher, The Asia Institute Japan (performed peace dance)
Emanuel Pastreich Director, The Asia Institute
This march drew together a group of committed Earth citizens to advocate for a culture of peace in Korea that will radiate out through the region, and out to the entire world.
Seminar
“India’s Strategic Interests in East Asia”
June 17th, 2017 (6:00-7:30)
Rahul Raj Professor, Sejong University
Emanuel Pastreich Director, The Asia Institute
Seminar
“New Possibilities For Exchange Between Korea and Japan”
Sunday, March 28th 2017 (8:00-9:00)
This seminar brought together a group of visiting Japanese peace activists, led by Asia Institute Japan’s researcher Kawanaka Yo, with concerned citizens in Korea for a discussion about how civil society in both nations can effectively cooperate.
Seminar
“Is Northeast Asia the Source of the Climate Crisis, or the Solution?”
Thursday, October 19th, 2017 (5:30-7:00)
Moderated by Emanuel Pastreich Director, the Asia Institute
This seminar served as a platform for a free dialogue on East Asia’s potential to transform its civilization and become a leader in the response to climate change.
Seminar
“A Republic of Korea Greater Than Koreans Imagined: Is It Possible?’
Friday, October 27th, 2017 (7:00-9:00)
Moderated by
Emanuel Pastreich Director, the Asia Institute
An open discussion about the potential locked in Korea’s own culture.
Seminar
Asia Institute Chinese Culture Seminar
September 28th, 2017 (6:30-8:00) at Kyung Hee Cyber University
This seminar brought together Korean and Chinese experts together for a discussion in Chinese about trade relations between China and Korea.
Asia Institute Report: “The Crisis in Korean Politics Today”
October 13th, 2017
This paper by director Emanuel Pastreich details the nature of the current political crisis and presents concrete solutions.
Seminar
“Splinterlands and Possible Scenarios For the Korean Peninsula” – Seminar at the Korean National Assembly
November 2nd, (3:00-5:00)
Speakers:
John Feffer
Director, Foreign Policy in Focus;
Senior associate at the Asia Institute
Choo Mi-ae
National Assembly Member
Raekyung Lee
President
The Tomorrow
Kim Sang-jun
Professor, Kyung Hee University
Asia Institute Report on Science Diplomacy Centers presented to Korea Foundation of Science and Technology Societies
January 6th, 2018
Contributors:
Emanuel Pastreich
Rachel L. Stine
Olga Krasnyak
Ibrihim Ahmaid
Kadir Ayhan
This report presents a survey of science diplomacy best practices and policies from advanced nations for the reference of the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies as it prepared proposal for Korea’s future science diplomacy. The research project involved young scholars from around the world and provided them with a chance to make suggestions.
Opening of the Asia Institute Vietnam Office
January 12th, 2017 (10:00-11:30)
@ VICAS (Vietnam Institute for Culture and Art Studies)
Speakers:
NguyễnThị Thu Hường Director, VICAS
Emanuel Pastreich Director, the Asia Institute
Jung Woojin Director, the Asia Institute, Hanoi
The Ministry of Culture of Vietnam joined hands with the Asia Institute to launch the Asia Institute, Hanoi. The opening ceremony included three speeches about the tremendous potential of Vietnam in terms of culture and diplomacy by Director Pastreich, Professor Jung Woojin, the newly-appointed director of the Asia Institute Hanoi, and NguyễnThị Thu Hường, Director of VICAS.
“Pastreich discusses China’s Tradition of Think Tanks at Center for China and Globalization Seminar in Beijing”
January 25, 2018
Director Emanuel Pastreich visited Shanghai and Beijing at the end of January 2018, as part of a joint research project of the Asia Institute and the Future Consensus Institute (Seoul) on global think tanks. Pastreich spoke about strategies for recovering China’s own tradition of think tanks on a panel with the heads of major Chinese think tanks such as CCG (Center for China and Globalization), Institute of World Development, National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University and the China Development Research Foundation. As noted in the article below at CHINA.ORG, Pastreich stressed the tradition of Confucian academies in China which played a major role in education and policy since the Tang Dynasty.
Seminar
“North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, and Prospects For Peace”
March 6th, 2018 (6:30)
Open seminar held in Los Angeles with co-sponsorship of the Asia Institute.
Asia Institute Report on Think Tanks Completed
June 15th, 2018
This report compiled by the Asia Institute in cooperation with the Future Consensus Institute contained a survey of leading think tanks in China, Japan and the United States and suggested future strategies for global cooperation.
Contributors:
Emanuel Pastreich, Shi Yuefung, Park Sunyong, Loren Da Costa, Viviane Brockel, Cho Hyo-seok, Kim Min-jong, Gong Min-Seung, Jeong Hyunju, Rachel Stine, Kawanaka Yo
Seminar
“Prospects For Korea-India Cooperation in a Radically Changed Geopolitical Environment”
July 9th, 2018
Speakers:
Lakhvinder Singh Director, Korea Peace Movement
Emanuel Pastreich Director, The Asia Institute
Seminar
“An Affirmation of the United Nations Charter in a Time of Peril”
July 19th, 2018 (10:00-12:00)
In this seminar, members of the Asia Institute read aloud the original United Nations Charter and discussed its significance for the present, and for the future.
The event was announced as:
We will read aloud the text of the United Nations Charter at this event and we will discuss its significance and its potential in an open and participatory format. We welcome you to join us as we consider what the original spirit of the United Nations Charter was, and how it should be reaffirmed and revived in the present age.
Before we start to play silly putty with military alliances, let us go back to the seminal text that forms the foundations for the global order of the last seventy years.
We welcome you to attend this event, to read a part of the United Nations Charter, and to offer your insights as to how that tradition can be revitalized in this historical moment fraught with tremendous risk and animated with overwhelming potential.
This event will be connected with Asia Institute affiliates around the world as part of a global effort to encourage a profound dialog on the proper path forward for global governance.
Korea Times Feature: “Asia Institute Stresses Global Governance to Solve World’s Problems”
July 17th, 2018
By Jon Dunbar
Seminar
“Corea as Commons: Cooperative Citizen-centered Concepts for Connecting the Coreas”
December 11th, 2018 (7:00-8:30)
Choi Yong-kwan President , The Commons Foundation
Emanuel Pastreich President, The Asia Institute
Lakhvinder Singh Director, The Asia Institute
Seminar
“Prime Minister Modi’s Visit to Seoul and the Future of the Korean Peace Process”
February 11th, 2019 (7:00-8:30)
Lakhvinder Singh Director, The Korea Peace Movement
The award of the Seoul Peace Prize to India’s Prime Minister Modi suggests a new expansion of the discourse on peace building on the Korean peninsula as part of a larger global effort. PM Modi’s visit to Seoul immediately before the Trump-Kim Summit in Danang is rapidly taking on tremendous geopolitical significance.
How might this occasion expand Indian engagement on the Korean peninsula and what directions might such engagement go. Although India has been a passive player on the Korean peninsula, it has a tremendous tradition of promoting global peace dating back to Gandhi, and before.
Seminar
“Wildfire: Two Roads Diverging in a Woods on Fire: The spread of climate chaos and trends in global response today”
Monday, February 18, 2019
Daniel Garrett, Senior Associate The Asia Institute
Moderated by
Rachel Stine, Researcher, The Asia Institute
The Earth System is transitioning to a new phrase – that of Hothouse earth. We see climate refugees everywhere at the same time that right-wing governments that derive their power from racism, nativism, and other forms of the “fear of the other” purposely ignore the threat. The wildfire of climate chaos already been lit and will burn even brighter. In this seminar, former State Department official Daniel Garrett and refugees’ rights advocate Rachel Stine will explore the following topics: 1.) How can we preserve a livable environment? 2.) What new forms of governance – and approaches to living will be demanded in such difficult times? What can we do now and during the climate chaos to improve the chances that eco-civilizational and climate justice models emerge victorious rather than the “vultures” of disaster capitalism?
Sponsored by
The Commons Foundation
The Asia Institute
The Earth Management Institute
World Beyond War
