The Asiatic Research Institute (ARI) hosted a seminar between its Center for Taiwan Studies and the visiting seven-member delegation of Tamkang University’s College of International Studies, led by Dean Kaocheng Wang, on April 5.   The discussion, which took place in the Grand Conference Room of the ARI building, covered topics like the political, economic and security relations between China and Taiwan and between North and South Korea, the international sanctions imposed upon North Korea and Taiwan’s domestic politics and foreign relations after its presidential election. Over a lunch hosted by Amb. Ting Shih, representative of Taipei Mission in Korea, the prospect of future academic exchanges between the two institutes was also explored.   Tamkang University is one of the foremost universities in Taiwan for international relations and foreign policy research. Its recent work on the United States, South America, and the European Union has been highly regarded. During their stay in Korea, the Taiwanese delegation also visited the Sejong Institute and the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University.              

[Notice] ARI Director Hosts Luncheon for Visiting Scholars Lee Jong-Wha, center on the front row, director of the Asiatic Research Institute (ARI), Korea University, hosted a special luncheon for visiting scholars and ARI fellows on March 24, 2015. Attending the luncheon, clockwise from director Lee, are Chien Yi-Chun (PhD candidate from University of Toronto), SohnAelee (ARI Professor), Thomas Quartermain (PhD candidate from Oxford University), Hans Schattle (Yonsei University Professor), Christian Wirth (Griffith University research fellow), Francis Collins (University of Auckland senior lecturer), Hwang Jungmee (ARI Professor), Son Key-young (ARI Professor), and Song Kue-jin (ARI Professor).        

[Special Lecture] The Rise of China and its Impact on Security in Northeast Asia Title: The Rise of China and its Impact on Security in Northeast Asia: Balancing or Bandwagoning? Speaker: Key-young Son, Humanities Korea Professor at the Asiatic Research Institute Date: June 5, 2014, 3 p.m. Venue: Grand Conference Room, Asiatic Research Institute, Korea University   Dr. Key-young Son, Humanities Korea Professor at the Asiatic Research Institute, gave a lecture, titled “The Rise of China and its Impact on Security in Northeast Asia: Balancing or Bandwagoning” for about 20 visiting students from the University of Hong Kong under the guidance of Professor Lee Pui Tak. Dr. Son started his lecture by first giving an introduction to the economic and military strength of China and the United States, paired with several discussion questions. In light of these developments, he provided three frameworks meant to explain the security behavior of middle powers, namely: balancing, hedging and bandwagoning. Dr. Son utilized these concepts in order to analyze how an alignment between Japan and South Korea could theoretically maximize their security in relation to China and the United States; he did, however, stress that an alliance between them was unlikely as long as they are middle powers. Dr. Son’s argument focused on the idea that power shifts force great and middle powers to re-group. In response to a decline in US power, South Korea, as a smaller middle power, would likely strengthen its alignment with China perhaps via multilateral institutions. On the other hand, Japan, as a middle power, will need to choose whether to keep its alliance with the US or join regional security institutions. Dr. Son concluded by stating that both norms and power matter in the process of power shifts and formation of new alignments.  

      James Huang, deputy representative of Taipei Mission in Korea, made a courtesy call on Jong-Wha Lee, director of the Asiatic Research Institute, Korea University, on February 4, 2014. They discussed a range of common issues, including the promotion of academic exchange between Korea and Taiwan.            

      The Asiatic Research Institute (ARI) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute of International Studies, Gakushuin Women's College, on November 22, 2013. Director Sakuma Ushio, Deputy Director Konno Jun and Professor Rha Kyung-Soo visited the ARI and exchanged views on how to promote bilateral academic exchange with ARI Director Lee Jong-Wha, Deputy Director for International Cooperation Son Key-young and Deputy Director Lee Hyoung-sik.                    

    Zhu Guanglei, vice president of Nankai University in Tianjin, China, and Yang Long, director of the Asian Research Center, visited Korea University on November 14, 2013, and held a meeting with Lee Jong-Wha, director of the Asiatic Research Institute, and Son Key-young, deputy director for international cooperation. They exchanged views on China’s future and economic outlook and East Asian cooperation.  

    A team of ARI researchers (Kim Jongtae, Son Key-young, Lee Dong-jun and Sohn Aelee) made presentations at the Eight International Convention of Asia Scholars held in Macau on June 24-7, 2013. ARI director Lee Nae-young and Professor Glenn Hook of the University of Sheffield were chair and discussant respectively.     Panel 105 // Room no. 1503 // Tuesday 25 June 9:00-11:00   Transnational Space of Northeast Asia: History, Identities, and Institutions   Sponsored by Asiatic Research Institute, Korea University   Convenor: Nae Young Lee, Korea University   Chair: Nae Young Lee, Korea University   Discussant: Glenn Hook, University of Sheffield   Tension in Northeast Asia and the Enemy Images of North Korea: A Critical Review of Fox News   Jongtae Kim, Korea University   When Role Theory Met a Regional Subsystem: Sino-American Condominium in a Northeast Asian Security   Complex   Key-young Son, Korea University   Northeast Asian Security Complex and the Desecuritization of the Korean Questions   Dong-jun Lee, Korea University   Three Trajectories of “Toa (East Asia)”   Aelee Sohn, Korea University      

  Dr. Pui-tak Lee, president of the Asian Studies Association of Hong Kong, visited the Asiatic Research Institute on May 29, 2013 to hold a meeting with ARI director Nae-Young Lee, vice director Sang-Soo Park and other researchers. President Lee, who is also a research fellow at the Center of Asian Studies, the University of Hong Kong, is a specialist in East Asia’s economic history in the 19th and 20th centuries and the Cold War culture. During his visit, President Lee gave a lecture at the University of Seoul and at the Northeast Asia History Foundation. President Lee and ARI staff exchanged views on common academic interests, joint research plans and the expansion of future academic exchange.

  Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party Delegation Visits ARI     A Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party delegation visited the Asiatic Research Institute on March 14 to discuss the current issues of Northeast Asia and South Korea-Taiwan relations with ARI director Nae-Young Lee and other professors. Headed by Shih-Chung Liu, director of the party’s Department of International Affairs, the delegation included deputy director Nai-Fang Yang, Chih-Chung Wu, convener of the Foreign Policy Committee of the New Frontier Foundation, and Sy-Chi Doong, advisor of the committee. Claire H. Y. Pi, third secretary of the Political Division of the Taipei Mission in Korea, was also present at the meeting. The two sides also exchanged views over the party’s position on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), leadership transition in South Korea and scholarly exchange between South Korea and Taiwan.    

  The 2013 Winter School of the Campus Asia-EAUI Program took place at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore on February 25-March 1. The winter school was jointly organized by 5 universities in East Asia—Korea University (Korea), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Peking University (China), Thammasat University (Thailand) and Waseda University (Japan). A group of professors from the disciplines of politics, international relations, sociology and history gave lectures under the theme of “Citizenship and Security.” Following the lectures, students gave presentations and held active discussions based on the lectures.     The Korean delegation included three professors from Korea University (Kim Nam-Kook, Lee Yong Wook and Son Key-young) and five graduate students (Hwang In Jae, Jeong Jongwoo, Kang Youngwoong, Lee Kang Kyoo and Yun Hey Lyung). Prof. Son gave a lecture on "Traditional and Non-Traditional Security in East Asia” and Prof. Kim gave a talk on “The Migrants’ Workers Movement in the Democratic Consolidation of Korea.”   The Campus Asia program was modeled after the European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (ERASMUS) considered to have greatly contributed to the integration of Europe since its implementation in 1987. This program aims to foster academic exchange within East Asia with an aim of contributing to regional integration. Timed with the 2013 Winter School, the organizers formed the Campus Asia Alumni Association including the students who participated in the semester exchanges, intensive courses, and both summer and winter schools   In 2011, Waseda University Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies was chosen by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as an operator of the five-year “Campus Asia Supportive Project of the Formation of Central Foothold” with the theme of the “Formation of the East Asian University Institute (EAUI) for the Regional Integration of Asia.” Its purpose is the establishment of the EAUI to produce professionals and academics who can contribute to regional integration in East Asia through a network of major universities within the region.     ARI has actively promoted the program as a Korean hub in close cooperation with the Korea University College of Political Science and Economics. In particular, ARI will actively utilize the program as a part of the HK East Asia Regional Research Project, which includes the formation of an international research exchange network and production of regional experts with international competency.     The next Summer School will take place at Waseda University on July 29-August 2. On September 9-13, a group of Waseda University professors and students will visit Korea University for a Campus Asia Intensive Course.