London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

LSE Korea Economic and Political Forum 2012

An all-day event coming up on 24 November at LSE. Registration is required via the LSE Students Union Korean Society website.

Korea Economic and Political Forum 2012

Conference graphic

Continuing from the last year’s success, on 24th November 2012, LSESU Korean Society is proud to present LSESU Korean Society Korean Economic and Political Forum : “Korea in the Shifting Winds”. The Forum will be divided into two topics, each to be held in the morning and afternoon sessions respectively.

The recent economic challenges, such as the financial crisis of 2008 and the eurozone debt crisis have increased uncertainty around the world economy, questioning the sustainability of the economic prosperity enjoyed by the West. These economic crises may have ascertained but not necessarily caused the power shift from West to East. On the backdrop of a rising interest in the emerging markets, Korea, as a prominent member of the East Asian Tigers, has increased its significance in the global economy.

KEPF2012 aims to provide an opportunity to examine the challenges that Korea faces under the current global situation and analyse Korea’s position in the ’shifting winds’ both in macro and micro levels. We will also address Korea’s position amidst a strong economic performance of the emerging markets, such as its neighbouring country, China. Moreover, we will discuss the business strategies of Korean firms through an expansion of their activities in the emerging markets. Korean economy is often described as a chaebol economy, claimed to be caused by the government industrial policies in the 1960-80s. With this idiosyncratic characteristic, Korean Economy faces opportunities as well as challenges, especially when there is an economic gravity shift from West to East, and KEPF2012 will focus on both of the dimensions.

Contingencies surrounded the Korean peninsula from the death of Kim Jong Il. As the last Cold-war authoritarian regime, it was uncertain that the new leader, Kim Jong Un, could inherit the country and establish the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the only country with the sustained three generation inheritance. The limited amount of information on the new leader, internal politics, his young age and the short transitional time compared to his father raises doubt on DPRK’s stability and sustainability. The interests of countries involved with DPRK generate different perspectives, yet with common approach: evaluating and learning on the new DPRK regime. Our political session will provide an opportunity to re-evaluate the new North Korean regime after a year of Kim Jong Il’s death through a global perspective.

The impact of the new regime is the most visible on the other Korea, the Republic of Korea (ROK). As the counterpart of the divided peninsula, ROK faces the dilemma of setting the direction of the policies in regards to DPRK partially also caused by the upcoming presidential election in December. The fate of new regime also remains vital to the international communities concerned with DPRK. The almost certain annulment of food-aid from United States arising from the missile launch raises question on U.S.’s ‘pivot to Asia’. China, the main and possibly the only regional ally of DPRK, is going through own leadership transition and possibility of change in policy regarding DPRK. Europe, despite projecting relatively less voice on DPRK, remains attentive to the new DPRK regime through its diplomatic relations.

Speakers

Dr James Hoare
Dr Tat Yan Kong
Dr Ken Gause
Prof Danny Quah
Prof Jong Kun Choi
Prof Bruce Cumings
Mr Myunghoon Kim

Timetable

Opening ceremony
10:00: Opening speech by Head of LSE SU Korean Society
10.05: Introductory speech by Head of KEPF 2012
10.10: Opening speech by HE Mr Park Suk-hwan
10.20: Opening speech by Professor Judith Shapiro (LSE)

Economic session : Korea in the Shifting Winds

10:30: Keynote speech 1 (Prof. Danny Quah – LSE) Shift in the global economy (TBC)
10:45: Keynote speech 2 (Mr. Kyung hoon Kim – SERI) Emerging market opportunities and implications for Korean companies
11:00: Moderator speech (Prof. Robert Wade – LSE)
11:05: Panel discussion with Q&A
11:35: Five minute break
11:40: Keynote speech 3 (Mr. Tony Whitehorn – Hyundai Motors UK) The business strategies of Hyundai Motors UK (TBC)
12:00: Q&A session

12:30: Lunch

Political session: Evaluation on DPRK regime: an anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death

14:00: Keynote speech 1 (Prof. Bruce Cumings – University of Chicago) The Kims’ Three bodies: Dynastic Succession and its Antecedents in North Korea
14:15: Keynote speech 2 (Prof. Jong Kun Choi – Yonsei University) After year 2012: Is a reset possible in the Korean Peninsula?
14:30: Keynote speech 3 (Mr. Kenneth Gause – CNA) The meaning of the new regime for the future US policy in Asia
14:45: Five minute break
14:50: Keynote Speech 4 (Dr. Tat Yan Kong – SOAS) China and DPRK- New regimes, new relations?
15:05: Keynote Speech 5 (Dr. Jim Hoare – SOAS) Does Europe have a role on the Korean Peninsula?
15:15: Moderator speech
15:20: Panel discussion with Q&A
15:50: Break
16:00: Debate Session. Lessons from the Arab Spring: What can Kim learn from the Arab states?
16:30: Q&A Session
16:50: Closing ceremony
17:00: Reception

Venue: Hong Kong Theatre, Ground floor, Clement House (bottom right in below map)

LSE map

Links:

(automatically generated) We didn’t review this event, but NKNews did, here.

2 thoughts on “LSE Korea Economic and Political Forum 2012

  1. I’ll try to make it. The keynote speakers look good. I think Bruce Cummings is a good author on Korea. London is an ideal location to hold such a conference, because of its midway point between Europe, North America and Asia.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.