Diplomatic Roundtable Discussion​

Yonsei University Institute of East and West Studies Diplomatic Roundtable:Seminar held with foreign ambassadors from Australia, India and Japan (3 countries)

Professor Yong Suhk Pak, the director of Yonsei University Institute of East and West Studies (IEWS) has invited Mr. Yasumasa Nagamine, the Japanese Ambassador to South Korea; Mr. Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian Ambassador to South Korea and Mr. James Choi, the Australian Ambassador to South Korea to give a speech on ‘Regional Collaboration’ through a Diplomatic Roundtable. The speech will take place on 3pm, May 17^th, 2018 (Thursday) at Main Auditorium, College of Commerce and Economics in Yonsei University.

Since 1998, Yonsei University has held annual guest seminars inviting foreign ambassadors to numerous Diplomatic Roundtables to discuss their country’s foreign policy and relations with Korea. Through this academic exchange with foreign envoys, the institute has not only improved relations between the institute and foreign envoys, but has also promoted cooperation between Korea and other countries around the world. The Diplomatic Roundtable also contributes to diplomatic exchanges amongst foreign diplomats.

The seminar first start off by an introduction given by Professor Yong Suhk Pak, the director of the Yonsei University Institute of East and West (IEWS), followed by a speech given by Mr. Yasumasa Nagamine, the Japanese Ambassador to South Korea. He gave a speech on the need to improve trade and political relations between Japan and Korea. He also expressed his opinion on how Japan can assist in denuclearizing North Korea, as well as gave an interesting take on reasons for the tourist deficit between South Korea and Japan – the number of Korean tourists visiting Japan in 2017 was 7.14 million, 3 times more than the 2.31 million Japanese tourists visiting Korea that year.

The second presenter, Mr. Vikram Doraiswami highlighted the prevalence of the overseas Indian community and their influence on the rest of the world. He also gave an informational speech highlighting the evolving relationship between India and South Korea – from a simple trade relationship to one where both countries have strong diplomatic ties with each other.

Lastly, Mr. James Choi gave a speech about global instability stemming from protectionist policies emerging from United States and Europe, and how like-minded Asia Pacific countries such as Korea and Australia need to work more closely together to protect the rules-based global order. This will be followed by discussions between the ambassadors and professors from Yonsei University, Professor Sangjoon Kim, Professor Wooyeal Paik and Professor Yeonho Lee.