An international academic conference seeking a new paradigm for Korea-China relations will be held at Seoul National University.
The Seoul National University (SNU) Kim Koo Forum announced on Saturday that it will host an international academic conference on December 7 at the International Conference Room of the Graduate School of International Studies under the theme "A New Paradigm for Korea-China Relations: Seeking Stable Coexistence and Sustainable Cooperation."
According to the SNU Kim Koo Forum, Korea-China relations have faced difficulties and shown instability since the deployment of the U.S. Forces Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in 2016. Concerns have particularly emerged that the Korean Peninsula could be pushed to the frontline of the U.S.-China confrontation as U.S.-China-Russia relations and the international order undergo rapid restructuring following the launch of the second Donald Trump administration.
"This year, more than ever, the strategic management and stable maintenance of Korea-China relations are desperately needed," the Kim Koo Forum said. "The academic conference has been organized to explore ways to secure the stable sustainability of Korea-China relations amid compound crises." It added, "Through this conference, we aim to consider practical foundations for coexistence between the two countries across all areas, including politics and diplomacy, economy and security, and society and culture."
The event will open with a welcoming address by Park Tae-gyun, professor at the SNU Graduate School of International Studies and chairman of the SNU Kim Koo Forum Steering Committee. Congratulatory remarks will follow from Kang Won-taek, director of the SNU Institute for Future Strategy, and Shin Sung-ho, dean of the SNU Graduate School of International Studies, along with a keynote lecture by Lee Nam-ju, professor at Sungkonghoe University. Notably, a large group of Chinese scholars who will lead the discourse and policy on Korea-China relations will participate, putting their heads together with domestic experts to discuss future cooperation. Zheng Jiyong, professor at Fudan University in China, will present on "Can the Lee Jae-myung Government's China-U.S. Policy Succeed?" while Li Tingting, professor at Peking University, will discuss "Building a Horizontal Economic Cooperation Relationship Between Korea and China."
"Amid U.S. pressure on China, we will discuss ways to sustain Korea-China cooperation in advanced technology sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and to restore sustainable social and cultural trust by examining the mutual perceptions of Generation Z, the future generation of both countries," an official from the Kim Koo Forum emphasized.
