Korea Chair positions have been introduced at U.S.-based universities and think tanks, but the one at the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) marks the first time the role has been created in Europe. (Image: IES website)
BRUSSELS, Oct. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – Korea Chair positions have been introduced at U.S.-based universities and think tanks, but the one at the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) marks the first time the role has been created in Europe.
Dr. Ramon Pardo of the Department of European and International Studies at King’s College London has been named to the position.
Dr. Pardo received his doctorate in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. In addition to his duties as a senior lecturer at King’s College London, he also is a member of the European Union’s Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP).
He published a book titled “North Korea-US Relations under Kim Jong Il: The Quest for Normalization?” in 2014, which was translated into Korean in 2016.
On October 17, members of the Korea Foundation and the VIB’s Institute for European Studies held the “KF-VUB Korea Chair Launch and Policy Forum” at the Bozar Center for Fine Arts in Brussels, during which Dr. Pardo led a discussion the role of Europe regarding security concerns on the Korean peninsula.
Institute President Dr. Karel De Gught also spoke, saying, “The KF-VUB chair will help in deepening cooperation between European and Korean think tanks, academic institutions and businesses. This connection between Brussels and Seoul will provide a mutually beneficial, analytical prism when conducting research into regional and global problems.” (Image: IES website)
During the event, Korea Foundation Chairman Lee Si-hyung gave a speech expressing his belief that the creation of the KF-VUB chair would serve as a platform to help improve research activities on Korea conducted within Europe, and that he hoped cooperation with policymaking communities of European countries beyond Belgium would increase.
Institute President Dr. Karel De Gught also spoke, saying, “The KF-VUB chair will help in deepening cooperation between European and Korean think tanks, academic institutions and businesses. This connection between Brussels and Seoul will provide a mutually beneficial, analytical prism when conducting research into regional and global problems.”
Talks slated for October 18 are ’2017 Korea-EU Collaboration Forum’, ‘Korea-EU Strategic Partnership’ and ‘Korea-EU Global Economic Governance’, among others.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
