From the Conference on the Republic of Korea and Central Europe Cooperation (2024)

On October 15, 2024, the Conference on the Republic of Korea and Central Europe Cooperation was held at the Prague University of Economics and Business. Organised by the Center for Asian Studies (CAS) in collaboration with the Prague Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Institute of International Relations Prague (IIR), and the Faculty of International Relations, the event brought together experts, dignitaries and students for a morning of insightful discussions.

The conference began with opening remarks by H.E. Youngki Hong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Czech Republic; Ms. Martina Jirankova, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations; and Dr. Mats Braun, Director of the IIR, Prague.

The first session, focused on Central Europe’s Security Challenges and Cooperation with Indo-Pacific Partners, was moderated by Associate Professor Jakub Eberle.

The initial address was delivered by Takashi Hosoda, an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Intelligence Studies, University of Defense. Professor Hosoda’s presentation introduced the issues of cognitive warfare, the dynamics between Korea and Japan, and the importance of cooperation beyond the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasised the necessity of sharing knowledge and expertise, as well as educating of the youth in critical evaluation of information.

The next guest speaker was Jan Švec, a researcher at the Asia-Pacific Unit – Centre for the Study of Global Regions, IIR Prague. His topic explored the expanding global military presence of the PRC, including their joint military exercises with various countries and the growing number of overseas military bases. He stressed the urgency of increasing NATO activities to address these developments.

The following speaker was a journalist from Hankook Daily Newspaper (Hankookilbo), Jaeyeon Moon. Her speech was concentrated on information manipulation and fake news. According to Ms Moon, Czechia’s national agency has strong information security and credibility, earning the trust of its citizens. She attributed this to the Czech methodology, characterized by a scientific approach and strategic dialogue, which is less prevalent in South Korea and Japan. Ms. Moon emphasized this as an opportunity for cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the Czech Republic, particularly through joint research studies on information manipulation and the promotion of information literacy.

Last but not least, Taehwa Hong, Eurasia Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) discussed the United States and the implications of its upcoming presidential elections on the global stage, particularly for the Central and Eastern European region, as the change of the head of the state tend to result in an inconsistent approach to the U.S. presence in Europe. Furthermore, the U.S. should pay attention and cooperate more with so-called middle countries. Additionally, Mr. Hong pointed out that even though Korea supplies military equipment to many CEE countries, transforming these relationships into long-term strategic and security cooperation is necessary.

The second session focused on Europe–South Korea Economic Cooperation Amidst Decreasing Interdependence – Challenges for Supply Chains. The discussion was moderated by Assistant Professor Tereza De Castro.

Jana Vlčková, a researcher from the Faculty of International Relations at the Prague University of Economics and Business delivered an insightful presentation centered on Korean-Czech economic cooperation in the energy sector. Dr. Vlčková highlighted several examples of the past successful cooperation and shared some current challenges and opportunities. She also addressed the question of why there is a smaller amount of Czech exports to the Republic of Korea than the other way around.

The following guest was Marek Libřický, the director of the Asia-Pacific Department in The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. He talked about bilateral relations between The Republic of Korea and the Czech Republic, which will soon mark 30 years. He also mentioned the progress of the expansion of Dukovany, one of the Czech nuclear power plants. According to Mr. Libřický, Korea has a significant position in the Indopacific and he expressed his wishes for the collaboration to be more long-term and specific.

The conference’s final speaker was Yanghee Kim, an associate professor in the Division of Economics & Finance at Daegu University. She shared her knowledge of AI, data protection and Korea’s progressive approach to AI development, which enjoys great government support. Furthermore, Ms. Kim also discussed the controversy around the messaging app Line, an issue concerning data safety in Korea and Japan.

After each speaker’s presentation, a lively discussion ensued. The conference attracted a diverse audience, including several ambassadors from various countries, educators from numerous Czech and international universities, and students of different nationalities.

Illia Kaminskyi, a second-year International Business student at Prague University of Economics and Business, shared his thoughts on the conference: “The conference […] was a great opportunity to learn more about both countries. One of the most interesting parts was hearing the ambassador talk about the situation on the border between South and North Korea. It gave a clearer view of the challenges there from a diplomatic angle. The event also helped me understand more about the relationship between the Czech Republic and South Korea. I found it fascinating to learn about how Korea invests in the Czech energy sector, and how this is helping the country grow. […] Overall, the conference sparked my interest in learning more about Asian culture and politics. Plus, it was a nice bonus to try Korean food during the event!”

Author: Sára Pařilová (Centre for Asian Studies)