This conference will examine the motivations, objectives, and means of, as well as possible challenges to, this policy, through an  analysis of economic and trade cooperation on the one hand (Prosperity) and diplomatic and security cooperation on the other (People and Peace). A key question is to figure out whether this initiative will allow South Korea to carve out a niche among the various “Indo-Pacific” schemes that aim to shape the region.

This webinar will be held in English.

Programme:

09:30-10:45 Opening Remarks and Panel 1:Harvesting the low-hanging fruit: objectives and means of economic cooperation

Key questions:

-What is the ROK’s contribution in terms of infrastructure financing in ASEAN and India?

-How are the Korean players acting to promote Industry 4.0 as the new priority target for economic cooperation?

-RCEP, CP-TPP: what are the ROK’s expectations and position?

• LEE, Choong-Ryeol, Professor, Korea University
• Françoise Nicolas, Director, Center for Asian Studies, Ifri
• Discussant and moderator: Christophe André, Senior Economist, OECD

Virtual Break – 10:45-11:00

11:00-12:15 - Panel 2: Expanding Korea’s strategic autonomy: political and security cooperation

Key questions:

-What are the main common diplomatic interests between the ROK on the one hand, ASEAN and India on the other hand?

-What are the prospects for an expansion of the comprehensive security cooperation (good governance, environmental security, military affairs)?

-What is the ROK’s position on the various Indo-Pacific initiatives?

• CHOE Wongi, Head of Center for ASEAN–India Studies, Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA)
• John Nilsson-Wright, Korea Foundation Korea Fellow and Senior Fellow for Northeast Asia, Chatham House and Senior Lecturer, University of Cambridge
• Discussant and moderator:  Antoine Bondaz, Head of the FRS-KF Korea Programme, Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS)

With the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Paris.