로고이미지

Introduction





 

Dear Members of the Korean Association of Area Studies

 

Hello.

My name is Hyun Wook Kim, President of Korean Association of Area Studies. These days, the international situation is becoming increasingly unstable. The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Ukraine war, and the Israel-Hamas war show that U.S. hegemony is no longer what it used to be. The situation that Korea faces in this increasingly unstable international situation is also not easy. In the midst of all this, I feel heavy responsibility as I take on the role of President.

Amid the escalating security crisis in North Korea, South Korea also faces the task of strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance and strengthening our security posture. In addition, in a situation where the U.S.-China competition is showing the United States' superiority along with China's economic downturn, the direction of foreign policy that Korea should pursue is also an area that requires much consideration. Another important question is how diplomacy based on liberal democratic values can maximize Korea's national interests.

This year, Korea plans to present a new unification vision to replace unification policy for global Korean community. Amid the U.S.-China rivalry, North Korea is adopting an increasingly aggressive security posture and has sent a new message that unification is impossible in relations with South Korea. In this situation, what should be Korea's unification plan and how to make this a concrete policy are important issues.

In response to this inflection point in the international situation, the Korean Association of Area Studies plans to address important topics and discourses in 2024. We plan to focus on how to protect the values of Korea's liberal democracy, what path to take in foreign policy, and how to materialize a new vision for unification. We ask for the support of many international political scientists and experts. As we welcome the New Year of 2024, I hope that blessings will fill the homes of everyone.


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January 2, 2024

Kim Hyun Wook, President of KAAS