Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye hosts Stanford experts for regional peace and security dialogue

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On Dec. 9, President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye and senior South Korean foreign affairs leadership hosted experts from the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) at the Blue House for dialogue on peace and security issues in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

President Park sought the expertise of Shorenstein APARC Director Gi-Wook Shin and numerous other Center experts, including Korean Studies Program Associate Director David Straub and 2013-14 Visiting Koret Fellow in Korean Studies Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, who are often cited for their research on contemporary U.S.-Korea relations. The meeting was reported in South Korea’s Joong Ang Daily, also recognizing Park’s visit to Stanford in 2009.  The press briefing is available at the Blue House website.

Following this meeting, on Dec. 10, Shorenstein APARC co-hosted The Eleventh Korea-U.S. West Coast Strategic Forum with the Korean National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul. The Forum focused on North Korea policy, the U.S.-ROK alliance, and the current dynamics in Northeast Asia.

Started in 2006, the Forum brings together distinguished South Korean and American scholars, experts, and former and civilian officials to workshop on issues of national interest to both countries. The Forum is now convened semi-annually and the location shifts between the two locations – Seoul and Stanford. To encourage candid conversation, the Forum follows the Chatham House Rule which respects the confidentiality of individual contributions during dialogue.

A report summarizing the objectives and outcomes of the Eleventh Annual Korea-United States West Coast Strategic Forum is forthcoming.