In this tenth session of the Strategic Forum, former senior American and South Korean government officials and other leading experts will discuss current developments in the Korean Peninsula and North Korea policy, the future of the U.S.-South Korean alliance, and a strategic vision for Northeast Asia. The session is hosted by the Korean Studies Program at the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, in association with the Sejong Institute, a top South Korean think tank.

PARTICIPANTS

Republic of Korea:

Taeho Bark, Graduate School of International Studies, Seoul National University; Ambassador-at-Large for International Economy and Trade; former Trade Minister

Cholho Chong, Research Fellow, the Sejong Institute; Brig. Gen (retired); Professor, Sookmyung University; former commander, Air University, ROK Air Force

Young Sun Ha, Chairman, Board of Trustees, East Asia Institute; Professor (retired), International Relations, Seoul National University

Sang Woo Rhee, President, the New Asia Research Center; former chancellor, Hallym University

Yoon-joe Shim, Member of the National Assembly, Saenuri Party

Daesung Song, President, the Sejong Institute

Myung Hwan Yu, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Sejong University; former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

United States:

Bruce W. Bennett, Senior Defense Analyst, RAND

Karl Eikenberry, William J. Perry Fellow in International Security, and Shorenstein APARC Distinguished Fellow, Stanford University; former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan

Thomas Fingar, Oksenberg-Rohlen Distinguished Fellow, Stanford University; former chairman of the National Intelligence Council

T.J. Pempel, Professor, Political Science, University of California, Berkeley

Gi-Wook Shin, Professor, Sociology; Director, APARC, Stanford University

Daniel C. Sneider, Associate Director of Research, APARC, Stanford University

David Straub, Associate Director, Korean Studies Program, APARC, Stanford University

Katharina Zellweger, 2012-2013 Pantech Fellow, Korean Studies Program, APARC, Stanford University; former North Korea country director for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

** We are currently experiencing some problems with our online RSVP system.  If you have any difficulty registering for this event, please send an email directly to the organizer, Denise Masumoto, via email masumoto@stanford.edu.  Thank you for your cooperation.  **

In this session of the Shorenstein APARC Corporate Affiliate Visiting Fellows Research Presentations, the following will be presented:

Mitsunori Fukuda, "Learning From Regulations About Electricity Supply in California"

In March 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan causing a severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.  As a result of this accident and an electricity crisis in Japan, it has become increasingly more important to create a more stable and robust electricity supply system.  On the other hand, there is a unique electricity supply situation in California.  Although the situation is much different from the one in Japan, the California government has also tried to improve its situation by reforming regulations for electricity supply companies.  In his research, Fukuda reviews the Japanese electricity supply situation and related regulations.  Additionally, he identifies significant learning points for Japanese improvement from the California situation. 

Chengbao He, "The Characteristics of Research and Development Management of Large Oil Companies"

Large oil companies play a dominant role in the oil industry, a vast majority of which is integrated with upstream and downstream business.  These large oil companies consist of international oil companies (IOCs) and national oil companies (NOCs).  Along with the accelerated economic globalization process, competition and cooperation between NOCs and IOCs will be more extensive and diverse.  The competition between these enterprises is not only a competition for resources, but more importantly, it is about the technical strength of competition and the ability to develop and deploy new technology.  Strengthening the management of research and development (R&D) and improving the efficiency of R&D is the constant goal of each oil company. 

In his research, He introduces the typical generation of R&D management mode at present, focuses on the analysis and comparison of R&D management and operation practice of the five well-known large oil companies, namely ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Chevron and CNPC.  They have formed their unique management mode, technological advantage and competitive advantage in technology innovation. 

Tsutomu Morigaki, "How Do Japanese Electric Companies Expand Business both in Japan and Globally?"

Traditional Japanese electric companies have been struggling with expanding their own businesses as well as their declining international competitiveness in the field.  Why is it difficult for Japanese companies to recover and succeed in international markets?  Morigaki analyzes the current situation from various points of view such as cultural features, technological trends and the movement of leading companies in the United States.  In this presentation, Morigaki provides suggestions on how to make strategies and which fields Japanese electric companies should focus on in the near future. 

Toshihiko Takeda, "Enhancing Multiculturalism Through Implementing Immersion Programs in Japan – Learning from Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area"

The United States has accepted generations of immigrants for more than 240 years from all around the globe.  While on the opposite shore of the Pacific Ocean, Japan maintains a virtually homogeneous society.  However, some local governments in Japan are facing an influx of foreign migrants who need to communicate with new neighbors in many places including classrooms.  The United States has a long history of language education for immigrants and its children.  Takeda explores various language immersion programs and analyzes good practices in the San Francisco Bay Area and implementation options for Japan. 

** We are currently experiencing some problems with our online RSVP system.  If you have any difficulty registering for this event, please send an email directly to the organizer, Denise Masumoto, via email masumoto@stanford.edu.  Thank you for your cooperation.  **

In this session of the Shorenstein APARC Corporate Affiliate Visiting Fellows Research Presentations, the following will be presented:

Kazuaki Osumi, "A Comparative Study of VCs in the United States and Japan"

There is no doubt that start-ups are one of the most important players for innovation.  And venture capital firms (VCs) play a vital role in improving their business.  In his research, Osumi tries to find out what the role is for the Japanese government in this area by comparing the differences between VCs in the United States and Japan.

Kenta Sakurai, "Establishing the Optimal System of Patent Examination"

The patent war between Apple and Samsung Electronics, which was big news in the summer of 2012, has been spreading throughout the world, including Europe and Asia.  However, this is not the only problem these two companies have.  In order to prepare for the other forth-coming patent wars, technology companies are trying to win an “armament race”, acquiring as many patents (“weapons”) as possible.  While heating the races, the total number of patent applications filed at the national patent offices has been rapidly increasing over the last decade.  As a result, the most serious problem for each of these offices has become examining this flood of applications, creating a trade-off between swiftness and accuracy of examination.

In his presentation, Sakurai argues what is the optimal patent examination process, understanding the importance of both timely patent issuance and deterrence of superfluous provision of “weapons”.

Mao Xie, "Downstream Gas Business Management"

In recent years, the role of natural gas in facilitating low carbon economic growth, energy consumption mix optimization and environmental protection has become more prominent.  After the deregulation of the wellhead prices, interstate pipeline regulation and the emergence of the marketers, the United States’ natural gas industry has entered its mature stage and become one of the most developed gas markets in the world.

To develop a strong natural gas business constitutes a key part of constructing a green, internationalized and sustainable PetroChina.  Through market environment comparison and case studies involving the downstream area, Xie attempts to understand the best and most appropriate experiences that a state-owned company like PetroChina can learn and apply to its own practices.