KEPF 2012 was held on the 24th November, 2012. Below is the full agenda. To view the full speaker profile, please follow http://lsesukfa.com/all-speakers/kepf2012/.
10:05 Opening speech by Head of LSE SU Korean Society
10:10 Introductory speech by Head of KEPF 2012
10:20 Opening speech by HE Mr Park Suk-hwan
10:30 Opening speech by Professor Judith Shapiro
10:30 Keynote: Shift in the Global Economy
By Professor Danny Quah – LSE
10:45 Keynote: Emerging market opportunities and implications for Korean companies
By Mr. Kyung hoon Kim – Samsung Economic Research Institute
11:00 Moderator speech: Professor Robert Wade – LSE
11:05 Panel discussion with Q&A
11:35 Break
11:40 Keynote: The business strategies of Hyundai Motors UK
By Mr. Tony Whitehorn – Hyundai Motors UK
12:00 Q&A Session
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Keynote: The Kims’ Three bodies: Dynastic Succession and its Antecedents in North Korea
By Professor Bruce Cumings – University of Chicago
14:15 Keynote: “After year 2012: Is a reset possible in the Korean Peninsula?”
By Professor Jong Kun Choi – Yonsei University
14:30 Keynote: The meaning of the new regime for the future US policy in Asia
By Mr. Kenneth Gause – CNA
14:45 Keynote: China and DPRK- New regimes, new relations?
By Dr. Tat Yan Kong – SOAS
15:00 Keynote: Does Europe have a role on the Korean Peninsula?
By Dr. Jim Hoare – SOAS
15:15 Moderator Speech
15:20 Panel discussion with Q&A
15:50 Break
16:00 Debate Session: Lessons from the Arab Spring: What can Kim learn from the Arab States?
16:30 Q&A Session
16:50 Closing ceremony
15:00 Reception
Continuing from the last year’s success, on 24th November 2012, LSESU Korean Society and MoneyToday is proud to present LSESU Korean Society Korean Economic and Political Forum : “Korea in the Shifting Winds”. The Forum will be divided into two topics, each to be held in the morning and afternoon sessions respectively.
The recent economic challenges, such as the financial crisis of 2008 and the eurozone debt crisis have increased uncertainty around the world economy, questioning the sustainability of the economic prosperity enjoyed by the West. These economic crises may have ascertained but not necessarily caused the power shift from West to East. On the backdrop of a rising interest in the emerging markets,Korea, as a prominent member of the East Asian Tigers, has increased its significance in the global economy.
<KEPF2012> aims to provide an opportunity to examine the challenges that Korea faces under the current global situation and analyse Korea’s position in the ’shifting winds’ both in macro and micro levels. We will also address Korea’s position amidst a strong economic performance of the emerging markets, such as its neighbouring country, China. Moreover, we will discuss the business strategies of Korean firms through an expansion of their activities in the emerging markets. Korean economy is often described as a chaebol economy,claimed to be caused by the government industrial policies in the 1960-80s. With this idiosyncratic characteristic, Korean Economy faces opportunities as well as challenges, especially when there is an economic gravity shift from West to East ,and <KEPF2012> will focus on both of the dimensions.
Contingencies surrounded the Korean peninsula from the death of Kim Jong Il. As the last Cold-war authoritarian regime, it was uncertain that the new leader, Kim Jong Un, could inherit the country and establish the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the only country with the sustained three generation inheritance. The limited amount of information on the new leader, internal politics, his young age and the short transitional time compared to his father raises doubt on DPRK’s stability and sustainability. The interests of countries involved with DPRK generate different perspectives, yet with common approach: evaluating and learning on the new DPRK regime. Our political session will provide an opportunity to re-evaluate the new North Korean regime after a year of Kim Jong Il’s death through aglobal perspective.
The impact of the new regime is the most visible on the other Korea, the Republic of Korea (ROK). As the counterpart of the divided peninsula, ROK faces the dilemma of setting the direction of the policies in regards to DPRK partially also caused by the upcoming presidential election in December. The fate of new regime also remains vital to the international communities concerned with DPRK. The almost certain annulment of food-aid from United States arising from the missile launch raises question on U.S.’s ‘pivot to Asia’. China, the main and possibly the only regional ally of DPRK, is going through own leadership transition and possibility of change in policy regarding DPRK. Europe, despite projecting relatively less voice on DPRK, remains attentive to the new DPRK regime through its diplomatic relations.