2010 Seoul-Washington Forum: Global Governance, Northeast Asia, and North Korea

As part of its “Global Korea” initiative, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has successfully increased its global prominence in recent years. It is poised to chair the G-20 Summit in November and to host the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit, among other major international events. This reflects South Korea’s growing importance and its increased willingness to play a positive international role beyond its own peninsula.

On May 3, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings hosted the fourth annual Seoul-Washington Forum. Leading experts from the ROK and the United States addressed South Korea’s rapidly evolving roles in global governance and the G-20, the post-recession regional order in Northeast Asia, and the continuing North Korea challenge.

Following welcoming remarks by Korea Foundation Acting President Kim Sungyup, the Hon. Park Jin, chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Unification Committee of the ROK’s National Assembly, gave the keynote address. Following the keynote, Senior Fellow Richard Bush, director of the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings, moderated a discussion with Muthiah Alagappa, distinguished senior fellow at the East-West Center. A panel discussion followed featuring Song Yeongkwan of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy; Chun Chaesung of Seoul National University; and Kim Sung-han of Korea University. Brookings President Strobe Talbott delivered closing remarks. After the program, panelists took audience questions.