Guest lecture: US-China strategic competition and South Korea's Choice: how to cooperate with Europe

Lecture

Date: Monday 13 February 2023

Time: 14.00 – 16.00

Location: F413, Södra huset F, Vån 4

Welcome to a guest lecture by Dr. Kim Heung-kyu, Ajou University, ROK, organised by Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and ISDP (The Institute for Security and Development Policy).

On "US-China strategic competition and South Korea's Choice: how to cooperate with Europe"

For this event, there will be an opportunity to join us in person at Stockholm University or online via Zoom. Registration for participation on-site at rvilla@isdp.eu. RVSP Webinar Registration

What are the implications of the political, military, and technological developments deriving from the US-China strategic competition for the Yoon administration’s chances of establishing itself in the global order? What effect does this have on President Yoon’s vision of South Korea as a “global pivotal power” and his Indo-Pacific Strategy? This discussion will pay close attention to the military partnership between the US and the ROK and how it affects Sino-Korean ties.

ISDP’s Korea Center together with Stockholm University are glad to present this guest lecture with Professor Kim Heungkyu, Director and Professor in the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Ajou University.

The lecture will begin with a short introduction by Riccardo Villa, after which Professor Kim will initiate the discussion about South Korea’s role in the global strategic competition between the US and China. The discussion will depart from a brief review of recent developments leading to the current state of the US-China strategic competition, before moving on to delineating how this impacts South Korea. Here, Professor Kim will explore the implications of the strategic competition on ROK policymaking under the Yoon administration. Given its longstanding military cooperation with the US and geographical proximity with China, South Korea is delicately positioned in the 21st century’s increasingly competitive and securitized world order.

Program:

14:00-14:10 – Welcome & Introductory Remarks

14:10-15:30 – Lecture, moderated by Riccardo Villa

15:30-16:00 – Q&A Session

16:00 – Concluding remarks