Regional Security Challenges
Korea Initiative
This is a major program to enhance the teaching of Korea-related subjects, including language and security issues at Georgia Tech. The Korea Initiative ensures regional pre-eminence of Georgia Tech as a center for Northeast Asian security studies and security studies.
Korea Speaker Series:
Funded generously by the Korea Foundation, a lecture series focusing on Korea-related subjects and featuring Korean experts from around the world is offered every other year. Past speakers include: General Ray Davis; General William Livsey; Ambassador Lee Ho-jin, South Korean Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations; and Ambassador Charles Kartman, executive director of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). Ms. Merrily Baird, security analyst and expert on Kim Jong-il; Professor John Endicott of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs; Ambassador Charles L. (Jack) Pritchard, Office of the Envoy for Negotiations with the DPRK and U.S. Representative to KEDO; and Ambassador Han Sung Joo, South Korean Ambassador to the U.S.; Ambassador Thomas Hubbard, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea; General Kim Jae Chang; Dr. William Brown, economist with the U.S. Department of Commerce; and Dr. Balbina Hwang of the Heritage Foundation.
The 2007-2008 Lecture Series focused on the December 2007 Presidential elections in South Korea and the effect these elections will have on the Korean Peninsula, East Asia, U.S. foreign policy, and the U.S.-ROK relationship. The 2007-2008 Lecture Series featured the following participants:
Roundtable: Dr. Manhok Kwan, Dr. Taehyun Kim, & Dr. Katja Weber, 4 April 2008
"German Unification: Are There Any Lessons for Korea?"
Dr. James Kwon, Permanent Mission of the ROK to the UN, 1 April 2008
"Dinner Presentation: The Road to Zero Nuclear Weapons, East Asia, and the North Korean Nuclear Crisis"
Dr. Victor Cha, Georgetown University, 20 February 2008
"The State of Asia: The Bush Administration’s Record and the Next Administration’s Challenges"
Dr. Nae-Young Lee, Korea University, 29 November 2007
"Choice of a Lesser Evil: The 2007 Korean Presidential Elections"
Dr. Meredith Jung-En Woo, University of Michigan, 1 November 2007
"The Asian-Financial Crisis – 10 Years Later"
Dr. Bruce Bechtol, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 18 October 2007
"Red Rogue: The Persistent Challenge of North Korea"
Dr. Taehyun Kim, Georgia Tech & Chungan University, 27 September 2007
"Between Voters and Allies: South Korea's Foreign Policy Dilemma in a World of Uncertainties"
Korea Conferences:
On alternate years, conferences focusing on Korea-related subjects are held, also generously funded by the Korea Foundation. The 2006 Conference theme was on “Korea: Challenges for the 21st Century”. Presenters included Dr. Kim Hak Joon of Dong a Ilbo newspaper; Ambassador Marion Creekmore who accompanied President Carter to Pyongyang in 1994; Dr. Kongdong Katy Oh of the Institute for Defense Analyses; Mr. Cho Hyun, Korean Ambassador to the United Nations; journalist Don Kirk; and Dr. Ralph Hassig of the University of Maryland University College.
Information and Materials from the 2006 Conference
In February 2009, the Korea Conference studied "The Six-Party Talks and Korea’s Energy Security." Funded by the Korea Foundation, the conference featured Korea and energy experts from government, academia, and business sectors around the globe.
Information and Materials from the 2009 Conference
Community Outreach:
Educating the greater Atlanta community on Korean affairs is another aspect of the Korea Initiative. Faculty and staff of CISTP have been active members of the Korea America Friendship Society and the Korea Southeast U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Both groups have co-sponsored Korea Initiative programs. The Korean American Committee (KAC), an organization of young professionals, has also co-sponsored events and speakers with CISTP. In addition, CISTP has provided experts on Korea to speak at the International House, a residential dorm and international cultural program on the Georgia Tech campus.