The Centre for Korean Research organized a range of talks and lectures during the 2023-24 academic year which showcased multi-disciplinary and global perspectives on contemporary Korea. These eight research seminars featured leading Korean studies scholars and addressed recent socio-political events in the region in addition to offering new perspectives on historical events.
The Centre’s opening event of the year was a public seminar entitled “Korea-Canada Relations in the Indo-Pacific”, held in September 2023. The meeting was co-hosted by the Institute of Asian Research, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and the Korean Consulate General in Vancouver. With around 90 attendees, the event featured two presentations by senior Korean and Canadian officials on the importance of the Korea-Canada relationship, followed by a panel discussion with representatives from academia, government, and the private sector. Reflecting on 60 years of diplomatic ties between Korea and Canada, participants discussed how the bilateral relationship could be deepened in the years ahead within the re-defined context of the “Indo-Pacific” strategy. The event was a one-of-kind space for active and lively discussions amongst a diverse range of participants.
CKR Fellow King Kwong at the Consortium of Korean Studies, March 2024.
Participants and speakers at CKR's opening event "Korea-Canada Relations in the Indo-Pacific", September 2023.
Guests, professors, and students at the reception following the talk on Korea-Canada relations, September 2023.
Dr. Don Baker (co-director CKR) sharing introductory remarks, September 2023.
Kristi Shalla presenting on the smart-city interventions of Seoul, April 2024.
This global outlook also informed the talk given by UN Rapporteur Professor Tae-Ung Baik (University of Hawaii at Manoa), entitled “Challenges Following the Ratification of the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearance in South Korea”. This seminar brought the pressing problem of enforced disappearances in South Korea into conversation with broader frameworks and initiatives undertaken by the United Nations. Dr. Tae-Ung Baik delivered a captivating presentation on this subject which drew on his extensive experience as a Chair-Rapporteur at the UNHRC as well as his expertise as a Professor of Law and Korean studies. His informative presentation shed light on the operations of the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) and its efforts to prevent such incidents globally. The event was also enriched by thought-provoking questions from the audience.
Yet another highlight of this past year was the seminar entitled “Seoul: Tale of a Smart City”. It featured guest speaker Kristi Shalla, Innovation Commissioner at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington DC. This event was co-hosted with the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, the School of Community and Regional Planning, and the Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver. Shalla shared how Seoul has addressed urban problems over the last 20 years through smart city interventions, including transportation and mobility, greening urban spaces, the sharing economy, and data-driven decision making. The discussion, featuring passionate and critical questions from diverse audiences, made this event particularly meaningful. It left attendees with a deep understanding of urban developments in Seoul and the lessons that growing cities across the globe can learn from them.
The Centre for Korean Research also continued key initiatives which make it a vibrant hub for student research. CKR held its annual open house event in September 2023, hosting IAR Fellows and SPPGA students. Additionally a fellows’ presentation day was also held in March 2024 to showcase the research of each graduate fellow affiliated with the Centre. This event was a valuable opportunity for them to share their doctoral research and receive interdisciplinary feedback from other fellows and the CKR Management Committee members. The Centre hopes to continue with similar programming, initiatives, and research throughout the next academic year.
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