Global Opinion Leaders to Gather for Korea Forum

Press Release
For Immediate Release

Global Opinion Leaders to Gather for Korea Forum:
‘Korea in the Emerging Asian Power Balance’

More than 80 delegates will gather for the Korea Forum, to be held from 26 to 28 September 2008 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul, to discuss the future of Korea in the evolving Asian security structure. Marking the 50th anniversary year of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the inauguration of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies (AIPS), the forum will bring together leaders of government, business, academia, media and the armed forces from Korea and its key international partners.

Dr John Chipman CMG, Director-General and Chief Executive of the IISS, Professor Han Sung-Joo, Chairman of the Asan Institute and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and National Assemblyman Chung Mong-Joon, Honorary Chairman of the Asan Institute, will deliver welcoming remarks on Friday, 26 September. Mr Lee Sanghee, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea, will give the Keynote Address that evening and Dr Han Seung-Soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, will deliver a Special Address on Sunday.

At a time of political transition in Korea and several of its major partners, along with dynamic changes in the regional and global security environment, the Korea Forum will provide a comprehensive strategic assessment of Korea’s key bilateral relationships and the nation’s role in regional and global security. The Forum will also discuss the challenges and opportunities confronting the Six Party Talks and how they might evolve in the longer term into a durable framework for Northeast Asia regional security.

‘The changing regional security architecture in Asia is an important element in global security. The IISS is delighted to co-host this conference with the Asan Institute to examine Korea's role in the evolving Asian environment,' Dr Chipman said in advance of the Forum. Chairman Han commented that ‘this conference comes at an important time when Korea’s role is becoming ever more critical in the shifting Asian power balance and an increasing political uncertainty involving North Korea.’

In addition to the keynote speeches, the Korea Forum will feature six on-the-record plenary sessions on: New Approaches to Inter-Korea Relations; Korea’s Relations with its Asian Neighbours; Strengthening the Korean-American Relationship; Cooperation in Energy Security; Managing Security on the Korean Peninsula: Challenges and Opportunities Confronting the Six-Party Talks; and Beyond the Six-Party Talks: Building a Durable Framework for Northeast Regional Security. On Saturday evening, an address on Assessing Political Risk will be delivered by Nigel Inkster, IISS Director of Transnational Threats and Political Risk and former Assistant Chief and Director for Operations and Intelligence for the British Secret Intelligence Service.

For more information on participation, the agenda, and other details, please see: http://www.iiss.org/conferences/korea-forum.

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