The Korea Foundation and the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) co-organized the Korea-Oceania Next Generation Policy Expert Forum in Sydney, Australia, on December 9, 2015.

Recognizing the importance of fostering next generation policy experts well-versed in Korean issues around the world, the Korea Foundation has been organizing next generation policy expert forums for non-Korea specialists in cooperation with leading foreign policy research institutes beginning this year. The recent forum in Sydney was the fourth meeting, following those held in the United States, Europe and the ASEAN.

At the forum, 20 researchers in Asia-Pacific security from policy institutes and universities in Australia and New Zealand discussed a wide range of issues with leading experts from Korea. Discussed topics included major policy issues in East Asia such as the rise of China, R.O.K.-U.S. alliance and R.O.K.-China-Japan relations, and security issues in the region such as North Korean nuclear and human rights issues and Korean unification. They also exchanged ideas with the Korean experts about their future Kore-related research topics and cooperation in joint research.

The forum was composed of three sessions: first under the title of “Korea and Australia in a New Strategic Environment,” second “Northeast Asia in Flux: Korea-China-Japan Relations,” and third “Peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

The Korean participants included Lee Whie-jin, Consul-General, R.O.K. Consulate-General in Sydney; Kim Jae-chun, Professor, Graduate School of International Studies, Sogang University; Park Jae Jeok, Professor, Graduate School of International and Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; Lee Jaehyon, Senior Research Fellow, Asan Institute for Policy Studies; and Yu Hyun-seok, President, Korea Foundation. In addition to 17 next-generation policy experts, the Australian participants included Richard Broinowski, President of AIIA New South Wales and former Australian Ambassador to R.O.K.; Mack Williams, former Australian Ambassador to R.O.K.; and Shirley Scott, Professor, University of New South Wales.

The next generational policy experts from Oceania invited to the forum are those with great potential in foreign policy research and interest in conducting Korea-related research and expanding a network with policy experts in Korea. Their experience of participation in the forum is expected to help them build their influence as future experts in Korean affairs.

Especially, it is also expected that the forum, in the long term, will contribute to activating joint research on the two countries’ contribution to the international community, based on the fact that both Australia and South Korea are middle powers.