2014 Academic Conference of Korea Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Korean Association of Southeast Asian Studies: Celebrating 25 Years of ASEAN-Korea Partnership and ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit

Date: 4-5 December, 2014
Venue: Busan
Organization: Korea Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (KISEAS) and Korean Association of Southeast Asian Studies
Program »

2014 Academic Conference of Korea Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Korean Association of Southeast Asian Studies: Celebrating 25 Years of ASEAN-Korea Partnership and ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit

Korea Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Korean Association of Southeast Asian Studies like to celebrate the 25th anniversary of dialogue relations with ASEAN and the 2014 ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit in Korea. For this purpose, two institutes plan to have an academic conference in Busan, Korea during December 4 and 5 to form and share common perspective and mutual understanding of the relations between ASEAN and Korea. This conference is one of the programs of by ASEAN Cooperation
Projects funded by and ASEAN Secretariat and Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Since the establishment of the dialogue relationship in 1989, ASEAN and Korea have achieved substantial progress, and finally, they reached to a “Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity” in 2010. ASEAN and Korea have common interests in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond and for years, they have strengthened the mutual cooperation in
various sectors. For example, they are working together to enhance political and security cooperation with the framework of regional engagement processes such as ASEAN+1 and ASEAN+3. In addition, Korea has succeeded in building institutional frameworks by taking several initiatives such as the establishment of the Mission of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN in Jakarta and the founding
of the ASEAN-Korea Centre.

The ASEAN-Korea economic relationship is getting more important every years. Especially, after the entering into force of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement in 2007, their economic partnership has been growing from strength to strength. ASEAN is now the second important trading partner of Korea and the Korean ODA becomes a very important development resources in low income ASEAN Members States.

Cultural and academic exchange also increased very rapidly for years. Korean wave penetrated into the everyday life of ASEAN people and about 5 million Korean visited ASEAN Member States every year. Furthermore, various forms of academic cooperation between Korea and ASEAN are implemented currently. Large number of Korean and ASEAN scholars and students are visiting each
countries to understand these dynamic countries every year.

This academic conference aims to enhance the understanding and assessment of the dynamic aspects of the relationship between ASEAN and Korea. To achieve these goals, it focus on the following subjects. First, this conference will be a review of the evolution of bilateral relations between the ASEAN and Korea at the regional level mainly in political-security, economy, and sociocultural aspects. Second, this conference will attempt to assess the progress of the ASEAN Community and its implications on the ASEAN-Korea relations. Third, the conference verifies the bilateral relations between Korea and ASEAN Member States at the bilateral level with focus on the selected cases. Forth, the conference will contribute to the further development of ASEAN-Korea
relations by providing information, insightful findings, and wisdom with a book to be published from the conference.

The results of the conference will be published in both Korean and English Version. The book will be a great contribution for policy and business circles both in ASEAN and Korea. In addition, this book would be considered some type of bench-mark for those consolidating relations with ASEAN.

The conference will be part of continuous efforts for the academic collaboration between ASEAN and Korea. The Korean Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (KISEAS) and the Korean Association of Southeast Asian Studies (KASEAS) that have conducted various academic programs in collaboration with ASEAN counterparts over the decades are very sincere to carry out the duty through the conference which will be the merits of improving ASEAN-Korea relations.