Kyung Hee University College of Politics and Economics will hold an international conference to explore solutions to global crises and ways to create a sustainable society. The photo shows the first conference titled "Save Korea!: Population Crisis, A Shift in Thinking," held on September 26th, focusing on the population crisis (photo courtesy of Kyung Hee University).
Kyung Hee University hosts conference on global crises, including climate change.
On the 28th of this month, solutions will be sought for issues such as climate change, war crises, and political polarization.
Kyunghee University College of Politics and Economics plans a conference supported by the "Kyung Hee Challenge Project."
Kyung Hee University (President Jin-sang Kim) College of Politics and Economics will hold an international conference to explore solutions to global crises, including climate change, war crises, and political polarization, as well as ways to create a sustainable society.
The theme of this conference is "Global Crisis: Challenges for Sustainable Society," and it will be held on the 28th of this month in Room 111 of the ORBIS Hall at Kyung Hee University.
The conference will feature participants including Professor Davis Trosby from Macquarie University in Australia, Professor Arjo Klamer from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Senior Researcher Won Yoon-seon from Erasmus University in the Netherlands, Professor Kazuko Goto from Setsunan University in Japan, Professor Kang Won-taek from Seoul National University, and Professor Yoon Sung-yi from Kyung Hee University.
This conference will address various issues and global crises faced by the global society.
The various manifestations of global crises, including the economic recession and inflation following COVID-19, wars, abnormal supply chains, energy resource security issues, climate change, and political polarization, impact global society.
Kyung Hee University explained that these elements of global crises serve as underlying factors influencing the world economy and political and cultural conflicts, with some being interconnected and creating a cumulative effect.
Kyung Hee University stated that this conference was organized to bring together the knowledge communities from Korea, Europe, Asia, and Oceania to focus on crises facing global society, such as climate change, war crises, and political polarization, and to seek solutions to these issues.
Scholars participating in the conference, both domestic and international, are expected to derive response strategies through precise analysis and diagnosis of global crises.
The conference will consist of presentations and discussions. The presentations will include: ▲ "Global Crisis and Sustainable Society" (Professor David Trosby, Macquarie University) ▲ "Changes in Korean Democracy: New Challenges or Crisis?" (Professor Kang Won-taek, Seoul National University) ▲ "How European Cities Respond to Crises and Build Resilience" (Senior Researcher Won Yoon-seon, Erasmus University).
Professor David Trosby will focus on the elements of climate change and war crises among global issues, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these two problems.
Many countries are focusing on measures such as renewable energy and nuclear power, as well as energy production and demand management, to address climate change.
n addition, Professor Trosby plans to explain the potential for problem-solving through technological innovation and its importance.
Professor Kang Won-taek will focus on the topic of political polarization.
South Korea is one of the few newly democratized countries that successfully achieved democratic consolidation following the "third wave" of democratization over 30 years ago.
However, due to factional conflicts and ideological polarization, there has been an increase in distrust and fatigue towards politics.
Professor Kang explains that, unlike the polarization in the United States, often referred to as a "culture war," South Korea's political polarization is closely related to the "politics of revenge" that followed the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.
Recently, there has been a weakening of political leadership, evidenced by a decline in the authority of the presidency, and the important institutional characteristics of the presidential system, such as political stability and fixed terms, are also being challenged following the impeachment.
Professor Kang argues that reforms to the 1987 system are necessary to overcome these challenges.
Senior Researcher Won Yoon-seon has focused on "sustainability" and urban "resilience" as key responses that European societies identify to address crises.
In Europe, there has been a growing trend emphasizing the public value of energy.
By combining awareness of resources and the environment, both sustainability and resilience are being incorporated into the education sector.
Additionally, specific policy implementation measures are being elaborated and promoted in relation to urban planning, educational initiatives, corporate globalization, and community development.
Following the presentations by the speakers, a comprehensive discussion will take place.
The comprehensive discussion will be moderated by Professor Kang Je-sang from Kyung Hee University, with Professor Kazuko Goto, Professor Arjo Klamer, and Professor Yoon Sung-yi participating as discussants.
This conference is being held with the support of the "Kyung Hee Challenge Project" initiated by Kyung Hee University.
This program supports colleges, departments, and graduate schools in leading the transformation of higher education by planning and implementing future-oriented educational programs.
The goals include "educational innovation," "enhancement of social engagement outcomes," and "development, introduction, and operation of new curricula."
Launched last year, the College of Politics and Economics was selected for its planning of the "Great Challenges and Bold Transformations" lecture series.