UNWE Hosted Bulgaria’s First Academic Seminar Dedicated to Peace on the Korean Peninsula
An academic seminar on the Current Realities and Prospects for Peaceful Reunification on the Korean Peninsula was held at the University of National and World Economy /UNWE/. The event was organized by the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council /PUAC/, a constitutional body under the direct authority of the President of the Republic of Korea, focused on public diplomacy and advocacy for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula. It marked the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Bulgaria. This year, the Republic of Korea also commemorates the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day – a moment of national rebirth that continues to inspire the Korean people in their pursuit of peace and unity.
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Our university and the Research Center for Disaster Risk Reduction at UNWE, led by Prof. Dr. Dimitar Velev, were among the co-organizers of the seminar, along with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria. The initiative brought together guest speakers – global experts from six different countries who joined online and presented their views on Korean reunification.
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From the Republic of Korea – Ms. Baek Yoon Jeong, Deputy Director-General for Korean Peninsula Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- From the USA – Ms. Jenny Town, Director of Stimson’s Korea Program and 38North
- From the European Union – Prof. Dr. Michael Reiterer, Former Ambassador of the EU to the
- Republic of Korea, Distinguished Professor at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy /CSDS/ of the Brussels School of Governance
- From the United Kingdom – Mr. Timothy Cho, Secretariat of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea
- From China – Prof. Kim Bokyong, Director of the Institute of International Cultural Industries, Museum of Arts and Crafts Masters of China
- From Japan – Dr. Jeon Yeojoo, Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo.
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The event was moderated by our PhD candidate Hannah Kang. |
H.E. Kim Dong-bae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bulgaria, expressed gratitude to the organizers and praised the choice of topic. “I hope today’s seminar sheds light on peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and suggests a possible path forward. In this context, Bulgaria occupies a unique place in relation to the Korean Peninsula,” said Ambassador Kim Dong-bae. He added that today, the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Bulgaria are like-minded nations that share universal values, which makes the seminar especially meaningful.
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H.E. Kim Dong-bae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bulgaria |
A special guest speaker at the event was Ms. Baek Yoon Jeong, Deputy Director-General for Korean Peninsula Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. “Today’s meeting is a significant exercise in diplomacy, providing a valuable opportunity for an exchange of views between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Bulgaria. Unlike universal issues such as security, peace, or human rights, the question of unification is a historical task unique to a limited number of divided nations,” she stated. She added that the discussion is especially meaningful given the extensive global transformations that have occurred since the division of the two Koreas in 1945, which have always run parallel to reunification dialogues.
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Baek Yoon Jeong, Deputy Director-General for Korean Peninsula Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea |
Cathy Kang, Chief Advisor at the National Unification Advisory Council, representative of the Council in Bulgaria, and assistant professor at Plovdiv University, opened the academic seminar: “Today’s seminar is not just an academic gathering. It marks the beginning of an important conversation that unites not only respected scholars and diplomats, but also journalists and media professionals who play a key role in shaping public understanding and international dialogue. This event carries significant historical importance.” According to the organizers, Bulgaria is not just a witness to history but a desired partner in building the peaceful future of the Korean Peninsula.
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Cathy Kang, Chief Advisor at PUAC and Assistant Professor at Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv |
Prof. Dr. Matilda Alexandrova, Vice Rector for Educational Activity, welcomed the participants and guests. “It is a great honour for me to affirm our commitment to all efforts of the international community dedicated to achieving a peaceful resolution to the division of a foreign nation and land. We highly value all the dedicated efforts of former and current representatives of the international community aimed at supporting peaceful initiatives related to the peace process on the Korean Peninsula,” stated Prof. Alexandrova.
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The panel discussion featured guest speaker Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamen Nam from the International Relations Department at UNWE /in the picture below, the second man from the left/. Participants also included faculty members from St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iskren Ivanov /Department of Political Science/ and Dr. Nikolay Kolev /Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication/, Snejana Todorova, Chair of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists, and Milena Milotinova, journalist at Bulgaria ON AIR.
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The event also featured a performance of the Korean folk song |
