International Seminar

The Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) and the Asia Institute of the University of Bologna, Italy, jointly held a Korea-EU Strategic Dialogue under the theme of “Joint Responses to Democratic Backsliding” from Monday, April 22 to Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The event facilitated discussions among researchers from Korea and Europe on diagnosing the decline of democracy, identifying its causes, and exploring avenues for cooperation. The Korea-EU Strategic Dialogue is expected to be held annually going forward.

The opening ceremony began with welcoming remarks by Antonio Fiori, President of the Asia Institute at the University of Bologna, followed by congratulatory speeches from Kang Hyung Sik, Consul General in Milan, and Kim Chun Sig, President of KINU. The keynote address was delivered by Lim Kyung Hoon, Director of the Democracy Cluster at Institute for Future Strategy of Seoul National University (Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Seoul National University). A total of five sessions were held, covering topics such as the definition and diagnosis of the decline of democracy in Europe, the current state of democracy in Korea, the international status of democracy, unification and inter-Korean relations, and the establishment of international cooperation in response to future crises in democracy.

Participants: (KINU)(Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy) Lee Sang Sin (Director), Han Dong Ho (Senior Research Fellow), Min Tae Eun (Research Fellow), Lee Yong Jae (Research Fellow), Hong Chul Ki (Research Fellow), Yoon Shin Hwa (Research Associate)

(Non-KINU) Antonio Fiori, Marco Milani, Salvatore Vassallo (University of Bologna), Marina Nord (University of Gothenburg), Giuseppe Leraci (University of Trieste), Hannes Mosler (University of Duisburg-Essen), Ahn Jong Chul (Cà Foscari University of Venice), Jang Hee Kyung (University of Duisburg-Essen), Kang Hyung Sik (Consul General in Milan), Lim Kyung Hoon, Kim Joo Hyung (Democracy Cluster at Institute for Future Strategy of Seoul National University), Kwon Hyung Ki, Yoon Gwang Il, Kim Kyung Hee, Park Hyun Seok, Kim Kyung Mee (Politics for Integration in a Conflict Society Research Team, Seoul National University)

Date: April 22 (MON), 10:00-, April 23 (TUE), 2024, 17:00

Venue: University of Bologna

Theme: Joint Responses to Democratic Backsliding