14th Japan-Korea Forum

August 29–31, 2006
Awajishima, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
On August 29–31, 2006, the 14th Korea-Japan Forum took place. Approximately 40 leaders from the political, nonprofit, academic, media, and corporate sectors gathered to discuss a variety of topics, including socio-political developments in both countries, the changing economic environment in Northeast Asia and the future of Korea-Japan economic cooperation, and regional security issues.

August 29

Opening Remarks

Yuzaburo Mogi, Japanese Chairman
Ro-myung Gong, Korean Chairman

Session I: The Political, Economic, and Social Developments in Korea and Japan

Japan: Keiko Chino, Chief Editorial Writer, The Sankei Shimbun
Korea: Young-bin Kwon, President, JoongAng Ilbo
In-joon Bae, Chief Editorial Writer, Donga Ilbo

August 30

Session II: Security Issues in East Asia and Korea-Japan Cooperation

Korean and Japanese Perspectives on the Role of the United States
Korean and Japanese Response to the Growing Chinese Presence

Prospects of Security Challenges in the Korean Peninsula and Korea-Japan Cooperation

Speakers
Seiji Maehara, Member, House of Representatives (DPJ)
In-taek Hyun, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Korea University

Session III: Economic Development in East Asia and Korea-Japan Cooperation

  • Responding to Energy Security Issues in Korea and Japan and the Prospects for Bilateral Cooperation
  • Policy Measures for Dramatic Expansion of Korea-Japan Economic Relations
  • Korea-Japan Cooperation Towards East Asia Community Building

Speakers
Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs; Member, House of Representatives (LDP)
S.R. Cho, Chairman, Hyosung Group; Chairman, The Korea-Japan Economic Council

Session IV: Open Dialogue: Fundamental Challenges of Korea-Japan Relations and Future Prospects

  • The Respective Domestic Responses in Korea and Japan to Current Issues of Dispute
  • Major Constraints to Constructive Development of Korea-Japan Relations and Effective Means to Remove Them

Speakers
Masao Okonogi, Dean, Faculty of Law, Keio University
Ryo-myung Gong, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs

August 31

Session V: The Significance and Challenges of the New Cultural Contacts Between Korea and Japan

  • The New Popular Trends of “Hanryu” (Korean Pop-culture Boom in Japan) and “Ken-Hanryu” (anti-Hanryu) and their Impact on Bilateral Relations
  • Prospects for Regional Level Exchange and Development of Tourism
  • Assessing the Impact of Emerging New Dimensions of Korea-Japan Exchange with the Development of New Communication Tools

Speakers
Kazuo Ogoura, President, Japan Foundation
Chi-won Lee, Assistant Professor, Department of Japanese Studies, Hallym University

Korean Participants

Chairman: Ro-myung Gong, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Byung-joon Ahn, Visiting Professor, KDI School of Public Policy and Management
In-joon Bae, Chief Editorial Writer, The Donga Ilbo
Je-kuk Chang, Executive Director, Japan Center, Dongseo University
Kun-ho Cho, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Federation of Korean Industries (FKI)
S.R. Cho, Chairman, Hyosung Group; Chairman, Korea-Japan Economic Council
Woo-sock Choi, Advisor, Samsung Electronics
Yu-ok Chun, Member of the National Assembly (Grand National Party)
Ku-chong Chung, CEO and President, dongA.com; Director, Korean Steering Committee, Korea-Japan Forum
In-taek Hyun, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Korea University
Boo-kyum Kim, Member of the National Assembly (Uri Party)
Jae-chul Kim, CEO and Chairman, Dongwon Group
In-hyuk Kwon, President, Korea Foundation
Young-bin Kwon, President, JoongAng Ilbo
Chi-won Lee, Assistant Professor, Department of Japanese Studies, Hallym University
Nak-yon Lee, Member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party)
Sook-Jong Lee, Professor, Department of Public Administration, Graduate School of Governance, Sungkyunkwan University
Chung-in Moon, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Studies, Yonsei University
Yeon-ho Oh, CEO, OhmyNews
Cheol-hee Park, Professor, Graduate School of International Studies, Seoul National University
Jong-yil Ra, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Japan
Sang-jeong Sim, Member of the National Assembly (Democratic Labor Party)
Sung Suh, Professor, College of Law, Ritsumeikan University; Director, Ritsumeikan Center for Korean Studies
Soo-gil Young, President, National Strategy Institute; Former Korean Ambassador to the OECD
Duk-min Yun, Professor, Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security

Japanese Participants

Chairman: Yuzaburo Mogi, Chairman and CEO, Kikkoman Corporation
Kazuyoshi Akaba, Senior Vice-Minister for Finance; Member, House of Representatives (New Komeito)
Toshihiro Ando, Deputy Chief Editorial Writer, Nihon Keizai Shimbun
Keiko Chino, Chief Editorial Writer, Sankei Shimbun
Yukiko Fukagawa, Professor, School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University
Tetsuro Fukuyama, Member, House of Councillors (DPJ)
Yoshimasa Hayashi, Member, House of Councillors (LDP)
Kimitoshi Igarashi, Executive Commentator, NHK
Makoto Iokibe, President, National Defense Academy
Susumu Kohari, Associate Professor, Faculty of International Relations, University of Shizuoka
Seiji Maehara, Member, House of Representatives (DPJ)
Takeaki Matsumoto, Member, House of Representatives (DPJ)
Megumi Nishikawa, Senior Editorial Writer, Mainichi Newspapers
Kazuo Ogoura, President, Japan Foundation
Kizo Ogura, Associate Professor, Kyoto University
Katsuya Okada, Member, House of Representatives (DPJ)
Masao Okonogi, Dean and Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University
Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs; Member, House of Representatives (LDP)
Hitoshi Tanaka, Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange; Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Yoshibumi Wakamiya, Chairman of the Editorial Board, Asahi Shimbun
Tadashi Yamamoto, President, Japan Center for International Exchange; Director, Japanese Steering Committee, Korea-Japan Forum
Kunihiko Yamaoka, Editorial Writer, Yomiuri Shimbun