Envisioned as an ongoing and continuous project, this inaugural seminar has been co-organized by EAI and Dublin City University Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction (IICRR) with the purpose of sharing Republic of Korea (ROK) and Ireland's experiences of conflict resolution and reconciliation processes with North Korea and Northern Ireland, respectively, and draw lessons that can contribute to each other's efforts in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity. Notwithstanding the potentially different as well as unique aspects in their respective conditions, the seminar was held under the premise that both ROK and Ireland can learn from each other by engaging in a mutual investigation toward a working peace process. During the discussion, participants agreed that the peace process being advanced by the Good Friday Agreement in Ireland offers a novel perspective for the Korean Peninsula in its efforts to overcome division and achieve peaceful unification. Future dialogues were also envisioned by the participants that would further investigate specific policy issues regarding peacebuilding, social integration, and conflict management.

 

Participants

The Irish Delegation
H.E. Aingeal O’Donoghue, Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
Dr. John Doyle, Director of IICRR & Professor at Dublin City University
The Honorable Dermot Ahern, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Deaglán de Bréadún, Journalist, The Irish Times (retired)

 

The Korean Delegation
Dr. Sook-Jong Lee, President of EAI & Professor at Sungkyungkwan University
Mr. Jung-ro Kim, Director, Institute for Unification Education, Ministry of Unification
Dr. Wang Hwi Lee, Professor, Ajou University
Dr. Bo-hyuk Suh, Research Professor, Institute for Peace and Unification Studies, Seoul National University
Dr. Jiyoung Kim, Senior Research Fellow, Center for International Studies, Seoul National University

 

Program

13:30-14:00	Reception
14:00-14:20	Welcoming Remarks  Dr. Sook-Jong Lee, President of EAI Dr. John Doyle, Director of IICRR & Professor at Dublin City University
14:20-15:50	Session I “Bringing about Peace in Republic of Korea and Ireland” First Roundtable Discussion
15:50-16:05	Coffee Break
16:05-17:35	Session II “Beyond the Peace Process: Challenge and Opportunities” Second Roundtable Discussion
17:35-18:00	Wrap-up Discussion