photo: Svetlana PAVLOVA / from the archive of NEFU editorial board of corporate media

Last week, Kim Bongchol, Professor of Hankuk University (Seoul, Republic of Korea), gave lectures at the Institute of Foreign Philology and Regional Studies of North-Eastern Federal University. Doctor of Law told students about the current problems of Russian-Korean relations.

Lecture of the Head of the Department of International Studies at Hankuk University, organized at the invitation of the Department of International Studies of the Institute of Foreign Philology and Regional Studies, was devoted to both the trade relations of the countries of North-East Asia and the priorities of South Korea in the Arctic region. He told about the internal and foreign policy agenda of the Republic of Korea. In particular, he focused on the specific perception of the northern neighbor at the state level, which is expressed in the denial of the existence of a separate state of North Korea, and told about the public consciousness of one people, divided by the two countries.

"Currently, the situation on the Korean Peninsula gives some hope for positive development. Positive factors include the resumption of the Sunshine Policy of the current president, as well as the North Korean origins of the first person of the Republic of Korea. And Russia can play an important role in the process of inter-Korean resolution", Kim Bongchol said.

According to him, South Korea looks for closer cooperation with Russia. At the same time, it has to "balance" between the United States, the European Union and Russia. But the existence of good relations with European and American partners should not prevent Korea from developing cooperation with Russia. He expressed the opinion that the result of fruitful cooperation between Russia and Korea in the future could be the execution of an agreement on free trade following the example of agreements with Serbia and Vietnam. "I see a great potential of Russia's partnership with South Korea in the development of the Far East, in particular, Yakutia. The Republic of Sakha can become one of the most attractive regions of Russia for Korea", the professor said.

The lecturer noted that Yakutia could become, first, a supplier of energy resources to South Korea. Secondly, diamonds and jewelry can become a promising export product of RS (Y) to Korea, in addition, Yakutia can export its developments. As a successful example, he mentioned Yakut company MyTona, the game of which is quite popular among Koreans.

Another area that the Korean professor touched on was the theme of the Northern Sea Route and the prospects for its use. According to the professor, the development of the Northern Sea Route is relevant in the discussions in South Korea.