On October 20 (Monday) afternoon, Sejong Institute held a closed-door joint workshop with the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) under the theme “The Korean Peninsula in Strategic Competition.”

The workshop was organized to examine the role and significance of the Korean Peninsula within the evolving strategic dynamics of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions, and to explore regional security structures and cooperation strategies. Participants shared perspectives on the strategic importance of the Korean Peninsula and discussed possible directions for cooperation amid a shifting international order.​

Program

Opening Remarks

- Hyun-Wook Kim, President, Sejong Institute

- Luis Simón, Director, Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

Session I: U.S. Responses to a Korean Peninsula Contingency

Moderator

- Luis Simón, Director, CSDS–VUB

Speaker

- Jung H. Pak, Distinguished Associate Fellow, CSDS–VUB

Discussants

- Beomchul Shin, Principal Research Fellow, Sejong Institute

- Bee Yun Jo, Research Fellow, Sejong Institute

Session II: European and Indo-Pacific Responses to a Korean Peninsula Contingency

Moderator

- Jung H. Pak, Distinguished Associate Fellow, CSDS–VUB

Speakers

- Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea

- Daniel Fiott, Head of Defence and Statecraft, CSDS–VUB

- Tongfi Kim, Assistant Professor, CSDS–VUB

Discussants

- Jungsup Kim, Principal Research Fellow, Sejong Institute

- Sungwon Lee, Research Fellow, Sejong Institute

Closing Remarks

- Luis Simón, Director, CSDS–VUB

- Hyun-Wook Kim, President, Sejong Institute