Event — Lecture

In this turbulent era of geopolitics and economic security, can EU and Korea be better partners?

We are very happy to announce this special guest talk by Mr. Yeo Han-koo, former Trade Minister of the Republic of Korea. 

Mr. Yeo's talk will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Jojo Nem Singh, Director of the IIAS-affiliated research programme 'Green Industrial Policy in the Age of Rare Metals (GRIP-ARM)'.

This event takes place in the Kamerling Onnes Building of the Faculty of Law at Leiden University in the Netherlands, from 13:00 until 15:00 p.m.  

All are welcome. Register is required.

The Lecture

In this turbulent era of geopolitics and economic security, the international community is witnessing a seismic shift in the global economy. From a once-globalized, open and free multilateral trading system, we are transitioning into a more managed, fragmented landscape driven by economic security concerns and geopolitical tensions. With the ongoing rivalry between the United States and China, supply chain disruptions, and the looming threat of climate crisis, 2024 presents an uncertain and tumultuous global circumstance.

This lecture will delve into the pressing questions of our time:

  • What roles can like-minded third countries play in this changing landscape?
  • How can the EU and South Korea, as two such entities, collaborate to navigate the challenges ahead? 
  • With more than 70 elections taking place worldwide, including in the US, EU, Korea, and Taiwan, what opportunities for cooperation can be identified?
     

The Speaker

Yeo Han-koo, former Republic of Korea Trade Minister and current senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, boasts experience in international trade. Over nearly three decades, he served as chief negotiator for key agreements, including RCEP and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. His research spans international trade policy, industrial policy, and supply chain resilience and economic security. As a seasoned negotiator, he played pivotal roles in amendments to the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement and Section 232 steel negotiations. Yeo holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, contributing to academia as a visiting professor.

The Moderator
Mr. Yeo's talk will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Jojo Nem Singh from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague and Director of the IIAS-affiliated research programme 'Green Industrial Policy in the Age of Rare Metals (GRIP-ARM)'.

Registration (required)

Please register via the web form on this page. We will pass your name and email address on to building security. Please make sure to bring your identification (e.g. passport or ID card), which will be checked upon entering the Faculty of Law building.