The Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES) of Kyungnam University, headed by Director Kwan-Sei Lee, held the “2026 New Year’s Meeting for IFES Chair Professors, Visiting Professors, and Visiting Research Fellows” on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the Peace Building conference room.

The event was attended by President Jae Kyu Park, Kyungnam University; Chairperson of the Board Sun Hyang Kim, University of North Korea Studies; Vice Minister Nam Jung Kim of the Ministry of Unification; three visiting chair professors of IFES In-Deok Kang (former Minister of Unification), Su-Hoon Lee (former Ambassador to Japan), and Byung-Jae Cho(former Chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy); five visiting professors—Robyug Park(former Ambassador to Russia and Ukraine), Sung-ryul Cho(former Consul General in Osaka), Koren Jo (Assistant Professor at SUNY Korea), Lingxian Quan(Attorney at Logos Law LLC), and Sang Man Lee(Visiting Professor at Shandong University); twelve visiting research fellows—Gil Sup Kwak(President of One Korea Center), Keum Sang Kwon(Visiting Research Fellow at the University of North Korean Studies), Yeonchul Kim(former Minister of Unification), Young Hui Kim(Member of the Unification Future Planning Committee, Ministry of Unification), Park So-hye (Research Professor at the Shimyeon Institute for North Korean Studies, University of North Korean Studies), Coo Suk Suh(former Vice Minister of National Defense), Seulgi Seon(Research Director, Korea Development Cooperation Institute), Byung-Min Ahn(President of the Unification Economy Forum), Dong Yoon Lee (Expert Advisor at Yoon & Yang LLC), Jae Yong Jung(former Senior Journalist at Yonhap News Agency), Eun-Suk Choi(Professor of Law at Republic of Korea Air Force Academy), and Bong Gi Lee(Advisor to the German-Korean Consultation Committee on Unification Issues, Ministry of Unification)—along with IFES faculty members, totaling more than 30 participants.

Director Kwan-Sei Lee explained the Institute’s priority initiatives through a briefing on “Major Achievements in 2025 and Plans for 2026,” followed by in-depth discussions among participants on strategies for the Institute’s development.

Subsequently, Vice Minister Nam Jung Kim of the Ministry of Unification delivered a presentation titled “Assessment of Recent Developments and Future Policy Directions,” describing the period from the beginning of this year through U.S. President Trump’s visit to Korea as a critical window of opportunity for a transition toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. He emphasized the government’s commitment to consistently advancing policies aimed at building a Peninsula where the two Koreas coexist peacefully and grow together.