IFES (Director: Dr. Lee Kwan-Sei) invited the institute’s visiting chair professors, visiting professors, and visiting researchers to a New Year's Meeting at the Peace Hall's conference room on the Jan. 20th (Mon).

Dr. Park Jae Kyu, president of Kyungnam University, and Dr. Kim Sun Hyang, chairperson of Shimyeon Institute for UNKS, 4 visiting chair professors (former Unification Minister Kang In-Duk, former Ambassador to the U.S. Ahn Ho-young, former Ambassador to Japan Lee Su-Hoon, and former Director of the Korean National Diplomatic Academy Cho Byung-Jae), 4 visiting professors (former Ambassador to Russia and Ukraine Park Ro-byug, Attorney at Logos Law Firm Quan Lingxian, Assistant Professor at New York State University in Korea Koren M. Jo, former Consul General of Osaka Cho Seong-Ryoul, and 8 visiting researchers (Park So Hye, former Secretary of the National Assembly Library Director's Office, former Vice Defense Minister Seo Choo Suk, former Yonhap News Anchor Jung Jae Yong, Vice Chairman of the Korean Association of North Korean Studies Kim Young Hui, Professor at the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy Choi Eunsuk, Senior Researcher at Shinhan University's Trans-Division and Border Studies Kwak Chaewon, Guest Researcher at the University of North Korean Studies Kwon Keumsang, and teacher at Sunrin Internet High School Choi Jin Hwan), plus professors at the IFES attended the meeting.

At the New Year's luncheon meeting, the director explained the institute's key projects, including the "2024 Major Business Performance and 2025 Plan." In depth discussion was made on the internal and external situations in the New Year, including the prospects for changes in the situation on the Korean Peninsula following the launch of the second Trump administration.

In addition, President Park Jae Kyu expressed his thanks to the participants for the contribution to the development of the institute through their many research results over the past year. He also asked for their continuing active cooperation in academic research for the development and improvement of inter-Korean relations in 2025.