KRC Symposium 2025

Korea Research and Engagement Centre (KRC) Engagement Week: 11–15 August 2025

During the week of 11–15 August 2025, the Korea Research and Engagement Centre (KRC) hosted a series of engagement activities aimed at Curtin University students, staff, and the broader Western Australian community.

The highlight of the week was the KRC Symposium, titled “Agency and Influence: South Korea and Australia Navigating Geopolitical Shifts and Regional Partnerships”, held in Perth CBD on 15 August. UE2025 KRC Symposium

The symposium brought together a diverse panel of experts to explore current geoeconomic trends—particularly tariffs and energy supply chains and their implications for Australia–ROK relations. Discussions focused on the evolving security landscape, including the reassessment of international partnerships and the rise of minilateral platforms amid shifting geopolitical alliances.

The event featured short presentations and a roundtable Q&A session, broadly grouped under two themes:

• Geoeconomic Dynamics and Supply Chains

• Australia–Korea Complementary Strengths and Opportunities for Security and Defence Collaboration

The event opened with remarks from Associate Professor Jo Elfving-Hwang, Director of the Korea Research and Engagement Centre; Professor Farida Fozdar, Dean of Global Futures; and Ms. Fay Duda, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Korea. 

Speakers included:

• Dr. Yoon Jung Choi (The Sejong Institute)

• Dr. Naoise McDonagh (Edith Cowan University)

• Captain Alastair Cooper (Director, Sea Power Centre, Canberra)

• Associate Professor Jay Song (Curtin University, KRC)

• Dr. Alica Kizekova and Dr. Alexey Muraviev (MCASI, Faculty of Humanities, Curtin University & KRC)

The event brought together different stakeholders, including industry partners from POSCO, or discussants from the WA Defence Review. Our students actively engaged in discussions during the symposium and networking session.

Additional KRC activities included:

• 14 August: Dr. Yoon Jung Choi held informal discussions with students on campus, focusing on the global order, the Global South, the role of South Korea and Australia-South Korea relations. This event was co-organised with the Curtin International Relations Society. In Conversation with Dr. Yoon Yung Choi | Curtin International Relations Society | TidyHQ

• 15 August: Captain Alastair Cooper delivered a guest lecture in STRD1001 the Foundations of Strategic Studies unit, coordinated by Dr. Kizekova. The session explored the concept of sea power and strategic priorities for Australia and the Royal Australian Navy.

All activities were supported by the Core University Program for Korean Studies, funded by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2022-OLU-2250005).