New South Korean Ambassador to the U.N. to speak on North Korean nuclear issues

New South Korean Ambassador to the U.N. to speak on North Korean nuclear issuesMay 06, 2005Carol K. Masiclatclkim@syr.edu

Young-Jin Choi, ambassador-designate to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, will give an address titled, “Nuclear Non-Proliferation and the Korean Peninsula” on Thursday, May 12, at 1:30 p.m., in the Public Events Room, 220 Eggers Hall. A reception will follow at 2:30 p.m., with remarks by Trustee Goh Kun HON’01, former prime minister of South Korea and former mayor of Seoul.

The address will be the fifth in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ Ambassador Pyo Wook Han Lecture Series on Korean/U.S. Affairs. Afterward, video footage of the lecture will be available for viewing at www.maxwell.syr.edu/ict/amb_han.asp .

A renowned expert on the issues surrounding North Korea’s controversial nuclear program, Choi has served as deputy executive director of South Korea’s Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). He was in charge of executing a cooperative $5 billion project to construct two light-water nuclear reactors (LWR) in North Korea. He is an expert in diplomacy, project operations and nuclear safety and quality assurance. He also led negotiations within KEDO and with North Korea to carry out the LWR project, visiting North Korea six times.

“I welcome this opportunity to talk about the current issues around the Korean peninsula that may affect the alliance between the United States and South Korea, a bond forged through an extremely painful war more than five decades ago,” says Jongwoo Han, director of the lecture program and an adjunct assistant professor in the Maxwell School. “Both Korea and the U.S. have changed since we entered into our alliance, and those changes must continue to reflect the successful and mutually beneficial relationship between our countries. This lecture is a way to remind current and future generations of Ambassador Han’s remarkable achievements.”

Ambassador Pyo Wook Han ’42, for whom the lecture series is named, was a distinguished career diplomat, known for his crucial role as a pioneer and architect in establishing, maintaining and enhancing Korean/U.S. diplomatic relations throughout his life. Han was instrumental in establishing the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., South Korea’s first embassy in the world. SU honored him with the George Arents Pioneer Medal in 1957 and the Chancellor’s Medal in 2001 for his achievements in public service. Han died in 2003.

This event is free and open to the public. Paid parking is available in visitor lots and garages. For more information on this event, call (315) 443-3701.

This lecture series has been financially supported since its founding in 2001 by Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors and the Korea Foundation. The Information and Computing Technology Group of the Maxwell School has given valuable staff support.