Korean Studies FU Berlin

29/05/2026

Why do some states engage in so-called middle power diplomacy? Conventional middle power scholarship does not adequately explain this question because the logical premise underlying its definition of “middle powers” is either inconsequential or circular. Building on theoretical insights from status politics, I argue that a state's pursuit of middle power diplomacy is inextricably linked to status considerations within the hierarchy of international standing. I offer a theoretical framework that captures the subjective and intersubjective dimensions of why and how a state formulates and reformulates middle power diplomacy in particular ways over time. Empirically, I examine the emergence and evolution of South Korea's middle power diplomacy over the past two decades. I show how the government's differing conceptions, understandings, and reflections of middle power diplomacy have informed, shaped, and transformed its diplomatic practices.

- Date & Time: Thursday, 25 June 2026, 14:00 – 16:00 (2-4pm)
- Venue: -1.2009 großer Hörsaal (UG), Fabeckstr. 23/25, 14195 Berlin
- Language: English

- If you have questions regarding the event, please contact Seung Hwan Ryu ([email protected])

26/05/2026

As a divided peninsula in Northeast Asia, it is important for Korea to reduce tension between maritime and continental powers and promote international cooperation so as to minimize the risks of conflict on the peninsula and facilitate reunification. As an industrial democracy with limited natural resources and a medium-sized domestic market, it is important for Korea to engage actively in international trade and contribute to an inclusive, rules-based order both regionally and globally. Korea should not take a new Cold War as preordained. Recall that W***y Brandt's Ostpolitik was launched only a year after the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, during the heyday of the old Cold War. Instead, Korea should continue to promote international cooperation and contribute to an inclusive, rules-based order both regionally and globally. Toward this end, Korea should strengthen its own military, enhance the mutually defensive nature of its bilateral alliance with the U.S., and build friendly relations with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

- Date & Time: Wednesday, 3 June 2026, 14:00 – 16:00

- Venue: Seminarraum 2.2063, Fabeckstr. 23/25, 14195 Berlin

- Language: English

- Organising Institution: KEC

- Recording: The session will not be recorded.

- Responsible for the event: Seung Hwan Ryu ([email protected])

20/05/2026

18/05/2026

The event titled “International Conference on International Trade after Trump 2.0 Shock” will bring together scholars and practitioners to examine how global trade, supply chains, and economic governance are being reshaped in the wake of Donald Trump’s second presidency. The conference will explore the implications of renewed trade tensions, shifting alliances, and evolving industrial policies for both advanced and emerging economies.

Organised by the KDI School of Public Policy and Management in cooperation with OBREAL and the Institute of Korean Studies, the event will feature keynote lectures, expert panels, and case-based discussions that connect policy debate with empirical evidence and diverse regional perspectives. Participants are invited to engage in an interdisciplinary dialogue on how trade regimes, regional integration, and multilateral institutions can adapt to an increasingly uncertain and contested global order. The conference will take place at the Seminaris CampusHotel Berlin on May 28–29, 2026.

18/05/2026

The event titled “International Conference on International Trade after Trump 2.0 Shock” will bring together scholars and practitioners to examine how global trade, supply chains, and economic governance are being reshaped in the wake of Donald Trump’s second presidency. The conference will explore the implications of renewed trade tensions, shifting alliances, and evolving industrial policies for both advanced and emerging economies.

Organised by the KDI School of Public Policy and Management in cooperation with OBREAL and the Institute of Korean Studies, the event will feature keynote lectures, expert panels, and case-based discussions that connect policy debate with empirical evidence and diverse regional perspectives. Participants are invited to engage in an interdisciplinary dialogue on how trade regimes, regional integration, and multilateral institutions can adapt to an increasingly uncertain and contested global order. The conference will take place at the Seminaris CampusHotel Berlin on May 28–29, 2026.

18/05/2026

For more information regarding the application process, please go to our website:

https://www.geschkult.fu-berlin.de/e/oas/korea-studien/korea-eu/calls/index.html

04/05/2026

The Institute for Korean Studies offers a new scholarship opportunity for a Phd student as part of the Korea Europe Center program.
Applications are open to students enrolled in the PhD programs focusing on Korea. Excellent proficiency in English and Korean is required.

More information on our website: https://www.geschkult.fu-berlin.de/e/oas/korea-studien/korea-eu/calls/2026-cfa-Korea-Europe-Center-scholarship/index.html

04/04/2026

The Institute of Korean Studies (IKS) at Freie Universität Berlin invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the UniKorea Foundation. The fellowship supports research on the Korean Peninsula in the broader context of the global Cold War, with particular attention to North and South Korea’s relations with the Global South and to questions of division, peace, and international order. Applicants working on related themes in Korean Studies, Cold War history, international relations, political science, global and international history, and postcolonial studies are especially encouraged to apply.

More information on our website: https://www.geschkult.fu-berlin.de/en/e/oas/korea-studien/korea-eu/calls/2026-cfa-UniKorea-Postdoc-Fellowship/index.html