Friday, 9 May 2025, from 10:00 to 14:00 h. CEST (UTC+2). Venue: Asociación de la Prensa de Madrid, c/ Claudio Coello no. 98, Madrid.
This seminar will deepen the debate on Korea’s approach to global governance in an increasingly fragmented international landscape. As geopolitical tensions intensify and multilateral institutions struggle to respond effectively to global challenges, Seoul has adopted a more proactive foreign policy, positioning itself as a reliable and constructive actor within global governance frameworks. This creates momentum to expand cooperation with like-minded partners such as Spain and the EU, whose strong institutional ties and normative convergence with Korea provide a solid foundation for joint action on global issues.
The event will explore concrete policy avenues to strengthen Korea’s cooperation with the EU and Spain in multilateral platforms, including the G7, where Korea is a leading candidate for expansion. By amplifying expert voices from both Korea and Europe, the debate will underscore Korea’s strategic relevance for Europe in the pursuit of more effective, inclusive, and resilient global governance.
Hashtag: #KoreaEUSpain
Programme
10:00 – Welcoming words:
- Charles Powell, Director, Elcano Royal Institute | @CharlesTPowell
- Lim Soosuk, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Spain.
10:15 – Keynote speech:
- Yun Byung-se, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (2013-17).
10:30 – Panel I. Korea’s approach to a changing global landscape: opportunities for cooperation with Europe
- Chair: Mario Esteban, Senior Analyst, Elcano Royal Institute | @wizma9
- Miguel Otero, Senior Analyst, Elcano Royal Institute | @miotei
- Ramón Pacheco Pardo, KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), Brussels School of Governance (BSoG-VUB) | @rpachecopardo
- Saeme Kim, Associate Research Fellow, Asan Institute for Policy Studies | @SaemeK
- Guillermo Anguera | Deputy Director General for South and East Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain.
12:00 – Coffee break
12:30 – Panel II. Korea and the expansion of the G7
- Chair: Iliana Olivié, Senior Analyst, Elcano Royal Institute | @iolivie
- Manuel Gracia Santos, Senior Analyst, Elcano Royal Institute | @mgraciasn
- Steven Everts, Director, European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) | @sveverts
- Victor Cha, President of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies | @ VictorDCha
- Kim Sook, Executive Director, Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future.
14:00 – End of seminar
– The event will be held in English without simultaneous translation.
– If you would like to attend in person, please send your RSVP from 24 April to confirmaciones@rielcano.org.
– The event will also be live streamed on the Elcano Royal Institute’s YouTube channel. Online attendance does not require registration.
– Questions from online audience can be sent by email to actividades@rielcano.org or via X using the event hashtag.
Image: South Korean flag flying in Yongin-si. Photo: byunghyun lee (@byunghyun-lee-247864074)
