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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

The Fifth Korea-Russia Forum

I had been an assistant to the Foundation's president for three and a half years when I was assigned to a new post at the Personnel Exchange Team early this year. Since the nature of my previous work was different from that of my colleagues in charge of exchange programs, I was somewhat worried as to whether I could adapt to the operation of the Foundation's various exchange programs in a short period of time. I was, however, able to prepare for the fifth Korea-Russia Forum, as the forum was postponed to the latter half of the year due to the SARS outbreak.

A Peaceful Solution to the North Korean Nuclear Problem
Participants of Fifth Korea-Russia Forum held in Moscow, Oct. 16-17The Korea-Russia Forum was held in Moscow on October 16 and 17 with the attendance of about thirty distinguished leaders from Korea and Russia in the fields of politics, business, academia, journalism, science and technology. The forum served as a useful chance to discuss a broad range of pressing issues and matters of mutual concern. The forum was held at a time when Korea and Russia needed to focus on the North Korean nuclear problem, which has emerged as a major issue in the international community. Korean participants asked Russia to play a constructive role in solving the North Korean nuclear problem and expressed their hope for enhanced cooperation in the fields of economy, science and technology. Emphasizing the need for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and a peaceful solution to the North Korean nuclear problem, Russian participants made it clear that they would continue to cooperate with South Korea to solve the problem. Regarding economic issues, the Russian side stressed that Russia's trade potential was not less strong than China's and expressed their hope for an increase in trade with Korea. Korea, however, pointed out a lack of consistency and transparency in Russia's economic and trading policies and asked for improvement in this regard.

A Visit to the City of Aerospace Science
On the second day of the forum, the participants moved to Korolev, a city one and a half hours away by car, just northwest of Moscow, to hold a series of science and technology sessions. The city was named after Dr. Sergey P. Korolev, a Russian pioneer in the aerospace industry. This aerospace science city is off-limits to other citizens. Most of the 130,000 residents of Korolev are said to work in the aerospace industry. Upon entering the city, I felt as if I were entering a part of the old Soviet Union. At first I was somewhat nervous, but soon I was struck with an admiration for Russia's advanced aerospace science technology. I was able to look around a space control center and at the very spacecraft that Gagarin, the first man in space, had boarded for his space travel. The Russians exhibited several uses for aerospace technology and clearly expressed their hope for future cooperation with Korea in the fields of science and technology.

Changes in Russia
I experienced the reality of Russia in many ways during my visit. When we arrived in Moscow, the immigration process at the airport took far longer than expected. When we left Moscow, the departure process, which is usually simpler, also took very long and the Korean delegation had to board the plane in haste. It seems to me, however, that Russia is surely going in a positive direction of change. The Russian economy is growing rapidly each year, probably due to political stability and increased oil production.

I learned a great deal while preparing and participating in the forum, but again I also felt that many things were in need of improvement. I hope that the forum will serve as a foundation for the future of cooperative relations between Korea and Russia.

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