At the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on the Korean Peninsula
On Nov 3-4, Choson Exchange was represented at the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council for the Korean Peninsula in Dubai by Geoffrey. The World Economic Forum’s GFCs are working groups organized by the World Economic Forum to discuss pressing global issues, define an agenda on those issues, and to drive action towards improving the state of the world. The Council Members for the GFC can be found here. The Council is co-chaired by Angela Kane, former under-secretary of the United Nations and Moon Chung In, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Korea for National Security, Foreign Affairs and Unification.
While many on the Council had a pessimistic outlook on where negotiations were heading, the Council still discussed many optimistic ideas for how we can improve the state of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Given the increasingly tight sanctions impacting many humanitarian initiatives, this was a hotly debated topic at the Council. There was commitment by many to education initiatives, humanitarian aid, and to a dialogue on DPR Korea joining multilateral development banks. For Choson Exchange, this discussion is helpful as we plan our initiatives for what we expect to be a rocky 2020.
Geoffrey would like to give a shoutout to two names in particular: Hazel Smith is an expert on this field from whom he benefited immensely from her writings and experience way back to the point Choson Exchange was founded. Rudieger Frank gave a talk on the DPR Korea economy when Geoffrey was studying at the Wharton School, which played a part in cultivating his interest on Korean issues. Great seeing some familiar faces after 12 years!