KIEP: "Emerging Countries' COVID Crisis, Overcome with 'K-Quarantine and RVC'"

KIEP Hosts '2020 KIEP Emerging Regions Research Integrated Conference'
Director Kim Heung-jong: "Emerging Countries' Health and Economic Crises... Joint Response with K-Quarantine and RVC"

Kim Heung-jong, President of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), along with presidents of domestic regional research associations and KIEP researchers, pose for a group photo at the "2020 KIEP Emerging Region Research Integrated Academic Conference" held on the 16th at EL Tower in Seoul. (Photo by Korea Institute for International Economic Policy)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), a government-funded research institute, suggested jointly overcoming the emerging market crisis caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through 'K-Quarantine' and the establishment of regional value chains (RVC).

KIEP announced that on the 16th, starting at 11:30 a.m., it held the '2020 KIEP Emerging Region Research Integrated Academic Conference' in collaboration with 15 domestic regional research societies at the EL Tower in Seoul.

This conference is the only integrated academic conference on emerging regions in Korea. KIEP has been supporting this event annually since 2014.

This year's conference was held under the theme 'Global Pandemic and Emerging Countries: Crisis, Response, and Beyond,' with about 100 regional research experts participating both online and offline.

The conference diagnosed and forecasted the issues faced by emerging countries due to COVID-19 by sector and explored each country's response measures to overcome the crisis.

In particular, more comprehensive and in-depth discussions were held on major issues in each region, including China, the New Northern Region (Mongolia and Eurasia), the New Southern Region (India and Southeast Asia), Latin America, and Africa and the Middle East.

Kim Heung-jong, President of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, delivering the opening remarks. (Photo by Korea Institute for International Economic Policy)

Kim Heungjong, President of KIEP, proposed in his opening remarks, "Let us jointly resolve the health and economic crises caused by the global pandemic in emerging countries through Korea's 'K-Quarantine,' new international cooperation, and the establishment of regional value chains (RVC)."

President Kim emphasized, "The wisdom to actively utilize such challenges as opportunities for coexistence and the strengthening of solidarity with emerging countries for this purpose is more important than ever."

Jung Sangryul, President of the Korean Middle East Society, said in his greeting, "This year has been a year forced to undergo a major transformation across all aspects of life due to COVID-19," and stressed, "We must find a new development strategy that respects humanity during this period of Global Shift."

President Jung added, "I hope the discussions at this academic conference will contribute to the establishment of national strategies targeting emerging countries, and based on related research, I expect Korea to stand tall as a leading country."

Seo Changbae, President of the Korea-China Social Science Society, said, "As regional value chains (RVC) are discussed as a new alternative to global value chains (GVC), regional studies are becoming increasingly important," and added, "Furthermore, I hope the matters discussed today will broadly contribute to Korea's formulation of foreign economic policies."

On the 16th, the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) co-hosted the "2020 KIEP Emerging Regions Integrated Academic Conference" international seminar with 15 domestic regional research societies at EL Tower in Seoul. (Photo by Korea Institute for International Economic Policy)

Each society analyzed issues newly faced by emerging countries due to COVID-19 in health, education, human rights, trade, finance, industry, politics, diplomacy, and socio-cultural fields through sectional sessions, discussing each country's response measures and prospects.

Based on detailed analyses of decoupling following changes in US-China relations before and after the pandemic, industrial restructuring, changes in economic and financial systems, emerging country regime stability, democracy crises, public health diplomacy, and changes in diplomatic relations, discussions continued to derive new cooperation measures with emerging countries.

Meanwhile, a total of 48 papers were presented at this conference. Researchers, graduate students, professors, and public institution officials participated both offline and via online live streaming.

Videos of each session will be posted after the event on KIEP's YouTube channel, the Emerging Region Information Knowledge Portal (EMERiCs), and the China Specialist Forum (CSF) website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.