'Bridge of Korea-China Diplomatic Relations' Joy Jae, Former President of Hawaii University East-West Center, Passes Away

by Park Soyeon

Published 01 Nov.2020 18:17(KST)

Updated 01 Nov.2020 20:00(KST)

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] Jo I-je, Chairman of the East Asia Economic Institute (API) and former President of the Hawaii East-West Center, who played a behind-the-scenes bridging role in Korea-China diplomatic relations while dreaming of a Northeast Asian economic community, passed away on the morning of the 1st (Korean time) in Hawaii, USA, the institute announced. He was 84 years old.

Born in 1936 in Kyoto, Japan, and raised in Haman, Gyeongnam, Chairman Jo graduated from the Department of English at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago, a Ph.D. in Demography from the University of Tokyo, and a Ph.D. in Economics from Keio University. He served as a professor at the University of Chicago and as a research professor at Seoul National University and Michigan State University.

While working at the Hawaii East-West Center, he provided education and training opportunities to Korean scholars, mid-level public officials, and students, and advocated for the concept of a Northeast Asian economic community and the Tumen River regional development plan.

In 1991, he established the Northeast Asia Economic Forum (NEAEF), a non-governmental international organization for the economic and social development of Northeast Asia. In April 1992, he held the inaugural general meeting of the "International Conference on Tumen River Development" in Pyongyang, North Korea. The Tumen River development plan was also adopted as an official program by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). For these contributions, he was awarded the Order of Civil Merit, Mugunghwa Medal (1st class) in October 1992.

He was also the son-in-law of Jeon Taek-bu (1915?2008), the honorary secretary-general of YMCA, known as a "protector of Hangul." His surviving family includes his wife Jeon Eun-ja, daughter Jo Yoon-kyung (American journalist), and sons Jo Sang-moon (professor) and Jo Jeremy (professor). The funeral will be held in Hawaii, USA.