Sejong Institute () is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

, independent organization for

public interest In social science and economics, public interest is "the welfare or well-being of the general public" and society. While it has earlier philosophical roots and is considered to be at the core of democratic theories of government, often paired ...

and a

think tank A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

, dedicated to developing strategies and policies in areas of foreign and security affairs and Korean unification, regional issues, and

international political economy International political economy (IPE) is the study of how politics shapes the global economy and how the global economy shapes politics. A key focus in IPE is on the power of different actors such as nation states, international organizations and ...

. The Sejong Institute was established as a foundation for policy studies and research with the support of national leaders in politics and business, in the aftermath of the Rangoon Incident in October 1983. The institute's current president, Haksoon Paik (백학순), Ph.D. in

Political Science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...

at the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...

, is a Korean expert in North Korean politics, inter-Korean relations, North Korea-U.S. relations, and North Korean nuclear and missile issues. The Sejong Institute works in collaboration with international specialists and institutions holding various academic conferences and forums around the world. It provides policy ideas and strategies for peace and prosperity for Korea and the world, and plays a role to strengthen Korea's public diplomacy.

Research

The Sejong Institute operates three research departments – Department of Diplomatic Strategy Studies, Department of Security Strategy Studies, and Department of Unification Strategy Studies.

Education

The Sejong Institute carries out an annual training program called the Sejong National Strategy Education Program. It lasts around 10 months and receives leaders from government agencies, government invested organizations and private sector. The trainees attend lectures from invited lecturers as well as research fellows of the Sejong Institute. Also, the institute has begun to offer the program Academy for Young Leaders for undergraduate and graduate students to cultivate young leaders of the next generation in the areas of diplomacy, security, and national unification.

Publications

The books and journals they publish include joint and individual Mid-to-Long-Term Policy Research, Comprehensive Research, Granted Research Projects, quarterly National Strategy, and a web-based email service in the form of Sejong Commentary, Current Issues & Policies, and Sejong Policy Brief. The Sejong as an institution produces an Annual Report as well, which details an updated introduction of the institute and summarizes the annual research outcomes.

Support programs for bereaved families

The Sejong Foundation is providing financial support and scholarship to the bereaved families of the 1983 Rangoon bombing victims — 17 senior diplomatic officials and other members of the presidential entourage – killed by

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

n terrorists.

History

The history of the Sejong Institute is presented in the following timeline:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sejong Institute Think tanks based in South Korea Think tanks established in 1983 1986 establishments in South Korea Cultural depictions of Sejong the Great