Intellectual Exchanges Between the Korea and EU: Focusing on the Public Support System and Status of Exchange

Abstract

This article reviewed the current status of intellectual exchanges between Korea and the EU, focusing on government-led support systems. In particular, it analyzed activities by the KF as Korea’s leading agency in charge of knowledge diplomacy, and its projects over the past 10 years that promoted exchanges and mobility with the European region. In the case of Europe, the article compiled and presented the agenda and budget of projects supported by Horizon 2020. As mentioned above, Korean government has been approaching intellectual exchanges with Europe from the perspective of public diplomacy. On the other hand, the EU supports the exchanges between the two regions by putting greater emphasis on the economic aspects and industrial competitiveness. Therefore, the KF, Korea’s public diplomacy body, aims to expand its international partners and allies by promoting Korea on the international stage. In the case of the EU, research cooperation in science and technology is a key task in pursuing intellectual exchanges between the two regions. This stems from the joint research agreement signed as a result of the Korea-EU Summit in 2013. The difference in tone between the two regions is due to the following. Korea acquired the middle power status later than European countries did. As a result, Korea is actively projecting itself to the international society including Europe. To this end, Korean government utilizes intellectual exchanges as a means of doing so. On the other hand, even though the EU is technically a political system, its member states have significant authority over fields of political and cultural diplomacy. Thus, it can be interpreted that the EU, as a single market, is concentrating on intellectual exchanges in terms of industrial competitiveness where the EU holds full authority and the right to active engagement.