Joint International Conference

Organized by the SSK-funded Center for Glocal AI Network Research (DAU) in cooperation with The East Asian Association of International Studies (EAAIS) and East Asia Centre of University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany (WHZ)

Supported by the BK21 Gerontechnology Education and Research Team (DAU)

AND

Hanns Seidel Foundation, Korea Office

South Korea Between China and the United States:

Geopolitical and Economic Resilience Strategies

Conference Venue:

BPEX Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center

Chungjang-daero, 206

Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea

Programme

7 October 2026

Opening and Keynote Session - Rooms 3 & 4

10:00-10:30 - Arrival of Participants

10:30-10:50 - Welcome Remarks

Prof. Kangbae Lee (Dong-A University)

Prof. Ralph Wrobel (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)

10:50-11:10 - Congratulatory Remarks

Prof. Hyun-Jung Kim (East Asian Association of International Studies)

Prof. Min-Ho Ryu (Dong-A University)

11:10-12:20 - Keynote Session: "South Korea Between China and the United States"

Suk-Jun Lim (Dong-A University, South Korea): "Crossroads of History: South Korea's Resilience in a Fractured World"

Ralph Wrobel (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany): "Northeast Asia between China and the US: Current Geopolitical Challenges and Lessons from European Experience in Managing Great Power Rivalry"

12:20-14:00 - Lunch Break

14:00-15:40 - Parallel Sessions:

SESSION 1: Strategic Resilience in a Fragmented Global Economy (room 1)

Chair: Suk-Jun Lim (Dong-A University)

Joo-Hee Kim (Pukyong National University, South Korea): "Complementary Multilateralism in the Age of AI: APEC AI Initiative and East Asian Economic Security"

Gyu-Cheol Lee (Kumoh National Institute of Technology, South Korea): "The Qualitative Transformation of Dollar Hegemony: Structural Shifts in U.S. Treasury Demand and the Return of Market Discipline"

Sang-Wuk Ahn (Pukyong National University, South Korea): "Era of the Uncertainty: Reshaping Global Energy Supply Chain due to Global Risks"

Discussants

Myo-Yuen Do (KeiMyung University)

Hyun-Jung Kim (Dong-A University)

Bo Tu (Silla University)

SESSION 2: The Perspectives of Middle Powers (room 2)

Chair: Alexander Hess (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)

Christian Brauweiler (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany): "Middle Powers in a Fragmented World: Comparing South Korea and Kazakhstan in Balancing US–China Economic Rivalry"

Regiana Revilia (University of Lampung, Indonesia): "Lessons from South Korea for Middle Power Resilience under US-China Rivalry: A Comparative Study with Indonesia"

Dewi Nurhalimah (Universitas Lampung, Indonesia): "The Chained Race Car: Regulatory Paralysis of Subnational Foreign Investment Under Indonesia's Economic Security Framework"

15:40-16:00 - Coffee Break

16:00-18:00 - Parallel Sessions:

SESSION 3: Strategic Resilience in the Age of AI (room 1)

Chair: Ik-Sun Lee (Dong-A University)

Sungho Park & Kangbae Lee (Dong-A University, South Korea): "Before the Shock Arrives: Reading the Structural Resilience of Korea's Semiconductor Supply Chains from a Geopolitical Knowledge Graph"

Ji-Su Kang & Kangbae Lee (Dong-A University, South Korea): "Supporting Life-Context Continuity in AI Conversation for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment"

Eun-Ho Kim & Min-Ho Ryu (Dong-A University, South Korea): "The Effects of AI-Based Personalization on Advertising Effectiveness: The Roles of Perceived Utility, Perceived Threat, PUTD, and Age"

Jeong-Uk Park & Han-Byul Choi (Dong-A University, South Korea): "GriefTech: A systematic literature review of technology architectures, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary tensions"

SESSION 4: Alternative Perspectives from Northeast Asia (Hybrid Session, room 2)

Chair: Christian Brauweiler (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)

Yang Li & Ting Long (ReConnect China Horizon Europe Project / Université libre de Bruxelles & Ghent University): "Between Alliance Alignment and Selective De-risking: China's Interpretation of South Korea's Economic Security Strategy, 2022-2026"

Katsuhiko Hirasawa (Nihon University, Japan): "Changes in Capitalism in the U.S. and Labor Conditions in Japan"

Junko Hirasawa (Kawaguchi Junior College, Japan): "What Should Be Protected in Court: Litigation Surrounding Dismissals in Japan"

Hung-Chin Wu (National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan): "Analysis of China’s Geo-economic Strategy and Its Effects on Major East Asian Countries: A Case Study of South Korea and Japan"

18:30-20:30 - Conference Dinner

8 October 2026

09:00-11:00 - Parallel Sessions

SESSION 5: Technological Change and Strategic Resilience (Hybrid Session, room 1)

Chair: Ralph Wrobel (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)

Bernhard Seliger (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau & Hanns Seidel Foundation, USA): "Closer Cooperation, Strategic Partnership and Competition - Canada's Submarine Project and South Korea's and Germany's Bid"

Eun-Ju Lee (Dong-A University, South Korea): "What Drives China's AI Policy? Science and Technology Perspectives on AI Governance"

Alexander Hess (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany): "From Investment to Resilience: Organizational Conditions for AI-Driven Economic Resilience in South Korea"

SESSION 6: Transnational Cooperation and Governance Resilience amid Global Risks (Hybrid Session, room 2)

Chair: Bo Tu (Silla University)

Ju Yue (Baize Institute for Strategy Studies, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China): "Research on the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Cooperation Mechanism between China and ASEAN"

Su Chenghui (Baize Institute for Strategy Studies, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China): "Research on the Security of Overseas Digital Infrastructure: A Case Study of Submarine Cables and Data Centers along the Belt and Road Initiative"

Zhang Mingyang & Zhang Jiaqi (School of Ethnology and Sociology, Yunnan University, China): "Research on Risk Identification and Challenge Mitigation in the Process of RMB Internationalization"

Geng Qian, Zhou Xinmei & Tu Huazhong (Baize Institute for Strategy Studies, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China): "Population Dynamics, Equitable Resource Distribution, and Adaptability of International Rules: A Transdisciplinary Perspective"

Discussants

Asif Noor (Journal of Peace and Diplomacy, Pakistan)

Zihan Mei (Baize Institute for Strategy Studies, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China)

Pengling Li (Baize Institute for Strategy Studies, Southwest University of Political Science and Law,China)

Zamir Ahmed Awan (Global Silk Route Research Alliance Think Tank, Pakistan)

11:00-11:20   Closing Remarks

Further Information:

Recommended Accommodation:

Asti Hotel Busan Station

7-8 Jungang-daero

Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea

Conference Pre-Resistration