Navigation in a New Era: Opportunities & Challenges in U.S.-Korea-China Relations

Panel: Dr. Min Jeonghun, The Korea National Diplomatic Academy; Mark Tokola, The Korea Economic Institute of America

Dr. Min Jeonghun is a Professor in the Department of American Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA).  He is interested in the US-China strategic competition, ROK-US relations, North Korea-US relations, and American Politics. He is a policy adviser to the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Unification of the Republic of Korea. Dr. MIN received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Georgia

Mark Tokola is Vice President of the Korea Economic Institute of America in Washington, DC. A retired U.S. Senior Foreign Service Officer, his last posting was as Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the US Embassy in London. He had served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassies in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; and Reykjavik, Iceland.

Opening Remarks: Lim Jungtaek, Consul General of The Republic of Korea in San Francisco. A career diplomat with over 30 years of experience, he has served in Korean missions in Malaysia, Ireland, Ghana, India, the United Nations, and the OECD. He was formerly the Ambassador to Ghana and held senior positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Yonsei University and an M.A. in International Studies from the University of Connecticut.

Moderator: Suisheng Zhao, a Professor and Director of the Center for China-US Cooperation at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. A Campbell National Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, he is the founder and editor of the Journal of Contemporary China and the author and editor of over two dozen books and hundreds of academic articles. His most recent book, The Dragon Roars Back: Transformational Leaders and Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy (Stanford University Press, 2023, was named one of “Best of Books 2024” by Foreign Affairs magazine. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, San Diego, an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Missouri, and a BA and M.A. in economics from Peking University.

Designed to give prospective students an inside look at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs through faculty presentations, class visits, and student engagement opportunities. The program highlights Korbel’s academic strengths, resources, and community to help students envision their place here in Denver.

Sample Schedule 
8:30 a.m: Check-in
9:00 a.m: "What you can DU at Korbel"
9:50 a.m: Sample Korbel Class
10:35 am: Korbel Simulation (Students only) / Forum on Korbel (Guests)
11:40 a.m: Undergraduate Korbel Student Panel
12:30 p.m: Lunch with Korbel featuring Dean Fritz Mayer
1:30 p.m: Closing Remarks
2:00 p.m: (optional): University of Denver Information Session and Campus Tour

Join the Conflict Engagement and Resolution Initiative (CERI) for a free weekend workshop. Learn — and practice — how to facilitate dialogue across differences on social issues. Gain the tools, techniques, and resources necessary to become a facilitator.

The Conflict Engagement and Resolution Initiative (CERI) is hosting a deliberation on one of the most pressing questions facing colleges today. Participants will weigh different perspectives, consider trade-offs, and explore what matters most when building the campus community we want.

Food will be provided, and advanced reading is required.

On Monday, September 29th, join the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy and the Ukraine Aid Fund as we welcome Alex Gorgan and Florent Marcie to Korbel to share their perspectives and first-hand experiences on the war in Ukraine. Gorgan, a Ukrainian attorney-turned-army volunteer, and Marcie, a French documentary filmmaker and war correspondent, will join Professors Rachel Epstein and Hilary Matfess for a conversation about the realities of war at the frontlines, global security implications of the ongoing conflict, and the state of Ukraine today.

Doors will open at 5pm with programming beginning at 5:30pm.

Food will be provided; please RSVP to ensure that our order is correct!

During the fall quarter, the Korbel community is invited to join a weekly discussion moderated by faculty that explores the evolving U.S. policy landscape under the Trump Administration. Open to all students, faculty, and staff, this series will provide a welcoming space for questions and discussion about today’s political and policy challenges. Our September pop-up will focus the conversation around various ongoing and arising conflicts around the world, including:

- Russia's invasion of Ukraine and recent
- A potentially re-emerging conflict in Northern Ethiopia
- The ongoing conflict in Gaza, the role of the ICC, and more

Please let us know if you plan to join so we know how much pizza to order!

In the 20th century, the United States and the Soviet Union, the two remaining superpowers on Earth at the time, waged a Cold War for more than 40 years in which economic, political and military tactics tested the boundaries of warfare without ever coming into direct conflict. Today, the United States and China, are facing off on a different terrain, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. From low earth orbit to the lunar surface, Beijing, Washington and a host of others are on a potential collision course that could transform a conflict in space into a full-scale war on Earth. But a critical question remains: Is there still an opportunity to pull back from the brink, or will humanity go toppling over the edge?

Please join the Josef Korbel School and Bertelsmann Foundation for a screening of the documentary "Astropolitics," followed by an expert panel and Q&A on the geopolitical implications of space exploration. The film offers a compelling look at how space may become the next theater of conflict—or a new model for cooperation. The event begins with a reception at 5:00 pm and screening at 5:30 pm. The film runs approximately 60 minutes.

Join us for the first conversation in the Dean's Speaker Series, featuring Korbel Rice Family Professor of the Practice and former Peace Corps Director, Carol Spahn. Dean Fritz Mayer and Carol Spahn will sit down for a fireside chat to discuss an array of topics relating to current public and global affairs.

Please join the Korbel community for a welcome back gathering to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. All Korbel students, faculty, and staff are welcome! Food and non-alcoholic refreshments will be served.

Location available upon registration.