Seoul National University

Distinguished speakers, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon, and welcome to Seoul National University. As the President of SNU, it is my great honor to welcome you to our campus for 2010 International Consortium for Social Development, Asia-Pacific Regional Conference. The 2010 ICSD-AP Conference provides a very unique opportunity for all of us to share experiences, exchange ideas, and connect with prominent colleagues from the Asia-Pacific Region.

Currently, it is a very exciting yet a critical period to be living in the Asia-Pacific region. Approximately, sixty percent of the global population is populated in Asia, and 25% of the total global GDP comes from Asian countries. By the year 2040, it is projected that 42% of the total global GDP will be from Asia. In short, the era of Asia is coming. In addition, the success stories of economic development in Asian countries and the economic resilience that many countries in Asia has shown during the most recent international financial crises has raised an increasing amount of the international community's attention to Asian countries.

While this attention and interest from the international community is exciting, it is also creating new tasks and responsibilities to scholars and academics in Asia-Pacific countries. I strongly believe that it is our responsibility to establish an Asian scholarship that is spear-headed by scholars who have first hand experience of the Asian economic and social development. It is also our responsibility to create knowledge and academic discourse that adequately reflects the uniqueness of Asia. I think the establishment of Asia-Pacific knowledge and scholarship will help Asia-Pacific countries be prepared to take on leading roles in the era of Asia. In order to establish academic discourse and knowledge that is unique to Asia, I strongly believe that Asia needs to develop and facilitate scholarly exchange between universities, research institutes, academics, and students.

Particularly, I hope that you will utilize this opportunity to promote collaborative relationships with Seoul National University, as well. Since its first establishment in 1895, Seoul National University has pursued academic excellence and leadership. Seoul National University prides itself as being the best university in Korea. Our dedicated faculty and brilliant and earnest students have worked hard to aim higher and become of the leading universities in the world. Now we envision our university to become an epicenter of knowledge creation in Asia, and we have worked hard to create an international academic environment that promotes collaborative research and education between international scholars and students. As a result, there has been a substantial increase in the number of international faculty and students at Seoul National University. We have also developed meaningful relationships with a great number of universities all over the world including some of the schools from which you have come. In addition, our devotion to promote SNU as an international hub for creating educational and academic values in Asia is ongoing. I hope this conference will be a catalyst for cultivating relationships.

Once again, I would like to thank all of you for participating in the 2010 ICSD-AP international conference. This year's conference theme, which is the 'Vision of Social Development in the Globalized Asia: commonality and diversity,' is very timely. It is inevitable to pursue coexistence and cooperation among nations in order to thrive in this in this ever-changing global economy. Sharing common experiences and embracing the diversity is the foundation for building trusting and cooperative relationship.

The Department of Social Welfare, who is the host of this conference, has demonstrated leadership in building the current Korean welfare system. Professors that the department have influenced the government and policy makers to build social insurance policies including the national pension and national health insurance, social welfare policies including poverty, disability, and mental health policies, and numerous social work programs. Alumni of the department have taken on influential positions in the area of social welfare including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, nonprofit organizations, and social welfare agencies. During this conference, I hope you take this opportunity to engage in interesting discussions about the history and the current state of social welfare and social development in Korea.

Lastly, I hope you take some time to enjoy the Seoul National University campus. The fall colors at the SNU campus is at its peak right now. So in your free time please take some time to walk around our campus and enjoy the autumn sun. We also have a wonderful Museum where various Korean historical arts and objects are displayed. The Museum of Art on our campus, is always a good place to visit if you are interested in art. Interesting collections of Korean paintings, sculptures and other works of art are showcased there.

Thank you for your participation and I hope you have a wonderful time here at the conference and at SNU.