Interesting things I learned from the GEO Colloquium

I attended the GEO Colloquium last week. The guest speaker was Honorable Harry A.C. Van Woerden. He is the executive director of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) Korea. The topic of the colloquium is ‘Stepping Stone to European Business’. He explained issues pertaining to world business and global leadership. Harry engaged students and asked them: “What should we do?”.

After I listened to the colloquium, I searched about NFIA and visited NFIA homepage to further understand the topic, ‘Stepping stone to European Business’. There, it explains the best strategic position and discusses about the subject: ‘Why invest in Holland’ in Europe”. It also discusses about the international business management environment. Before I investigated Holland, things I know about that country only include the tulip and windmill. But, after I studied about that country, I realized that Holland holds a very strong strategic position in Europe. What is interesting is that Holland is not only located in central Europe, it has excellent social overhead capital facilities. These are some of the reasons, why the speaker suggests that Holland gives potential investors a business advantage.

Korea as a hub in Asia

I remember the speaker also mentioned about the position of Korea in Asia. As he says, Korea is located in the center of East Asia, between China and Japan. It is similar to Holland. So Korea can be the ‘Stepping stone to Asian Business’. I totally agree with this. Now, Korea also prepares Korean investment for international business. Asia is very big continent. Asia is a big business place. And Korea is the center of East Asia. It has a thriving economy. I really hope Korea is as active as Holland, becoming a major hub in Asia.

Effective speaker

It is actually my first time to participate in an English speaking colloquium. The colloquium format is very unfamiliar for me. But, Honorable Harry A.C. Van Woerden’s speech made the atmosphere very pleasant. I think Honorable Harry A.C. van Woerden is a good speaker. He made a lot of eye contact with the audience. Even if the topic is difficult, he tried to deliver his speech properly. Amazingly, he sometimes used Korean in his speech. It makes an amicable atmosphere all throughout. I think the best speaker has to prepare contents of speech and consider the response of the audience. If the speaker doesn’t care about audience and does not make enough contact with them, they will be very bored and uninterested in his speech. So I was so impressed with his speech.

I experienced Colloquium for the first time. I learned a lot about global business and more so about the speaker’s attitude and EnglishJ. I enjoyed the colloquium and it helped me to improve my English. Thanks to the colloquium. I look forward to future colloquiums that Catholic University of Korea will organize. 

by Seung A Ko, GEO Class 2-1, Professor Nigel Powers and TA Go Eun

The return of the Stephen Cardinal Kim Global Leadership Colloquium

                 

Korea and Netherland flags

The 11^th Stephen Cardinal Kim Global Leadership Colloquium of the Catholic University of Korea was held last May 3, 2012 at the International Hub Hall with the theme: The Netherlands: Stepping Stone to European Business. Mr. Nicolaas Le Roux - Director of ILEC hosted the said conference that was attended by university professors and students. The University Vice President, Professor Yong-Seung Kim, Ph.D., welcomed the Guest speaker, His Excellency Harry A.C. van Woerden - Executive Director of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA). Generally, the conference was focused on the reasons why the Netherlands is the ideal European state to invest in and how the NFIA can assist Korean companies develop business in Holland.

Mr. Harry A.C. van Woerden, Executive Director of the 

Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) Korea since 2005. 

Professor Yong-Seung Kim, Ph.D. for the Welcoming Remarks

Professor Nicolaas Le Roux , Fr. Jung Tae Young our University Priest

and some University Professors 

 Group Picture with Mr. Harry A.C. van Woerden

by: Raizza Tolentino, GEO Blog Editorial Trainee

Holy See and International Diplomacy

Last November 25, Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla, the Apostolic Nuncio in Korea and Mongolia visited Catholic University of Korea to talk about "The Holy See and International Diplomacy". The eighth Stephen Cardinal Kim Global Leadership Colloquium was held in Multiseminar Room (IH267) from 6 to 7 in the evening.

He discussed about the functions of the nuncio before the local church and before the state as an envoy or messenger of the Holy See that promotes and fosters relationships with these entities. Further he discussed that the Holy See maintains formal diplomatic relations with 178 sovereign states, and also with the European Union, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as having relations of special character with the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Also he said that the Holy see is a member of various international organizations. The Holy See's diplomatic affairs involves invoking peace, freedom, human rights around the world.

Professor Nicolaas Le Roux introduces the Guest of Honor

Dr. Fr. Johan Yeong-Sik Pahk, SSD (President of CUK), delivering the welcoming remarks

Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla presented "The Holy See and International Diplomacy"

Students and Professors alike were present to listen to the presentation

A professor asks questions to Archbishop Padilla

A student seeked advice about how South Koreans can relate to its North Korean brothers

Students asking another question to Archbishop Padilla

Even Professor Ma posted a question to Archbishop Padilla

Chinese student also asked some questions regarding the Holy See

Foreign students taking a picture with Archbishop Padilla

CUK faculty and ILEC director and faculty with Archbishop Padilla

From the editors desk.

FVR visits Catholic University of Korea

In commemoration of the 60^th anniversary of the Korean War, the Catholic University of Korea  (CUK) invited former Philippine President,  Fidel Valdez Ramos (FVR) to talk about the “ Significant Contributions of the Filipino Soldiers during the Korean War”. The sixth Stephen Cardinal Kim Global Leadership Colloquium was held last September 15, 2010 at Multiseminar Room IH 267, Sacred Heart Convention Center.

Dr. Victoria Jo, the director of International Language Education Center (ILEC) introduced the guest of honor. The President of Catholic University of Korea, Fr. Johan Yeong-Sik Pahk, SSD delivered the welcoming remarks. A short video presentation, courtesy of the Philippine Embassy, represented by Ambassador Luis Cruz, was also shown during the conference to give the audience a brief background of what happened during the Korean war.  Images of the Korean war and interviews with the Filipino Korean war veterans were shown in the video. The video depicted the difficult life during war times.  The video was a great eye opener, especially to most of the audience, university students, who only hear about the Korean war stories from their grandparents.  

The video was followed by the presentation by Former President Fidel V. Ramos.  FVR mentioned historic details of Philippine participation in the Korean war.  The Philippines joined the Korean War in 1950. The Philippines sent an expeditionary force, the  Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea, or PEFTOK. It was the 4th largest force under the United Nations Command. The PEFTOK took part in decisive battles such as the Battle of Yultong Bridge,  Battle of Miudong/Syngue, the Battle of Hill Eerie, among others. PEFTOK soldiers, including FVR, fought bravely in the course of their duty.  Finally, their efforts paid off. Eventually, in 1953, Korean War Armistice Agreement took place.  

FVR mentioned the rehabilitation and reconstruction in Korea. Korea strived hard to what it is today, an economic powerhouse. Today, Korean industries continue to boom elsewhere.

Amidst the great success that Korea is now experiencing, FVR reminded the guests to live their daily lives to the best of their ability so that the sacrifices made before would not be in vain.  In closing, he also left three important key points - CARING, SHARING and DARING for each other and for the countries around the world.  He said that caring and sharing are easy enough to do.  To care and share to other people and other nations is simple as it is natural for humankind.  Daring, however, is a bit difficult.  Daring requires courage - daring to enhance the environment instead of abusing it, daring to unite for the common good.  FVR challenged everyone – to CARE, to SHARE and to DARE  - daring to sacrifice to make a difference. Indeed, lets all Care, Share and Dare for a better world.

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Some background about Korean War and participation of the Filipino Soldiers including His Excellency:
http://www.kyeongin.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=541313
http://cuk2.tistory.com/1350

Colloquium Video Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXiHiaAw-9k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BstMyjbomP4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piacq3WrChE

Photos courtesy of Ms. Karina Chua. Videos courtesy of Mr. Alexander Martin Aquino.