Monday, October 5, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Eastern
Virtual Event via Zoom
This event is on the record and open to the public.
Program (PDF)
Event Description
The North Korean economy, which was already pressured hard by tight international sanctions, faced unprecedented economic challenges since the global outbreak of COVID-19. The health crisis revealed the vulnerability of North Korea’s economic system and raised questions about the validity of Pyongyang’s economic development plans. In this context, the first part of our second North Korea Economic Forum Annual Conference will examine the current development trends in North Korea in the areas of public infrastructure, tourism, and mobile telecommunications.
Schedule
Congratulatory Remarks
09:00 a.m. – 09:15 a.m.
Moderator: Jisoo Kim (Director, GW Institute for Korean Studies)
Ilana Feldman (Interim Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs, GW)
Jong-Il You (Dean, KDI School of Public Policy and Management)
Daniel Wertz (Chair, North Korea Economic Forum)
Panel Discussion
09:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Moderator: Celeste Arrington (Korea Foundation Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affair, The George Washington University)
Speakers
Jerome Sauvage (Consultant, Former UN Coordinator in North Korea)
“The State of Public Infrastructure in the DPR Korea: Power, Water and Sanitation, Health”
Matt Kulesza (Senior North Korean Tour Guide & Media Liaison, Young Pioneer Tours)
“How the Chinese spike in North Korea tourism is affecting the industry”
Yonho Kim (Associate Director, GW Institute for Korean Studies)
“Transferring Airtime: A Precursor to Mobile Money in North Korea?”
Discussants
Joongho Kim (Non-Resident Scholar, GW Institute for Korean Studies)
Randall Spadoni (North Korea Program Director, World Vision)
Background
The North Korea Economic Forum (NKEF) is part of policy program at the George Washington University’s Institute for Korean Studies (GWIKS). The Forum aims to promote the understanding of North Korean economic issues, distribute the well-balanced, deeply touched, and multi-dimensionally explored pictures of North Korean economy and to expand the network among the various North Korean economy watchers. The Forum is mostly a closed and off-the-record meeting where participants can freely and seriously discuss the critical issues. Mr. Daniel Wertz is currently the chair of the NKEF and is leading the meetings. It also organizes special conferences made public throughout the academic year. The Forum is made possible by a generous grant provided by the KDI School of Public Policy and Management.
The 2nd North Korea Economic Forum Annual Conference (Part II) on “Researching North Korea: Sources, Methods, and Pitfalls” will be held on Oct. 12~13.
