Student's Voice: [GS] Studying International Relations from Korean and Japanese Perspectives

The next post in the Student Voice series. Student Voice interviews students at our English-medium programs. Once a month, the International Admission Office will release an interview with our students. We hope these interviews can be helpful to you when thinking about choosing to come to Ritsumeikan University. 

Post by International Admissions Office

Wonjin from South Korea

 

While keenly analyzing and researching the rapidly changing international politics, I was eager to be a talented person who can contribute to securing Korea's national interests and enhancing its foreign status with a broad perspective toward the world. In particular, the opportunity to study international politics in English with students of various nationalities was very fascinating. Having lived in a global environment for many years, I have become accustomed to communicating with and respecting others who have various cultures and backgrounds. In particular, working as an assistant teacher for English lecture and International Forums in Japanese high schools since 2018, I have explored ways to communicate across borders by using language.

 

I have also studied international politics in English with students of various nationalities at Ritsumeikan University in Japan. Through the opportunity to learn and discuss international politics with multinational students, I have realized that cooperation must take place based on a deep understanding of foreign affairs with diverse interests, not merely from the perspective of looking at international politics from the Korean perspective. In particular, recognizing the importance of international politics as a means to stably manage diplomatic relations, resolve disputes, and promote cooperation, I chose Global Studies (GS) program and Ritsumeikan University to research the practical policies.

 

 

 

What made you think about looking for a university in Japan?

 

Majoring in International Politics, I have continued my studies with a deep understanding of Japan's comprehensive sectors ranging from politics, economy, and culture. In particular, based on an understanding of the characteristics of society that Japan has developed based on its own unique culture since the Meiji Restoration, I wanted to know what characteristics Japanese modern society has formed and maintained. In addition, I have researched the fundamental strategies and principles of the Japanese government, especially of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the transition of East Asian diplomacy related to Japanese foreign policy. Besides, I have tried to seek at Japanese universities with the goal of studying the establishment of the Korea-Japan regional cooperation and possibilities.

 

 

 

Outline of your studies(GS Major)

 

I am very interested in establishing a cooperative regime in East Asia. I have been studying to find policy means to resolve hostility and political confrontation caused by historical and political factors, and to establish productive and cooperative diplomatic relations, and to study ways to promote cooperation therein through the construction of regional partnerships such as the model of the European Union. To this end, while understanding the need to research complex interests and dynamics in the region, including Korea-Japan relations and the history of Northeast Asia, I was eager to deepen my research by studying international relation with understanding that diplomacy is the most efficient and appropriate means to do so.

 

 

 

What are you focusing on?

 

I'm focusing on my study of the decision-making process of foreign policy. I am eager to analyze the importance on the realization of the country's foreign policy of the impact of domestic political structures, including the state actors, policy makers and the legislature. Especially with regard to democratic countries, I am looking for optimal foreign policies for Korea by analyzing the process of forming a country's foreign policy and negative factors which can affect the stable maintenance of policy enforcement, by considering that foreign policy can be influenced by various domestic factors such as political interests and public opinion, not by the arbitrary choice of a single actor, and by finding ways to eliminate instability in diplomatic relations and contribute to institutionalization of cooperation.

 

 

 

What pushed you towards to International Relations?

 

It has been my long dream to resolve political conflicts, especially among East Asian countries. Through my studies and experiences in global affairs, which I have gained both in Korea and Japan, I would like to research thereon profoundly and to find ways for building and maintaining close relationships. Based on learning on the characteristics and history of diplomatic relations in East Asia, with analyzing the dynamics of East Asian circumstances and studying cases of cooperation and conflict, I will also examine the ways on a policy level to institutionalize the regional cooperation system and to be able to suggest the policies to the Korean government.

 

I wanted to study the mechanism of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan through research on the academic direction of Korea and Japan and comparative analysis of the government structure, political system, and bureaucratic system in international politics, noting that the foreign policies of Korea and Japan are different depending on perspectives. In particular, through majoring in the political science I wanted to develop the study and exploration of Japanese universities into the study of Korean politics and diplomacy.

 

 

 

RU encourages international exchanges, tell us about your experience at RU?

 

Appointed as Korean delegation to Y20 Saudi Arabia (G20 engagement group), MOFA Korea has authorized me on behalf of representing the voice of Korean youth to discuss policies and agendas for the future of youth at the international conference in G20 Riyad Summit. By discussing youth empowerment and ways to induce youth's active participation in the global economy and sustainable development and social issues in global affairs, I will devote myself as one of the Y20 youth delegates to strengthen the global youth network and conduct policy discussions and campaigns in a global level to help young people grow into essential members of the global society through leading worldwide youth communication.

By participating in Model G20 Conference held by MOFA Korea (2019, Awarded Minister Prize), I have developed a deep understanding of the multilateral cooperative system based on global governance. In particular, with regarding diplomatic means to manage regional conflicts and promote cooperation among countries, I have laid the intellectual foundation of academic exploration to research ways for Korea as a middle power state to maintain stable foreign relations and take the lead in creating a cooperative world based on norms. And I have been looking for policy measures in a multilateral system, paying attention to the role of global partnerships in maintaining and promoting transnational cooperation, presenting the direction of the world and establishing norms. Also, I have participated in various activities including Model African Union Assembly held by MOFA Korea(2019, Awarded Prize from President of the Korea-Africa Foundation) and Diplomacy Workshop held by Korea National Diplomatic Academy(2019), and developed a deep understanding of international politics and diplomacy and recognized the need to establish a multilateral relationship through qualitative relationships. Besides, I have explored the cases of regional cooperation and integration and expanded to research on how to establish regional cooperation regime for the promotion of collaboration and the acceleration and institutionalization of integration in East Asia. Recognizing the importance of economic and trade relations in international relations through Collegiate Debate Tournament on Trade Policy held by Korea (2019, Awarded Prize from President of KPC), I have researched the interaction between Korea's trade policy and the global economy.

 

 

 

Have you lived in a university dorm? 

 

I have developed a deep understanding of diversity through experiences while having been working as a Residential Assistant in Ritsumeikan University’s International Dormitory for years, and have genuinely been interested in learning foreign languages and numerous cultures inherent therein. As students of various nationalities gathered and lived together, I was able to develop a close relationship with each other, and with Introducing each other's culture and traditions, sharing dishes and eating together, having a truly international life and circumstances was possible in the dormitory.

 

 

Is your life easy in Japan? Do you do a part-time job?

 

Many Japanese were friendly to foreigners, and whenever there was something I didn't know, they have helped me kindly. Also, even if someone came to Japan for the first time without knowing Japanese well, I can be sure that there has been an amicable condition where he or she could learn Japanese deliberately, and there was no problem in my daily life.

 

Using my multilingual skills, I have done part-time jobs related to tourism. As Kyoto is a city with having a number of famous tourist attractions, I have provided interpretation services to tourists using English and Korean language skill and also done front-work at hotels. The experience of meeting and talking with various people was a very important opportunity to broaden my insight.

 

 

 

What is your career plan after graduate RU?

 

I want to grow up to be a diplomat and researcher who can devote myself to resolve conflicts, institutionalize stable relations, and form a peaceful regional community, and who can research diplomatic ways to systematically manage and stabilize Korea-Japan relations and suggest to the government. In particular, I want to transform the Korea-Japan relationship into a cooperative bilateral relationship and establish an institutional mechanism in East Asia through a deep understanding of the essential aspects such as fundamental ideological differences between Korea and Japan based on my academic experience in both countries, thereby contributing to the establishment of a globally competitive regional community, ultimately leading to sustainable growth of Korea and the cooperative development of the region.

 

Based on the knowledge and experience, I would like to study the diplomatic ways of institutionalization and development of Korea-Japan cooperation. Through theoretical consideration of the alliance at the same level as the state actors, I would study the impact of the cooperation and alliance on the East Asian power balance, the extent to which it can contribute to the resolution of regional issues such as North Korea's nuclear weapons and the U.S.-China conflict, and the factors and methodologies for establishing a stable regional cooperative based on cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. Based on the deep understanding of geopolitical conditions and security interests defined by bilateral relations with neighbor countries, I would research ways to utilize multilateral diplomacy to overcome the limitations of national power and maximize national interests, and to actively engage in foreign diplomacy as a middle power country.

 

 

 

Message in English/Korean

 

Become a student at Ritsumeikan University, and become a global person.

더욱 더 넓은 시야 속에서, 더 넓은 세계를 향해 달려가보세요.