North Korea: Human Face Series
About
North Korea: The Human Face is an educational, non-partisan lecture series
committed to generating dialogue in the Bay Area on the topic of humanitarian aid and human
security in North Korea. Our goal is to provide a forum that will heighten knowledge, promote
critical thinking, and provide opportunities for our audience to interact with academic and
professional specialists working on these issues.
Our Mission
Through our lecture series, we hope to move beyond the conventional discourse on North Korea
and discuss real solutions to the country’s humanitarian problems. By doing so, we aim to create a
better understanding of the humanitarian situation in North Korea, demonstrate how humanitarian
work is making a positive impact, and inspire more students, professionals, scholars, NGO’s, and
other members of the Bay Area to become involved in initiatives furthering humanitarian aid and
human security in North Korea.
What We Do
Our program showcases individuals and groups working to actualize tangible solutions to
humanitarian problems through human rights, health diplomacy, education, sustainable
development, etc.
Who We Are
Presented by the Intercultural Institute of California/Korean Center, Inc. Cosponsored by USF’s Center for Pacific Rim, Nautilus Institute, Japan Policy Research Institute, and the Korea Policy Institute.
PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
Wednesday, February 3rd
Presented by: Korean Center, Inc.and Intercultural Institute of California
Cosponsored by: USF Center for Pacific Rim, Japan Policy Research Institute, and the Nautilus Institute.
A discussion with the North Korea: Human Face series inaugural speaker Peter Beck, Pantech Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Shorenstein Asia Pacific Research Center
About the Speaker: Peter Beck previously served as the executive director of the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and directed the International Crisis Group’s Northeast Asia Project in Seoul. He was also the Director of Research and Academic Affairs at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington. Mr. Beck recently authored an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal on North Korea. This event will be his debut lecture at the Korean Center, Inc.
6:00pm Lecture
7:00pm Reception -Korean refreshments served
Free & Open to the Public. RSVP’s recommended.
RSVP to CandaceChui@iic.edu
Wednesday, March 3rd
A discussion with guest speaker Stephen McNeil, Assistant Regional Director for Peacebuilding Work with American Friends Service Committee (which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947.)
Stephen McNeil will discuss the longstanding partnership AFSC has had with the Korean Peninsula, and AFSC’s humanitarian assistance programs which include technical assistance to the citizens of North Korea, medical assistance, and even musical exchange. These past 5 years, AFSC has been engaging North Korea through efforts in China and Vietnam.
Free & Open to the Public. RSVP’s recommended.
RSVP to CandaceChui@iic.edu
Wednesday, March 17th
A discussion with guest speaker Scott Bruce, Director NK Lecture Series Photoof U.S. Operations for the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability at the USF Center for the Pacific Rim.
Winter is a dangerous time for North Koreans, as it is when they are most likely to run out of food and coal. Given the endemic energy shortage in the DPRK, projects that promote energy efficiency and the transfer of energy-efficient technology to the country are a necessity. This talk will discuss the impact of cooperative, humanitarian energy efficiency projects in North Korea which have a direct and significant impact on the lives of many North Koreans, build in-country human capacity, and helps to open the door to further engagement.
Free & Open to the Public. RSVP’s recommended.
RSVP to CandaceChui@iic.edu
Friday, April 9th
A discussion on global health diplomacy with guest speaker Dr. Moon Jae Pak, Chairman of the US-DPRK Medical Science Exchange Committee & VP of the Korean American National Coordinating Council
This talk will highlight constructive solutions to humanitarian problems in North Korea through health diplomacy, and discuss how Americans can play a role in this. Dr. Pak will give an assessment of the development and current state of the North Korean medical care system, and examine difficulties it has encountered in the last twenty years. Dr. Pak will also speak on the economy of reunification of the Korean peninsula.
About the Speaker: Dr. Moon Jae Pak serves as the Chairman of the US-DPRK Medical Science Exchange Committee & VP of the Korean American National Coordinating Council. Dr. Pak visits North Korea on an annual basis as part of a medical delegation to the Pyongyang Medical Symposium. With almost 15 years of experience working on medical issues in North Korea, Dr. Pak is one of the most knowledgeable experts on public health in the DPRK.
Global Health Diplomacy: This lecture is framed around the critical issue of “health diplomacy” as a way to engage North Korea. Global health diplomacy is a cutting-edge field that interfaces between foreign policy, public health, and law and economics. This is a very exciting area of global policy, and we hope that you can join us.
Free & Open to the Public. RSVP’s recommended.
RSVP to CandaceChui@iic.edu
Presented by: Korean Center, Inc.and Intercultural Institute of California
Cosponsored by: USF Center for Pacific Rim, Japan Policy Research Institute, the Nautilus Institute, and the Korea Policy Institute.
A discussion with Dr. Sharon Perry, Senior Research Scientist from the Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, and Science Fellow with the Stanford Freeman-Spogli Institute, Center for International Security & Cooperation.
New York Times for their cutting-edge humanitarian work in North Korea. The Stanford-led Bay Area Tuberculosis Consortium was organized to promote opportunities for professional collaboration with North Korea on mutual interests in TB control. Dr. Sharon Perry directs the DPRK TB Health Policy Project, which seeks to develop opportunities for academic exchange on tuberculosis control. Dr. Perry will discuss the consortium’s work with the DPRK Ministry of Public Health to develop the country’s first laboratory with capacity to diagnose tuberculosis by culture and drug susceptibility testing. Implications of the project for regional and Pacific Rim TB programs will also be discussed.
Global health diplomacy: This lecture is framed around the critical issue of health diplomacy as a way to engage North Korea, and comprises Part II of the Global Health Diplomacy subseries of the “North Korea: Human Face” program. An emerging field of global policy, international health diplomacy is an exciting field that interfaces between foreign policy, public health, and law and economics.
RSVP’s recommended. RSVP to CandaceChui@iic.edu