On January 30, Korea University (KU)’s Jean Monnet EU Center of Excellence (JMEUCE) and the SK CHEY Institute of Advanced Studies cohosted a special lecture by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Held at the Chey Institute in Seoul, the lecture covered the topic of “NATO and the Republic of Korea: Deeper Partnerships for a More Dangerous World.” The hour-long public session was scheduled as part of Secretary Stoltenberg’s visit to strengthen cooperation between NATO and South Korea.

NATO have recently been gaining strong attention around the world, as their role in European and wider international politics grew significantly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to JMEUCE Professor Lee Jae-Seung (Graduate School of International Studies). Prof. Lee stated that Secretary Stoltenberg’s special lecture was sure to be of valuable experience for researchers and students interested in the changing global order and future trends of diplomacy and national security.

The sentiment seems to be shared by students as well. “The most memorable part was when the Secretary General answered the questions given by the KU students, especially on the area of nuclear deterrence,” said Lee Sangjun (’21, Chemical and Biological Engineering), who attended the special session as part of a school academic society.