This book is the compilation of the papers, whose authors participated and presented in the international conference held at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, South Korea, on December 1st of 2020 under the title of 'Supra-National Cooperation and Communication for the Sustainable Development of the Korean Peninsula.' Cohosted by the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) and Humanities Korea (HK+) Research Project Agency for National Research Foundation of Korea at Center for International Area Studies (CIAS) in Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), the international conference was dedicated to the crucial issue of finding the ways of keeping the sustainable development of the Korean Peninsula, supra-national cooperation, and communication. The presenters and discussants discussed the current status and future orientation of the topic of the conference, which was really helpful to find out the solutions to the problems we are facing now. After the conference, the organizational committee decided to publish a monograph of the conference as a record of the discussion and arguments. The presenters were asked to revise their presentation papers based upon the comments and questions from the discussants. As a result of their meticulous efforts, we have been able to collect revised papers from the presenters, including the four Korean presenters, who took the trouble to rewrite their presentations in English. On behalf of the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) and Humanities Korea (HK+) Research Project Agency for National Research Foundation of Korea at Center for International Area Studies (CIAS) in Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), I would like to express my deep gratitude for all the participants, particularly the eight presenters of the international conference.

  HK+ Research Project Agency (HK+RPA) was launched in 2020 with the reception of the project from National Research Foundation of Korea. Our agenda is 'Searching for the Supra-National Cooperation and Communication: Identifying the Contacts with Northern Culture and Building a Cultural Hub for the Creation of Unification Friendly Circumstances.' We will proceed the Project for 7 years until 2027. Our aim is to build a global level Think Tank which devotes to the peace and prosperity of the humankind. HK+RPA belongs to Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. CIAS is a non-profit research institution established in 1993 sponsored by HUFS, whose overarching purpose is to conduct research on area and strategic studies. CIAS has 14 affiliated research institutes and coordinates their research works. CIAS aims to contribute to Korea's national competitiveness as a provider of information, training and research. CIAS is also devoted to making more peaceful world by enhancing endeavors after sustainable development.

  The co-sponsor KEI was originally founded in January 1993 as the Korea Environmental Technology Research Institute (KETRI). The organization was reformed and expanded in 1997 to become the Korea Environment Institute. KEI has set a business goal to improve life for all citizens, which has been the foundation for its ongoing work in preventing environmental issues and finding solutions to them through solid environmental policy research and environment impact assessments. The Covid-19 pandemic made the year of 2020 a real turbulence. Unfortunately, the turbulence is still going on despite the beginning of the vaccination process. However, we are sure that we will go back to normal life in the near future. Anticipating the new start of the relationship between the two Koreas and with other neighbors, the eight papers in this volume will present diverse perspectives on various issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula. We hope that this would be little contribution to the supra-national cooperation and communication for the sustainable development of the Korean Peninsula and the world.

  I would like to say special thanks again to every participants of the conference and this volume. I also hope that every reader of this volume will find an insight to prepare for the future of the peaceful and sustainable Korean peninsula and the world.

Kang, Jun Young

Head, HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency;

Director, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

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