Seminar on Korean feat

JAKARTA (JP): The University of Indonesia (UI) is organizing a seminar on Thursday to review South Korea's experience in industrialization and political development. The organizers say they hope Indonesia can learn from the discussion, which will bring together scholars from both countries. It is also intended to promote closer relations between Indonesia and South Korea.

Although in the 1960s economic conditions in South Korea were as poor as in Indonesia, the last two decades have seen the South Korean economy transforming into one of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing. Since the 1980s Seoul has also ushered in democracy.

"Is Indonesia ready to emulate the development of Newly Industrialized Countries?" asked chief organizer Hero U. Kuntjoro-Jakti, who heads the International Relations Studies of the university's School of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).

Speakers from S. Korea includes U-Jin Lee, the head of the Korean Association of Southeast Studies, Seun-Yoong Yang of the Hankuk University, Chung-Si Ahn of Seoul National University and Sung-Yeal Koo of Yonsei University. Speakers from Indonesia include M. Budyatna, the dean of UI-FISIP, Kun Zahrun Istanti of Gadjah Mada University, Hero U. Kuntjoro-Jakti and Faisal Basri of the UI. (dnd/emb)