Deadline: 28-May-2023
In collaboration with the Institute for East Asian Studies at Sogang University (SIEAS) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), AKC will host the ‘2023 ASEAN-Korea Academic Essay Contest’, inviting graduate and undergraduate students of ASEAN and Korean nationalities.
The Contest aims to provide an avenue for students to thoroughly conduct research and share their perspectives and knowledge on ASEAN and ASEAN-Korea relations.
Through this Contest, they look forward to receiving original, yet coherent essays in promoting the ASEAN-Korea relationship and suggestions as to how ASEAN and Korea can further expand their cooperation towards a more sustainable ASEAN-Korea partnership.
Interested applicants can work as an individual or in teams (up to 2 students) and are advised to work with the guidance of an academic advisor when writing both the proposal and the final essay.
Theme
- Strengthening ASEAN-Korea Strategic Partnership in a Changing Global Landscape, through one of the following sub-topics:
- This year, the overall theme focuses on strengthening the ASEAN-Korea partnership as indicated above. In the announcement made by ROK’s President Yoon’s administration at the ASEAN-ROK Summit last November, the critical role of ASEAN-Korea relations through cooperation was emphasized. Within this cooperation, the Contest is expected to generate greater participation and engagement for youths. This is highly important, as the idea is also indicated in the ROK’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and KASI. This also corresponds to ROK’s ambition to elevate the partnership status to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ (CSP) by 2024. Hence, AKC’s commitments and efforts towards solidifying the partnership within the youth population will be carried out through the Contest by inviting students to express their view or ideas, through one of the essay sub-topics below:
- Current Discourse and Perceptions on ASEAN-Korea Relations and Ways to Improve Perceptions; or
- According to the ‘Survey on Mutual Perceptions of ASEAN and Korean Youths’ conducted by AKC (2022), there are apparent gaps in the levels of mutual awareness and understanding that ASEAN and Korean youths have on one another. With this psychological distance in mind, option 1 invites students to discuss the current discourse and perceptions on ASEAN-Korea relations with their take on this, as well as to provide original ideas that can surmount this gap. This is ultimately to achieve more inclusive, mutually beneficial, and sustainable relationship.
- Synergies in Digital and Green Initiatives for Sustainable and Mutually Beneficial ASEAN-Korea Partnership
- For option 2, students are expected to analyze synergies in emerging and innovative areas of digital and green initiatives for ASEAN-Korea partnership. It is important for students to link this to sustainable and mutually beneficial ASEAN-Korea partnership as well. As it has been forecasted that by 2040, ASEAN region is to increase its regional GDP to US$20 trillion fueled by a population size of 770 million, students can take advantage to also elaborate this ASEAN growth further to the essay question. Moreover, policy suggestions or future implications can also be made throughout. Last, but not least, students may offer policy suggestions that are beneficial to ASEAN-Korea partnership or cooperation.
- Current Discourse and Perceptions on ASEAN-Korea Relations and Ways to Improve Perceptions; or
- This year, the overall theme focuses on strengthening the ASEAN-Korea partnership as indicated above. In the announcement made by ROK’s President Yoon’s administration at the ASEAN-ROK Summit last November, the critical role of ASEAN-Korea relations through cooperation was emphasized. Within this cooperation, the Contest is expected to generate greater participation and engagement for youths. This is highly important, as the idea is also indicated in the ROK’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and KASI. This also corresponds to ROK’s ambition to elevate the partnership status to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ (CSP) by 2024. Hence, AKC’s commitments and efforts towards solidifying the partnership within the youth population will be carried out through the Contest by inviting students to express their view or ideas, through one of the essay sub-topics below:
Prize Details
- Grand Prize
- No. of Winner(s): 1
- Award: KRW 2,000,000
- Excellence Prize
- No. of Winner(s): 1
- Award: KRW 1,000,000
- Merit Prize
- No. of Winner(s): 1
- Award: KRW 500,000
- Special Mention Award
- No. of Winner(s): 5
- Award: KRW 150,000 / team
- Notes:
- Grand, Excellence and Merit Prize Winners will have the opportunity to present their winning essays at the 2023 ASEAN-Korea Forum (tentatively scheduled on October 31, 2023).
- Certificate of Participation will be provided to all submissions of Essay Stage.
Eligibility Criteria
The Contest is open to all undergraduate and graduate students with ASEAN or Korean nationality:
- Applicants must submit a proposal as an individual or as a team (consisting of up to 2 students).
- Applicants must submit a recommendation form by their academic advisor.
For more information, visit ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC).