Distinguished South Korean Diplomat Choi Seok-young Delivers Lecture at UWED

On November 11, 2026, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy hosted a lecture by distinguished South Korean diplomat, former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Geneva, and President of Lee & Ko GCI, Choi Seok-young, as part of the course "Contemporary International Relations, the Global Economy, and the Interests of Uzbekistan." The lecture was titled "Evolution of Korea's Foreign Trade Policy and Lessons Learned."

During the lecture, the diplomat presented a comprehensive analysis of the formation and evolution of the Republic of Korea's foreign trade policy, highlighting the key stages of the country's economic transformation and its integration into the global trading system.

Special emphasis was placed on South Korea's transition to an export-oriented model of economic growth, the development of industrial capacity, the implementation of structural reforms, and the phased liberalization of foreign trade. The speaker also examined the role of government economic policy, international trade agreements, and export promotion mechanisms in ensuring the country's sustainable economic development.

Another key focus of the presentation was the Republic of Korea's participation in the multilateral trading system, including its engagement with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the expansion of its free trade agreement network, and the strengthening of trade and economic ties with international partners.

In addition, Choi Seok-young addressed contemporary challenges facing world trade, such as intensifying geoeconomic competition, rising protectionism, the reconfiguration of global supply chains, and evolving approaches to economic security. The discussion also covered the outlook for the international trading system amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.

The Republic of Korea's experience in carrying out economic reforms and building a competitive, export-driven economy attracted particular interest. The strategies discussed hold practical relevance for Uzbekistan as it continues to liberalize foreign trade, diversify export markets, and advance its accession to the World Trade Organization.

The lecture enabled students to deepen their understanding of international economic relations, trade diplomacy, and foreign economic policy, while gaining firsthand insights from one of the leading experts in international trade.

The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, giving students the opportunity to address their questions directly to the diplomat. Choi Seok-young provided detailed answers, sharing his professional expertise and practical perspectives on international trade and economic diplomacy.