Russian foreign policy on the Korean peninsula had always been defined by its economic and security priorities, but these priorities changed over the course of history. Division of Koreas, the ongoing nuclear crisis, economic sanctions and information war point to the continuous tensions between at least three regional powers: the United States, Russia and China. Russia in this context attempts to play an important role of a negotiations’ facilitator and behind-the-scene peace broker whose position may be unique in the ongoing talks. Its geographical proximity to Korea (Russian port of Vladivostok is situated in 100 km from the North Korean border), its historical ties to North Korea, but also its current economic ties to South Korea define its diplomatic position in ongoing negotiations. The fundamental goal of Russian policy in the region is the preservation of stability on the Korean peninsula. Russia seeks to find the optimal balance between all parties implicated in negotiations with the end-goal to play the role of a regional power broker and regain the influence it once had in the region.
I had learned from history books that the Renaissance period was referred to a period of light and humancentrism, which succeeded the Medieval ages, a period of God-centrism, also called the dark ages. I questioned why the period of God-centrism had been called the dark ages, and why Luther’s reformation had taken place. Further, if the Renaissance people had been human-centric, whether they had lived without God, or whether they had not needed Jesus. When I had studied a history for God’s glory, He has guided me to a best way spiritually and physically, and most of all let me gain an answer to my academic questions; the following lecture is based on the answer. As a Western history professor, I kept studying about Erasmus and about Renaissance humanism and received a Ph.D. (1995). I also published a book titled, Synthetic Interpretation on the Renaissance Humanism -focusing on Erasmus-like Humanists’ Religious Thoughts (Hye-An, 2011: Korean Version). This article has revised and arranged a paper to lecture at the U. S. Mid-West UBF Staff meeting, in September of 2016.
This research covers up social activism of Jeju Buddhism during the period of Jeju 4.3 Incident. Jeju Buddhism launched the activist movements for pending issues of Jeju society after political liberation of Korea. Buddhists in Jeju were trying to restore their own tradition of Korean Buddhism and establish political autonomy of Jeju residents. However, Jeju Buddhism suffered from the severe oppression accompanied by their activist movements. Even now, the aftermath of 4.3 Incident still remains ineradicable to Jeju Buddhism. A lot of Buddhist monks were victimized with other Jeju residents without any judicial proceedings during anti-guerilla pacification operation. In addition, their properties including temples and Buddha statues were also devastated or plundered by the repression forces. For reconciliation of Jeju 4.3 Incident, we should pay attention to dedication of Buddhist activists and their sufferings under political violence during the 4.3 period.
The rocky vegetation area of Sanbangsan is designated Natural Monument No. 376 and No. 3 National Scenic Site No. 77, and Yonggi is designated as Natural Monument No. 526 (January 13, 2011) and UNESCO World Geological Park (October 2010). Also, Yongmuri coast is the first candidate to become a World Natural Heritage site such as Mt. Halla, Seongsan Ilchulbong, and Geomun Aulm. As it is a place with excellent cultural value, we need Conservation Policy of Sanbangsan and Yongmari Coastal Heritage.
The story of the island called Jeju coincides with the history of the Republic of Korea. There is a lot of speciality, so if you take a closer look, you can find the history and universality of the land. So I am interested in people who are looking for Jeju. Especially after liberation. I think that the process from the colonization of Japanese Imperialism to the making of the Korean people may be common among people living in other peripheral areas. Okinawa and so on Taiwan. The process by which the state uses violence to make people obey, or incorporate them, is similar to the invasive approach of past imperialism. In the process of establishing anti-communism state, it is necessary to study whether a person should be a citizen or not, and those who do not have to be annihilated as a stigma of "red". It is very important for us to live today. Most of the history of the land on which you are based is hard to understand only in learning history related to the country at school. It is only for the teachers unless the local school board forms the appropriate curriculum.