The UP Asian Center co-organized the 2018 ASEAN-Korea Youth Network Workshop held from 2–7 July 2018 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and from 7–11 July 2018 in Manila, Philippines.

Themed "ASEAN and Korean Youth as Drivers of Global Digitalization," the workshop aimed to:

• Raise the awareness of the ASEAN, Korea, and ASEAN-Korea relations among the participants

• Deepen understanding of STI and ICT, specifically digital technology and innovation, among the youth participants from ASEAN, Korea, China, and Japan

• Provide network-building opportunities among the participants

The workshop featured over 60 participants from the 10 ASEAN countries, Japan, China, and Korea. In Manila, they conducted the following activities:

LECTURES @ UP ASIAN CENTER

• “Overview of ASEAN” by Dr. Joefe B. Santarita, Dean of the UP Asian Center

• “Digitalization in ASEAN” by Lee Soo-youn, Consultant for Digital Transformation, MCS Consulting

• “Digitalization in the Philippines” by JG Ortilla, Business Development Specialist, Bases Conversion and Development Authority

SITE VISITS and LECTURES

• “Culture and Information Sharing” at Rappler Headquarters

• “Work/Business and Digitalization" at Acudeen

• Panel session at QBO Innovation Hub

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES and VISIT TO KOREAN EMBASSY

The participants also took a day-long trip to Las Casa Filipinas de Acuzar, where they rode the traditional Filipino carriage, had a river cruise, toured Hotel Oriente, and played traditional Filipino games.

They also had a dialogue with H.E. Han Dong-man, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to the Philippines at the ROK Embassy, where they were also briefed on Korea-Philippines relations.

The UP Asian Center provided the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, during which the participants delivered their video presentations and proposals. 

They also made videos recapping a day’s activities, several of which may be viewed at the ASEAN-Korea Centre’s Facebook page. Photos of the 10-day workshop are also available. 

FILIPINO PARTICIPANTS

The sixty+ participants include 12 Filipino citizens from the Philippines, two of whom (Ms. Agonos and Ms. Rafal) took part in the Seoul leg of the workshop, while ten joined only the Manila-leg. 

Mr. Eppie, a student of the UP Asian Center, delivered an "appreciation speech" entitled Disruptive or "Constructive Digitalization?" during the closing ceremonies last 11 July 2018. His was one of two winners in a speech competition among the participants. 

ORGANIZERS

Dr. Michelle Palumbarit, Assistant Professor @ UP Asian Center, served as coordinator of the 2018 ASEAN-Korea Youth Network workshop. It was organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, the UP Asian Center, the Tourism Promotion Board of the Department of Tourism, and Seoul National University Asia Center. 

The Asian Center offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. The Center offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. The Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website. For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.