On March 28, 2014, the Institute of the Far East of the Russian Academy of Sciences hosted the traditional XVIII scientific conference of Korean studies of Russia and the CIS countries "Russia and Korea in a changing world", which annually discusses a set of problems related to the Korean Peninsula, and scientists have the opportunity to exchange experience and opinions on issues of interest to them. The 16 reports presented are divided into three sections: "Politics", "Economics", and "History and Culture".

The conference was opened by the speech of the director of IDV RLN acad. M. L. Titarenko. He, in particular, retaliated that the political situation in the modern world in connection with the Ukrainian events has become unstable, as there is a threat of a revival of the cold war. The situation on the Korean peninsula has become calmer - Koreans are eager for mutual dialogue, they want to hear each other. And after the change of top leadership in the DPRK and ROK, this positive trend begins to gain momentum.

Further, addressing the Korean Ambassador Hong Sung-bon, who was present at the opening of the conference, Mikhail Titarenko noted that Russia is also interested in security on the Korean peninsula and in the peaceful and democratic unification of the Korean nation. Speaking about the common interests of North and South Korea, the academician noted that the Russian side also has an economic interest in constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation with representatives of both Koreas in Siberia and the Far East. Therefore, the conference materials and constructive ideas expressed at it should be in demand by both domestic diplomats and economists.

Alexander Matsegora (Russian Foreign Ministry) noted that since Russia is currently pursuing an active policy on the Korean peninsula, it is interested in maintaining economic, political and cultural ties with the ROK and the DPRK. Important, according to the diplomat, is the fact that Russia for the first time mediated between the economic interests of North and South Korea in the Rajin region (a free economic zone in which trilateral cooperation is currently being carried out: Russia, China, and the Republic of Kazakhstan). This mediation resulted in a visit to Rajin by a group of experts from South Korea. During the talks, the ROK government made an unprecedented decision to participate in an investment project in North Korea, despite the continuation of UN sanctions against Pyongyang. These events have shown that Koreans can negotiate and solve practical issues together. In conclusion, Alexander Matsegora expressed hope that further mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and the Korean states will continue, which requires only one condition-peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

The "Politics" section (6 reports) focused on the military-political situation on the Korean peninsula, China's policy in Korea, relations between South Korea and Japan, the policy of the new President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Park Geun-hye, the development of the missile program in the Republic of Kazakhstan, etc. Presentations were made by: A. Z. Zhebin (IDV)" Events in Korea: a view from Russia"; A. V. Vorontsov (IV RAS)" Problems and prospects for the development of the military-political situation on the Korean peninsula in 2014"; V. V. Evseev (IMEMO RAS) "Prospects for the development of the missile program in the Republic of Korea" Kim Yong-un (IDV) "President Park Geun-hye's 'Confidence Process': Goals, Content, and Prospects " KV. Asmolov (IDV) "Chinese policy in the Korean issue: trends, changes and forecasts"; R.N. Lobov (SPb.GU) " The Japanese policy of the Park Geun-hye administration: a new turn and old challenges."

The reports of A. Z. Zhebin, A. V. Vorontsov and V. V. Evseev were devoted to the problems of nuclear security, the balance of political forces in Korea and the attitude of Russia towards them, in which they tried to give an exhaustive description of the current difficult situation on the Korean peninsula.

Alexander Zhebin noted that the situation in Korea remains complex and contradictory. At the same time, referring to the opinion of Mikhail Titarenko on improving the inter-Korean dialogue, the speaker stressed that this positive trend, unfortunately, is still associated exclusively with the efforts of Pyongyang. South Korean President Park Geun-hye is only forced to react to the "peaceful offensive" of the DPRK. Therefore, even the "policy of trust" proclaimed by official Seoul remains only a slogan, and not a real policy.

The policy pursued by the United States also does not inspire confidence. The Obama administration is in its sixth year pursuing a "policy of strategic patience" with North Korea. In fact, according to A. Z. Zhebin, under this banner, the United States has long been implementing a set of measures: military, economic, and political, in order to achieve the fall of the North Korean regime. Military measures include joint maneuvers between the United States and South Korea, where plans to seize North Korean territory are openly worked out. Among the economic ones should be considered the policy of sanctions of the United States and its allies against the DPRK and Washington's desire to deprive Pyongyang of access to the global financial system. Finally, political measures include artificially inflating the issue of human rights violations in North Korea in the Western media.

In the conditions of incessant political and economic pressure from the United States and its allies, the only possible course, according to the speaker, was the DPRK's course both to strengthen its security (March 2013-the course for the early creation of nuclear weapons) and to actively develop the economy. At the same time, A. Z. Zhebin emphasizes, Pyongyang from the very beginning stated that the "nuclear sword" will never be directed against its compatriots in the South, but will serve as a guarantee against the threat from the West and the United States.

The main reason for instability on the Korean peninsula is that the United States does not want to recognize the legitimate concern of the DPRK for its security. In these circumstances, the North's renunciation of nuclear weapons in the near future seems unlikely.

Alexander Vorontsov also noted that the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains unstable. In 2013, the pendulum of the development of the military-political situation in Korea swung: first-in the direction of a tough confrontation. However, after a powerful outbreak of belligerence, primarily at the level of rhetoric, in April-May and in the second half of the year, Pyongyang moved to an equally vigorous "peace offensive", in which inter-Korean contacts were resumed, and the activities of the Kaesong joint industrial zone, which was closed at the time of the spring crisis, were restored. The improvement of inter-Korean dialogue was facilitated not only by the efforts of the DPRK, but also by the position of China, which did not join the economic sanctions against Pyongyang.

V. V. Evseev's report was devoted to the problem of nuclear safety. In his opinion, even without taking into account the permanent presence of American troops in South Korea, the forces of the North and South are not comparable. The fact is that the Republic of Kazakhstan has a significant production base of rocket science, created with the active assistance of the United States. At one time, in exchange for Seoul's refusal from independent missile and nuclear development, the United States pledged to cover it with its "nuclear umbrella" and ensure national security with the forces of American troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula and in Japan.

However, today the situation has changed dramatically. Washington, which in the 1970s restricted the development of missile weapons in South Korea, has now given permission for the development of ballistic missiles with a range of up to 800 km. There are three factors to consider. First, the current development program of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not say anything about the creation of cruise missiles. Secondly, the range of 800 km is a convention, because missiles from 600 to 2 thousand km often fall under this category. Third, Seoul's missile program has a great potential for further development, since such missiles can also carry nuclear charges. Now South Korea has missiles with a range of up to 500 km, will soon reach 800 km, cruise missiles with a range of up to 1000 km in the future will reach 1500 km. Therefore, in the future, V. V. Evseev believes, another nuclear power will appear in the Far East - South Korea, which means an increase in tension in this region.

Kim Yong Un's speech was dedicated to the" trust policy " of South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Since the six-party talks on limiting nuclear weapons and Obama's policy of "strategic patience" have reached an impasse, South Korea's role in normalizing inter-Korean dialogue should have automatically increased. Park Geun-hye considered it necessary to restore trust between the two Korean states, and therefore this program was formulated and put forward. However, according to Kim Yong Un, due to the fault of the United States and the Republic of Korea, today the policy of trust remains only a good wish, not yet moving into the phase of practical politics. This means that it is now imperfect, will change and be supplemented.

K. V. Asmolov's report on China's policy on the Korean Peninsula aroused considerable interest among the conference participants. In his opinion, the main question is how much Beijing will preserve its independence.

the role of a guarantor of stability on the peninsula. At the same time, the current trend of Chinese policy towards Korea will strongly depend on the following conditions::

1. China's active policy of reform, i.e. the abolition of the "one family one child" policy, the elimination of labor camps, and the persecution of hard-line conservatives in the person of Busi Lai.

2. China's growing claim to regional superpower status. Overcoming the "outskirts of the world" complex and restoring the role of the hegemon of small countries. At the same time, Korea traditionally falls under the control of China, which causes concern among the United States and its allies. Therefore, by playing the "four-Korean card", they are actually working against the strengthening of China.

3. The rapid growth of the Chinese economy underscores the importance of border stability.

4. The generational factor, i.e. the new generation of Chinese who are replacing the participants in the Korean war, is very pragmatic in its relations with the DPRK.

5. A number of objective factors related to the situation inside the DPRK, including the new leader's lack of long-term managerial experience.

6. Chinese politics is influenced by two points that are also important for Russia. On the one hand, the burden of international obligations, where China, as a member of the big five, is obliged to condemn the actions of North Korea and support economic sanctions against it. On the other hand, China needs stability on the Korean Peninsula even more than Russia.

In the discussion on the report of K. V. Asmolov, the question of the possibility of a radical change in China's policy in Korea arose. According to the speaker, the current "new trend" in China is new only in form, but not in essence. He believes that after the deterioration of relations between the DPRK and the ROK, it was China that took all the positions of economic cooperation. This means that in the near future, the direction of its policy towards Pyongyang will remain unchanged, as long as North Korea does not contradict the interests of China.

At the Economics section, eight reports were read: S. S. Suslin (IDV) "Prospects of Russian-South Korean economic cooperation and new challenges of the world economy"; B. S. Akulenko (FEFU, Vladivostok) "Current problems of bilateral cooperation in the field of fisheries between the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation"; E. R. Rasulov (IV AN Uzbekistan, Tashkent) "Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea in the oil and gas sector"; A. F. Sinyakova (MGIMO(U)Russian Foreign Ministry) "Russian-Chinese economic relations. Korean Aspect"; E. B. Mudrova (Mechel, Moscow) "Prospects and Problems of forming the Republic of Korea - China - Japan Integration Union"; TUE. Samsonova (IDV) "Patent activity of South Korea in the context of the development of a creative economy"; L. V. Zakharova (IDV) "Economic statistics of the DPRK: the problem of data search and their use"; D. N. Verkhoturov (Ilbek Siberia News Agency, Moscow) "Ferrous metallurgy of the DPRK: to assess the current state of the industry".

The meeting was opened with a speech by S. S. Suslina, who noted that, despite the positive dynamics of the development of economic cooperation between Russia and South Korea in the second decade of the XXI century, it needs a serious transformation. The shift of the main paradigm of the XX century, when the most developed market economies were the main engine of the world economy development, to the multipolarity of world economic growth, in which the growth momentum is transferred to the East, to the NEA countries, leads to a revision and changes in the main trade flows and connections. According to Suslina, Russia and South Korea belong to the new poles of economic growth.

Viktor Akulenko continued the topic of Russian-South Korean cooperation, but this time in the field of fishing. He believes that until the early 2000s, the Russian government had little control over the production and export of marine biological resources (MBR) in the Far East. However, at the beginning of the XXI century, attempts are being made to control and start developing ICBMs of the Far East in their interests, which has repeatedly led to an aggravation of relations with Japan and South Korea. To date, some issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of fisheries between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan have achieved some progress (cooperation in the field of science, prevention of illegal import of Russian crab, granting quotas for pollock production to South Korean fishermen). However, some issues - illegal ownership of Russian fishing companies, investment in fish processing - still need to be negotiated.

A. Sinyakova's report was devoted to Russian-Chinese relations in the field of economic cooperation in Korea. Considering the possibilities of cooperation between Russia, Kazakhstan and

Taking into account the growing dependence on imports of Russian raw materials from China, it concluded that the energy sector and projects for using the transport potential of the Russian Federation and the Korean Peninsula are priorities for all partners. At the same time, the Russian side can offer both Korean partners joint processing of Russian raw materials based on high South Korean technologies and North Korean labor; implementation of programs for the construction of gas pipelines to the Pacific Ocean and laying on the seabed with subsequent transit transportation from the ports of South Korea, China, Japan to Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Russia needs to use the opportunities of financial integration in the NEA, realizing its own national interests in the Far East. The Chinese financial market has already developed a configuration of Russian banking structures, which are represented by VEB, Sberbank and VTB. Many leading banks and Russian companies work together with the Chinese on international projects. Such long-term projects include the creation of a strategic infrastructure platform in the region, including all types of transport for the integrated use of transit and cross-country potential of the Korean Peninsula-railways, highways, deep-sea ports, international airports, a unified power supply system, networks of raw energy carriers, etc.

The section "History and Culture" (10 reports) was presented by the following participants: L. B. Hwang (Karakalpak State University, Nukus) "Lessons of spirituality and morality in Korean traditional classical prose and modernity"; Lee Sang Yoon (RSPU, St. Petersburg) " Historical realities in fiction (Park Wanso's work)"; E. A. Pokholkova (MSLU) "Analysis of North Korean youth patriotic songs: traditions and modernity"; K. L. Khmelnitskaya (IPV, Moscow) "Korean action cinema and its heroes"; A.V. Pogadaeva (RSUH) "Korean shamanism: Past and present"; M. E. Osetrova (Moscow) " National cuisine and Korean nationalism"; L. V. Ovchinnikova (ISAA MSU) "Political portrait of Kim Il Sung in the publications of the Japanese administration of colonial Korea"; K. V. Ivanov (ISU, Irkutsk) "Research on the chhinilpha ("pro-Japanese elements") in the Republic of Korea in the 1990-2000-ies: science or politics?"; A. A.V. Olfert (RGRK "Voice of Russia", Moscow) "Image of Russia in the mass media of the Republic of Korea: experience of quantitative measurement"; A. A. Guryeva (St. Petersburg.GU) "The library as a symbol of caring for citizens: some social projects in Seoul".

L. B. Hwang noted that Korea has a rich cultural heritage that influences world literature. Traditional classical prose plays a special role in this process. Thanks to its best examples - " Historical records of the Three states "("Samguk sagi") Kim Busik, the works of Kakhun, Lee Chun, Kim Seesup, Park Chiwon and others-past eras become authentic lessons of spirituality and morality. Lee Sang-yoon used the example of the life and works of the writer Pak Wonso to show the tragedy of the history of the Korean people who suffered the Japanese occupation regime and the war between the North and the South. E. A. Pokholkova in the study of modern patriotic songs in the DPRK tried not only to identify the most frequent plots and thematic organizations of songs for children and youth.

K. L. Khmelnitskaya spoke about modern Korean cinema and how the Western image of a lone hero is perceived by traditional Korean society. She came to the conclusion that there is a significant difference between the perception of the hero of an action movie in Western and Korean culture. For the Western world (where action movies are a variation of the heroic myth), the hero of the film is in most cases worthy of reward and admiration. However, modern Korean society treats such people as marginals. Even if the heroes are brave policemen guarding the society, they are perceived as people who are incapable of a normal life in society.

A.V. Pogadaeva's report topic is Korean shamanism. Shamanism (musok) is one of the oldest beliefs in Korea, originating at the dawn of primitive history. The intermediary between the world of spirits and the world of people is a shaman (mudan), who comes into contact with spirits during kamlaniya (kut). Shamanism in Korea has experienced periods of ups and downs. Shamans sometimes occupied a high position at the court of Korean rulers, enjoying honor and respect, or were expelled from the capital (for example, in the XIV century). Today musok adapts flexibly to the modern needs of people. The purpose of kamlaniyas is being changed (for example, the author of the report happened to attend a ceremony aimed at uniting the Korean Peninsula). Shamans actively use modern technologies (create their own websites,

There are more than 100 shamanic temples in Korea, and many of them were opened in the XXI century. This is a vivid example of how the traditional coexists with the new and modern.

In a speech by K. V. Ivanov on the activities of the "chinilpha" ("pro-Japanese elements"), it was noted that in the first half of the 20th century, Koreans cooperated with the Japanese and the colonial authorities in socio-political, economic and other spheres. Many of them retained their influence in South Korea even after 1945. The Korean War of 1950-1953 led to the fact that, for political reasons, the leadership of the Republic of Korea was not interested in condemning people who at that time occupied a prominent position in the army, business and politics.

In the course of the democratization of South Korean society in the late 1980s and early 1990s, research on the activities of the most odious "pro-Japanese elements" ("chinilpha") became more active. Since 1991, the flagship of these studies has been the Institute of National Problems, which publishes biographical dictionaries with lists of "chinilpha", with which South Korean politicians have worked closely. In 2000, this information was used in a political struggle between the ruling Uridan Party and the conservative opposition. Coming to power of the conservative party "Khannara" ("Saenuri") and the election of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye to the post of President of the Republic of Korea led to the fact that the investigations against "cheenilpha" were stopped. But questions about the attitude to the activities of "chinilpha", the degree of their guilt and the criteria for recognizing a certain person as a "pro-Japanese figure"still excite Korean society. This means that this problem will remain relevant in the near future.

A. A. Guryeva reviewed the state of librarianship in South Korea on the example of an innovative educational project implemented in the Kwanak-ku district of Seoul by the head of the Yoo Jeongpyeol administration. Mr. Yoo Jung-il, a politician and former director of the National Assembly Library, author of a best-selling book about libraries around the world, has made library development one of the policies of the administration of the territory entrusted to him. The practical implementation of the new cultural and educational project was the creation of libraries within walking distance (more than 30 libraries were built in three years). Libraries were opened in parks, playgrounds, and metro stations. This project is also of great cultural and educational significance. Among the tasks that have already been successfully solved by its implementation, the following can be distinguished:: 1) people are instilled a love of reading in an unobtrusive way; 2) cultural leisure of the population is organized: holding various events (exhibitions of comics for children, puppet shows, etc.); 3) younger students learn more about Korean history and culture; 4) a generation capable of living in the modern information society is being formed (for example, teaching foreign languages in special courses); 5) the library is used as a means of establishing relationships between different generations; 6) active assistance is provided to middle-aged people and the unemployed (special courses, expert consultations, etc.); 7) library programs for the disabled (special sound books for the blind, etc.); 8) representatives of foreign diasporas living in Seoul get acquainted with the life, culture, history and customs of a particular country; lectures on history and culture are given for all foreigners 9) modern flash mobs are used to solve the problems of loneliness and alienation in modern urban life. A. A. Guryeva believes that the project proved that the library in the age of innovative technologies is not a relic of the past, but an integral part of modern life.

The conference was successful. Its participants discussed a wide range of issues related to the Korean Peninsula, both political and cultural, as well as economic.

Permanent link to this publication: