Department of International Trade Professor Hong-Joo Jung Takes Office as the 26th President of the Asia Pacific Risk Insurance Association (APRIA)

Professor Hong-Joo Jung of the College of Business Administration at our university (also the head of the Graduate School's Department of International Trade) was elected as the 26th president at the 27th General Assembly of the Asia Pacific Risk Insurance Association (APRIA), which was held on August 1st at Kansai University in Osaka, Japan. His term will run from August 1st of this year until July 31st, 2024. Founded in 1997, APRIA has more than 150 individual and institutional members from over 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including the United States, China, Japan, and Korea. Our university hosted the 15th APRIA General Assembly in 2012.

After a gap of four years due to COVID-19, this academic event was held in person for four days, with participation from 160 individuals representing 15 countries, engaging in presentations, discussions, and moderating sessions. The newly elected president, Hong-Joo Jung, expressed his aspirations to focus on expanding the reach to participating countries, including the ASEAN member states, and disseminating knowledge in the field of risk management over the next year. In this context, the 28th General Assembly scheduled for July 28-31, 2024, will take place at the National University of Laos in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

President Jung believes that in Laos, a Buddhist country often included in Koreans' bucket lists, participants will have valuable experiences. They will reflect on their busy lives while enjoying the morning processions of monks and the beautiful sunsets over the world-renowned Mekong River. Additionally, during the day, they will engage in meaningful exchanges of academic knowledge with developing countries, including Laos. Furthermore, Professor Hong-joo Jung emphasized that expanding interactions with ASEAN could greatly benefit South Korea's national interests, particularly during challenging times marked by the US-China conflict.