The Seoul National University Institute of International Affairs was established in 1972 to seek the development of international relations studies in Korea by carrying out academic research on international issues with different agendas and at various levels of analysis, and accordingly to contribute to securing Korea’s international political status and setting long-term directions for Korea’s foreign policy. To this end, the Institute investigates on a wide range of fields, from foundational research on the theories, ideas, culture, and history of international politics, to functional fields such as military and security, political economy, environment, and science and technology, to regional topics such as the foreign policies of major countries, international relations in East Asia, and transformations in world order and the Korean Peninsula.

The activities of the Institute of International Affairs over the past about 45 years have largely emphasized three key issues. First, it has stressed an interdisciplinary approach to international relations researches. In the study of international issues, which by its nature requires cooperation among diverse academic fields, exchanges between researchers from various fields such as politics, economics, society, culture, and history are indispensable. The Institute of International Affairs has focused on utilizing its abundant research personnel in different fields of humanities and social sciences on and off campus to meet these demands. Second, the Institute of International Affairs has insisted on the combination of basic and applied research in international relations. It has engaged in theoretical and historical researches for the exploration of essential international issues while addressing current issues. Lastly, the Institute of International Affairs has strived for Korean-style international relations studies. This does not mean a self-centered interpretation of international politics, but rather an attempt to properly position Korea and its perspectives in terms of global standards.

Research results reflecting the awareness of the above agendas are contained in the journal International Affairs Studies published by the Institute since 1976, which was succeeded by and renamed as World Politics in 2002, and the series of books published by the Institute of International Affairs since 2013. In 2017, the Institute of International Affairs opened research centers, such as the Center for Future World Politics, the Center for Complex Security, the Center for International Political Thought, and the Center for Comparative Regional Order, in accordance with the Seoul National University regulations, thereby creating a new momentum for its development. In particular, the Institute is seeking new opportunities by establishing its proper research programs, the Research Support Center and the Center for North Korean Studies. The expectations and aspirations of the Institute of International Affairs, which takes steps to expand its projects, are reflected in the online research support services such as Newsletters, Working Papers, Issue Briefings, and News Clippings that were newly launched in April 2017. In addition, the Institute of International Affairs is undertaking different research projects and actively holding seminars and conferences on and off campus. And again, each research center is facilitating various research meetings and forums to expand the scope of its research activities.

The Institute of International Affairs will continue to make efforts to secure an academic foundation for addressing changes in international order, which are becoming increasingly radical and profound, and seeking proper means to them. I hope that you would provide continuous support for the Institute of International Affairs, so that it can grow further and its endeavors will come to success. Thank you.

Director of the Institute of International Affairs