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The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) promotes democracy, human rights, economic freedom, and curbing climate change. Our South Korea project is focused on forward-looking topics such as smart cities and the 4th industrial revolution. The North Korea project organizes capacity-building programs in environmental planning and water management. We work with the Center for Local Autonomy, Hanyang University (CLA), Korea Local Information Research & Development Institute (KLID), and many other local partners. Should you have questions or suggestions about our work, please contact us. You can also meet our team here.
News
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Making Cities Smarter and Safer: Lessons from Korea and Japan
The Joint Symposium "Making Cities Smarter and Safer: Lessons from Korea and Japan", held in Seoul on November 2nd, 2023, brought together experts from Korea and Japan to delve into the complexities of smart city data governance. Through insightful presentations and lively discussions, the symposium provided a unique platform for knowledge exchange, highlighting the shared journey towards creating smarter and safer urban environments.
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“Men earn respect much more easily”
Women face tough challenges in Korea’s business world. Start-up Entrepreneur Ara Goh, a partner of FNF Korea, is aiming for a change. Freiheit.org speaks with her about chauvinistic investors, Korea’s MeToo Movement and why she believes in Korea’s female leaders.
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German-Korean Youth Talk: What Unification Means to Me
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the German-Korean Youth Network jointly organized a Youth Talk on unification, fostering engaging discussions between Korean and German youth. The event, featuring special speaker Martin Dulig, facilitated a dialogue on personal experiences and perspectives on unification, fostering connections for continued exchange between German and Korean youth.
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Europe must unite in the face of global challenges
The Reshape Europe Conference of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom on 10 October 2023 set a milestone in the global dialogue on the question: How can Europe become more resilient and sovereign to stand up to autocratic governments? Together with international experts, the Foundation discussed the challenges of the new era in terms of economy, security, energy and the liberal values of democracy.
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Lecture series: Korean Peninsula and International Relations
On October 5, 2023, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in collaboration with Chung Ang University's academic exchange club, "Research Group on Korea’s Future" (Han Mi Yeon), held its inaugural lecture in the "Korean Peninsula and International Relations" series.
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Green Smart City Busan Forum: Happy Smart Cities with Citizen Participation
The 3rd forum of the quarterly '2023 Green Smart City Busan Forum' recently took place on the 22nd of September, 2023 at Busan Culture Content Complex. The event, co-organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Korea office (FNF Korea), Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency (BIPA) and Busan Development Institute (BDI), proved to be a significant gathering for smart city enthusiasts.
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Unification for Young Koreans? – Ideas and Lessons from German experiences
In celebration of 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Germany, a joint seminar was held, co-organized by the Korean National University of Education (KNUE) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Korea office (FNF Korea). The seminar aimed to create an opportunity for young Koreans, living in a divided nation over 70 years after the Korean War, to engage with their German peers, who had experienced living in a re-unified Germany.
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2023 Data Governance Seminar Series: 4th Seminar on 'Public Data'
On September 15, 2023, FNF Korea and KLID hosted the last seminar of 2023 Data Governance series, emphasizing public data's role in local digital transformation. The event featured Dr. Yoon Sang-Pil's insights, fostering dynamic discussions and reinforcing their commitment to continuous improvement in data governance.
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EmpowerHER: Unlocking the Potential of Women Leaders in Startups
On September 13, an inspiring event was unfolded at Google for Startups Campus, Seoul as Friedrich Naumann Foundation Korea office (FNF Korea), in collaboration with ALLY Business Consulting, organized the "EmpowerHER: Unlocking the Potential of Women Leaders in Startups" workshop. This dynamic gathering was tailored for female leaders in the thriving startup ecosystem of South Korea.
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GCD Talk concert: Climate Crisis and Sustainable Consumption
On August 29, 2023, the second event of the Global Citizen Dialogue (GCD) series of the year unfolded at POSWEL, Gwangyang, addressing a critical issue of our times – climate change. This talk concert, hosted by FNF Korea in partnership with the POSCO TJ Park Foundation, gathered experts and Asian youth from different countries to discuss practical solutions for dealing with the challenges posed by climate change and the importance of sustainable consumption.
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Smart City Workshop: Rethinking “Smart Cities” – Urbanism Beyond Technology
A three-day workshop from August 23th to 25th led by Sven Gerst delved into the essence of smart cities, examining their impact on well-being and sustainability. Participants explored theoretical and practical aspects, including venue inspections and discussions about the future of smart cities.
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Bootcamp Facilitation: Make Workshops Work!
From 21st to 22nd of October, FNF Korea organized the workshop "Bootcamp Facilitation: Make Workshops Work!" in Seoul. This workshop was led by the facilitator Sven Gerst, a renowned international facilitator and moderator.
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Green Smart City Busan Forum: People-centered Sustainable City
On July 13th, 2023, the "Green Smart City Busan Forum: People-Centered Sustainable City" took place successfully at BEXCO, Busan, providing insights and solutions to establish a sustainable smart city. The forum was jointly organized by FNF Korea, Busan Information & Industry Promotion Agency (BIPA), and Busan Development Institute (BDI).
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2023 Data Governance series: 3rd seminar on Data Security
On July 6th, 2023, FNF Korea, in collaboration with the Korea Local Information Research & Development Institute (KLID), hosted the third online seminar of the '2023 Data Governance Series' on the topic of 'Data Security'. The seminar was live-streamed on YouTube and featured presentations by domestic experts in the field of data security, followed by discussions and live Q&A sessions among participants.
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Talk: Smart Sustainable City with Data Collaboration
On July 11th, an insightful talk on "Smart Sustainable Cities with Data Collaboration" was organized by FNF Korea and KAIA, bringing together international experts to discuss environmentally conscious urban development.
