Seoul
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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Friedrich Naumann Foundation cooperates with South Korea’s e-gov pioneer
South Korea has one of the most advanced digital public administrations in the world. As part of a recent delegation visit to Germany, KLID President Park Doek Soo and Karl-Heinz Paqué, Chairman of the Naumann Foundation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further expand their collaboration.
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South Korea slows down on AI education
South Korea’s government wanted to modernize its education system with AI textbooks. But the project failed due to lack of preparation and skepticism from parents – A sobering example for others to consider.
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Mistrust ahead of Power Change
If the progressive candidate Lee Jae-myung wins South Korea's presidential election as expected, he will face the difficult task of uniting a deeply divided country. Many South Koreans have reservations. Partners in the West are also skeptical.
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China Expands in the Yellow Sea
The People’s Republic of China is building massive steel structures in disputed waters off South Korea’s coast. This move could signal even more aggressive behavior—similar to China’s actions in the South China Sea.
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Peace Talk at Hanyang University
The Peace Talk event on April 30, organized by the FNF Korea in collaboration with Hanyang University and Parti, aimed to foster respectful dialogue and promote peaceful conversations among students with differing views.
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BTS Fans Criticized Chinese Nationalism
Young fans have questioned authoritarian narratives and openly discussed issues like freedom of expression, according to a recent analysis by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
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East Asia Caught Between Washington and Beijing
Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are opting for de-escalation in the tariff dispute with the United States. Europe should take note of East Asian democracies’ behavior: it finds itself in a similar dilemma.
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PPP Battles Internal Divisions Ahead of Presidential Elections
Korea’s conservatives will nominate their presidential candidate on May 3. But the former president’s declaration of martial law has fractured the party. Which faction prevails could have major implications for the future of Korean democracy.
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Cyber and Cognitive Warfare in the Digital Age
What does warfare look like in 2025? For students gathered at Chung-Ang University in Seoul on April 10, the answer was clear: it’s no longer just tanks and missiles, but also algorithms, disinformation, and digital sabotage.
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Impeachment in the Name of Democracy
South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously removed President Yoon Suk-Yeol from office. He had declared martial law, but had failed. New elections are to be held. They offer the opportunity to defuse the political crisis.
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Global Power Struggles: Implications for the Korean Peninsula
Trump's second term has disrupted global politics. Just like in Europe, there are significant concerns in South Korea that Trump might bypass allies – particularly regarding US policy towards North Korea. FNF Korea and Hanyang University explored in a panel discussion the potential impacts of geopolitical shifts on the Korean Peninsula.
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AI in Public Administration – Lessons from EU and Korea
The unstoppable rise of AI already reached official institutions, opening up new possibilities to achieve diverse advantages, especially in terms of efficiency. At the same time, AI brings risks that must be addressed. South Korea as well as the European Union (EU) and its member states gained their first experiences with the implementation of AI in public administration, set different focuses and ultimately drawn their own conclusions.
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Dual Uncertainty: The Return of Trump Amid Korea’s Political Turmoil
South Korea is facing a political crisis and is confronted with the unpleasant foreign policy of U.S. President Trump. A study by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom warns of a weakening of deterrence against North Korea and potential tensions ahead of new negotiations between Trump and Kim Jong Un.
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The Future of Local Communities through AI: Connecting Innovation
On November 28, 2024, KLID and FNF Korea successfully hosted the "3rd Global Forum for Local Digital Innovation and Governance" at Chavit, SomeSevit in Seoul. Under the theme "The Future of Local Communities through AI: Connecting Innovation," the forum brought together key figures to present digital policies from various countries for local governments with a focus on the use of digital technologies such as cloud, AI, and etc. for solving regional issues.
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The Dark Shadow of AI: Deep Fake Porn and Gender Bias
On October 21, 2024, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Korea office, in collaboration with social cooperative Parti, the German Embassy in Seoul, and Goethe-Institut Korea, hosted a panel discussion event, “The Dark Shadow of AI: Deep Fake Porn and Gender Bias,” at the Goethe-Institut Korea. This event brought together experts, activists, and the public to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, gender, and digital rights.
