The University is delighted to welcome 2023/24 Global Chair Professor Jong Kun Choi to campus from the 8th to the 18th of January 2024.

Professor Choi is a Professor of International Relations and International Security at Yonsei University, one of the top three universities in South Korea and a strategic partner to the University of Bath. He served as the first civilian 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (2020-22) and Secretary For Peace Planning/Peace and Arms Control (2017-22) in President Moon Jae-In's administration, during which he led South Korea’s negotiation team to conclude the Comprehensive Military Agreement with North Korea. Professor Choi is being hosted in the Department of Politics, Languages and International Relations by Professor Timo Kivimäki.

As well as time spent at Bath, Professor Choi will also hold meetings in London with members of staff from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office during his visit and participate in a seminar at the University of Cambridge. Professor Choi will be joined by leading thinkers of international relations in the East Asian region, including Track2Asia Director, Glyn Ford, and University of Cambridge Associate Professor in Japanese Politics and International Relations, Dr John Nilsson-Wright. Professor Choi will also present a public lecture, Power of Peace on the Korean Peninsula, on campus on Monday 15th January at 17:30 in 5 West 2.3. This lecture will focus on Professor Choi’s first-hand experiences during the period of 2017 to 2022 when the Moon Jae-in Administration actively pursued peace-making policies on the Korean Peninsula. During his time at Bath, Professor Choi will be meeting with colleagues from across the University to explore new opportunities for collaboration.

The Global Chair scheme is a flagship scheme managed by the International Relations Office which provides funding for internationally leading scholars in their field to join Bath as distinguished international visiting professors. The 2024/25 Global Chair call is now open to nominees. Criteria includes nominations from an international leader in their field of study from a top 200 QS ranked institution outside of the UK who has a preeminent international research profile in a subject area that aligns with one or more of the University’s priority research themes. In a change to previous years, the 2024/25 call will see two Global Chairs appointed for a longer term of two years. For more information about the scheme, eligibility criteria and how to nominate a Global Chair, please visit our Global Chair call webpage.

We welcome everyone to join us for Professor Choi's public lecture on the 15th January and ask that you register for tickets via the Eventbrite page.