Yesterday, the International Student conference, the Korea Foundation and hes Foundation Hosted a conference on the future of relations between south korea, japan and the United States and the role of digital diplomacy. We will hear from former state Department Officials and representatives of student groups. We thank you all for joining us today. We know it wasnt the easiest commute this morning. For those of you following us on social media, we have created a hashtag for todays conference. Ctrilat. My name is Alexander Evans and i will be your master of ceremonies for todays event. I currently work as the research and Program Coordinator at the center for east Asian Studies within johns hopkins. More importantly for todays n alum of the conference back in 2011. It was that experience that continued to motivate me to study japan and put me on the , particularly given it was right after the march japan was not open. To be able to go in there and have a persontoperson exchange changed my life. Before we get started today, we will have a couple of introductory remarks. I want to introduce the executive director of isc. She served as the director of Media Relations and Public Affairs a legislative researcher for the embassy of the republic of korea in washington, d. C. She has written and spoken on topics related to technology, security, gender and the environment. [applause] thank you for that kind introduction. Thank you for joining us on a very cold morning. You being here is a testament to your support for the next generation of leaders that will strengthen the relations between the u. S. , japan and korea. Ourould like to express gratitude to supporters who made this years forum possible. U. S. Department of state and u. S. Embassy in tokyo, u. S. Japan foundation, Korea Foundation, the center for Global Partnership and the Peace Foundation usa. Isc was able to fly in 21 members for the student conference. Truly an honor working with you all. We look forward to continuing together to empower our student leaders. Committee members met with key experts, government officials and the public to continue building relations to problem solve and continue their search for the truth. A common question was asked of them. How would you handle the situation . What is your background on trilateral relationships that you feel you can continue moving forward . Theres a lot of discussion about u. S. Asia relations and what is going on in the asia region. There was a lot of discussion of fears or capitation about what will happen this year and beyond. I continue to observe our student leaders interacting with these experts and officials, i felt at these. At peace. These are people who are taking into account the relationships thaten three countries will continue to strengthen the relationship no matter how we move forward. , we are awatching nonprofit based in washington, d. C. Whose main goal is to prepare and support the future generation of u. S. Japan and korea. The conference was created in 1984. Students from america and japan worked together to serve as a bridge of understanding across the pacific. Now, that continues to thrive and the Mission Continues to be just as significant today as when it was founded. Launched a second conference the alliance was facing several challenges and the need for improved cultural understanding and people to people diplomacy was vital. Why arers later these conferences so important . This is a major question i asked last as we hear again and again, u. S. Relations with japan and korea are at their strongest ever but alliances are not only built by the government and foundations of the people. It would be unwise to think shortterm. When looking at this years conference in this years symposium, we worked with leaders to make sure we are discussing topics of interest in their field. As i look at them, i see whatever challenges countries may face, we have built lifelong friendships that present it to any obstacles that come my way. If you believe i am painting a rosecolored picture, take a look at the history of our conferences and are accomplished alumni. It is important we carry symposiums to provide opportunities for students to gain leadership skills and expose people to outside cultures to be mutual understanding, friendship, and trust during the three countries. Thank you. [applause] thank you. We know that there is a lot of effort that goes into organizing symposiums, forums, and the discussions will be in no small part to your great effort. It is my honor to introduce an ambassador who will give the final opening remarks. Before that, he served as the ambassador to senegal and the 2015 to january 2017. He was also responsible for policy towards japan and korea, the Deputy Assistant secretary in the bureau of east asian asian affairs,st and when the synonymy struck in 2011, he was serving as the deputy chief and u. S. Embassy tokyo. He has a 36 Year Foreign Service career and it is our great pleasure to have him here today. [applause] good morning, everyone. Thankingto start by you for coming today and grading the snow and cold. It shows how important i think we all feel it is to talk about relations. Korea by, too, wanted to thank linda such a, because i know conference isnt easy to put on. It requires a lot of effort. I wanted to thank you for all the work you have done in assembling a group of students who can talk together. , we are also a nonprofit and washington, d. C. , and our efforts are to strengthen u. S. Relations through programs such as this one. We are delighted to be one of the cohost with the International Student conferences. The third time we are supporting supporting this initiative to bring together American University student leaders. Abouty i wanted to talk bilateral relationships between japan, korea, and United States. My predecessors up here talked about u. S. Alliances with japan and korea. From our perspective in the United States, it is important to see the Alliance Structure in east asia and how we do not have bilateral alliances but a web of contacts and relationships because it would not be possible for the United States to meet our defense obligations to the republic of korea with that to u. S. Bases in japan. Our access it there our access their is because of our relations with japan. It is really one network of obligations and responsibilities we face together. I think it is natural for the United States, japan, and korea to work in thing together because we have shared values. The three countries, are democracies, we believe in human rights, rule of law, and we have a shared love of baseball. [laughter] we also have many shared want to seehey all a stable and peaceful order in northeast asia and the region. Growingy want to see Economic Prosperity around the world. My last assignment before retiring from the state department, i was u. S. Ambassador to senegal, and we worked closely with our friends from japanese and korean governments because we had a lot of shared interest there. For example, the United States had a large peace corps presence in senegal with 250 volunteers. Nexto next the two largest country sending volunteers were korea and japan. A were doing many of the same things American Peace corps volunteers were doing. As i traveled around, i enjoyed meeting young koreans and japanese, who are sacrificing two years of their lives to try and make the world a better place. Me how theed to three countries share common inues and how young people japan, korea, and United States see themselves as global citizens contributing outside of the countries. Will have good conversations today and you are already having good conversations. It is important to acknowledge wildly my car while we have differences, there is tremendous potential for partnership as we advance our common interests around the world. Programs like this where you discuss important issues like digital diplomacy and challenges in the workplace, i hope will create a foundation for stronger trilateral relations going forward. I look forward to hearing your remarks today and i want to thank you for giving me the chance to talk. Thank you. [applause] thank you. Your support of todays events. I would like to ask speakers in the first panel so they can get microphone debt. This first panel focuses on digital diplomacy. Ishink digital diplomacy changing, particularly when we look at the upper level of government. We have a new revolution in political rhetoric and Services Like twitter, but i think it extends much more from that high level. I think the panel will talk about looking at how this change in technology and connection impacts us on a personperson level. Barriers toreat Communication Exchange with the dissonance between all the countries involved in todays trilateral summit. As we decrease distance to technological advancements, that paves a new way how we interact with not just those around us but across the world. While they are finalizing the prep, i want to introduce the a graduate student in the Public Policy program at auburn university. As an american delegate of the globalization and economic 68thd table during the japan america student conference in 2016, should begin interested in Economic Development and will pursue these throughout her graduate career. As a student, she has has several Years Experience in working for University Wide and targeted constituency support. She is an intern at the u. S. Department of federal Service Program where she provides service to the International Program entrepreneurship program. Thank you for the remarks. To begin the panel on digital diplomacy, i will introduce myself and our five panelists and allow student panelists and guest panelists to talk about their experiences about digital diplomacy in the 20 rate. After that, we will open up the floor to discussion. Floor, ipen up the would ask audience members wait to be called on and we will bring you a microphone. Please state your name and affiliation before the question. My name is wallace, and i am a graduate student at auburn university. I am an intern for the department of state and i was delegatejapan american and i would not be on this path today without that experience. Foruld like to thank isc that. Our student panelists are , and shenderson, completed undergraduate studies at John Hopkins University and is pursuing a masters degree in korean studies. Our other student panelists is the vice chair of the japaneseamerican student conferences executive committee, a sophomore studying law, and has been selected to go to korea as a representative of japaneseamerican students to it i will introduce the professionals on our panel. Japanesee director of officer that there since august last year. She has the rank of minister counselor and has served in positions including deputy chief in cambodia, economic counselor in thailand, coordinating civilian military foreign assistance, economic officer in tokyo, and creating programs in japan. She received her bachelors degree in Political Science and her masters in International Affairs from columbia university. Our next panelist currently serves as a fellow of Public Opinion on global affairs. As a nexusly served scholar and is a member of the trilateral working group. He was previously based in seoul, where he was a program officer. He received his bachelors degree in Political Science and his masters degree in international commerce. Our last professional panelist is the Vice President and cofounder of a program which aims to promote Global Awareness through virtual control Language Exchange programs. She worked in japan for the Japan ExchangeTeaching Program and as a Program Manager for the Exchange Foundation in tokyo. She has served as the Cultural Affairs coordinator at the japan information of Culture Center at the embassy of japan in the United States. She received her bachelors degree in japanese and International Studies and a masters in international communication. I would like to let rebecca began. If she could, will you tell us about your viewpoint on government and government actors exercising digital diplomacy across the globe . Is there anyway we can improve the communication and cooperation of these Communication Strategies . First of all, i would like to thank isc for this opportunity. It is surreal to be sitting amongst his fingers speakers, who are far more qualified to speak on the subject than i am. When we are talking about and newdiplomacy approaches of diplomacy and could change in International Policy agendas, this is the estimate leaders, load inherits, so i think it is relevant we are part of the discussion and im happy to be here today. Even though i am not south korean myself, as a representative of the korean student conference, i will do my best to speak from a south korean perspective and do it justice in the discussion today. Going back to digital diplomacy termsays governance, in of where south korea is that today, this country is very technologically advanced, so i , southoving forward korea as a nation is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these new approaches to diplomacy. I think there is a lot of area to drive moving forward. We have seen in the past few years more efforts towards this. You know, i, for one, and appreciative of the fact i can take a 40 minute subway ride and be connected to wifi the entire time. Internet, speed, connectivity, ownership, social media usage, these are things that moving forward will be interesting to see how south korea really takes up the mantle of digital diplomacy and incorporates it to its traditional approaches to reaching out to the rest of the world. As a current moment, we have president who ran a Successful Social Media Campaign process, alection new foreign minister of affairs at the united nations, so highlevel officials decision to take korea into the next stage. Into this newward era, where digital diplomacy is not novel but a norm. Suggestionsve a few for how south korea can make changes moving forward from my own perspective. By no means am i an expert, but i think it would be pertinent for the government, and beyond south korea, it is important to define the objective for digital diplomacy. It is not a bandwagon but taken advantage of these Natural Resources that are ready there. I think it will help south korea fully realize its globalized potential. Another area i would like to see an expansion of is english social Media Presence and also related to delegate a dedicated staff on all platforms. We had twitter, facebook, youtube, the list goes on and on. I think there have been some inroads. There is a new Korea Foundation initiative in a restaurant guide the cap in a restaurant , so i very much appreciate that. I think this could be an area moving forward where we could see more growth. My last point i would like to drive home is it may be presumptuous of me as a in person speaking, but talking youngdigital diplomacy, people do seem to go hand in hand with that. To us, these Digital Tools are not so much new. We grew up with this and have a different way of viewing how these things can be used and we are familiar with it. I would like to see south korea taking advantage of the generation gap and putting more trust in younger people. I think this will be a specific challenge based on the society it currently has, but there is a certain amount of risk taking that comes along with judicial diplomacy. I think moving forward, south koreas position to become a leader in this field, im excited to see moving forward, and i think it can be pertinent to the discussion of trilateral relations. Fantastic. I agree with increasing engagement with the public. Those are great platforms to get more people engaged in Public Administration and politics. Either any ways you think the Public Sector actors can engage with the public digitally decides popular social media platforms . Is there a value in the diplomacy . About digital diplomacy, since i came from japan, i want to share about japanese issues. Use of it, for example, they made a cultural media policy. Based on those policies, they have an account now, for example, twitter, youtube, and one is very famous as a communication tool. You