Japan and Korea at a Crossroads--How Did They Get There?

A light lunch will be served.
 
Tom Coyner will cover the historical, linguistic and cultural backgrounds that have brought Japan and Korea together, yet separates them from adequately understanding each other to this day.  He will briefly review shared histories, language patterns and cultural traits to form a context as to why and how the two nations continue to talk each other at both nations' loss.  Mr. Coyner will do his best to conjure how the two nations may move past the current trade/defense impasse and what may be the role of the United States. 
 
Tom Coyner studied at Waseda University for two years in the early 1970s and first arrived in Korea in 1975 as a US Peace Corps Volunteer.  Since that time, he has been commercially involved in both countries, initially in international HR and later in high tech sales & marketing.  He has written two books on doing business in Korea.  He has frequently contributed to the Korea Times and the JoongAng Daily on topics ranging from business, to politics and diplomacy.  He looks forward to fielding students' opinions and questions.
 
Event cosponsored with the International Relations Program and the James Joo-Jin Kim Program in Korean Studies