Yonsei University 'Institute for Population and Talent', Opening Conference on Immigration and North Korean Defectors

Daewoo Hall Gakdangheon on the 21st

On the 21st, Yonsei University will hold a conference commemorating the opening of the Population and Talent Research Institute under the theme "Immigration, North Korean Defectors, and the Future of the Republic of Korea."

The event, held at Gakdangheon in Daewoo Hall at Yonsei University, aims to respond to the rapid demographic changes in South Korea and explore directions for data-driven policy research, with a large number of government and academic experts expected to attend.

Established under the leadership of Yonsei University College of Medicine and College of Business and Economics, the "Population and Talent Research Institute" operates around two pillars: "Population" and "Talent." The "Population" sector addresses issues such as low birth rates, aging, and immigration, while the "Talent" sector focuses on health, education, labor, and social welfare issues. Priority research will be conducted on socially vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, North Korean defectors, and low-income groups.

Experts related to population and immigration, including Professor Kim Hyun-chul of Yonsei University College of Medicine (Director of the Institute), Professor Lee Jong-kwan of Yonsei University Department of Economics (Deputy Director), Dr. Lee Jong-min (North Korean Economy Research Division, Economic Research Institute, Bank of Korea), and Professor Chu Sang-hee of Yonsei University College of Nursing, will present at the conference. Additionally, senior officials from policy-related departments such as the Bank of Korea, the Committee on Population, Aging Society and Future Generations, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Health and Welfare will participate in policy discussions.

Among the main presenters, Director Kim is a physician and economist conducting social experiments and big data analysis in the fields of health, education, labor, social welfare, and international development. He previously taught at Cornell University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology before joining Yonsei University last year. Deputy Director Lee is an expert researching immigration, labor, and regional economics, studying the impact of immigration and population movement on regional economies.