KIPA’s new book tackles Dokdo, Ieodo sovereignty

Park Eung-kyuk, head of the Korea Institute of Public Administration

Park Eung-kyuk and the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA) he leads are making efforts to share Korea’s experience with the rest of the world.

Park’s state-run institute is providing a model based on Korea’s experience for countries seeking development.

That Korean story is captured in “Korea from Rags to Riches,” a book compiled by KIPA, covering one landmark event after another.

The publication decoding the secret of “the Miracle of the Han River” became “a must-read” among foreign policymakers eager to emulate the country’s developmental success.

“I had a visitor last year. He was an envoy from an African country and came to my office without making an appointment in advance, which was rare given he is a diplomat,” Park said in an interview with The Korea Times Thursday.

“He obviously decided to set aside diplomatic niceties because he was eager to get hold of copies available at the institute,” he said.

Park said demand for the book is also high among Korean diplomats overseas as they are frequently asked to deliver speeches regarding how Korea managed to rise from the ashes after the Korean War (1950-53).

Recently, the veteran scholar switched his attention to one of the hottest issues — Japan’s and China’s territorial claims over Dokdo and Ieodo, respectively.

A new book, titled “Korean Maritime Sovereignty,” explains why the two neighbors’ claims are wrong and Korea’s rights to the islets and submerged rock are recognized.

Park is the editor of the book, which was mostly written by Park Chang-seok, a resident fellow at KIPA.

“As you can see, the book, written in English, highlights three cases of disputes with neighboring countries,” Park said.

“It makes a strong case for why Dokdo and Ieodo, 140 kilometers southwest from the southernmost Korean island of Marado, are part of Korea. The book also advocates why East Sea is a proper name to refer to the body of water between Korea and Japan in the naming dispute with our neighbor.”

Park said the think tank launched the book project last year after maritime conflicts flared up.

Since becoming KIPA president in November 2009, the head of the state-run think tank, has played a role in making President Lee Myung-bak’s legacy of “Global Korea” bear fruit.

Under the slogan, President Lee revealed the nation’s mission to help poor nations rise from poverty.

“Korea from Rags to Riches” has been used as a textbook in classrooms of developing countries. KIPA collected 60 articles examining Korea’s path to industrialization and beyond, which were published by The Korea Times, for the book. <The Korea Times/Kang Hyun-kyung>

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