During my undergraduate study years, I always wondered why there is a lack of solid regional cooperation in East Asia despite the various commonalities China, Japan, and Korea share with each other. Not only does CJK have strong economic ties due to high export and import dependency, but it’s also in their interest to pursue regional collective security as the nations share regional proximity. Furthermore, CJK shares a similar historical background, and socio-cultural exchanges are becoming more vibrant as time passes. The fact that there is a lack of regional organizations like the EU and ASEAN in East Asia, even when cooperation among CJK in many areas, persisted caught my attention. After educating myself through East Asia relations classes and paying close attention to issues of contemporary international relations, I came to conclude that CJK is experiencing hostile conflict within the historical and political sphere while cooperation persists in economic and socio-cultural aspects. CJK’s complex form of relation manifested as the ‘Asian Paradox’, is deterring the formation of strong East Asian regional cooperation.
As I found an answer to the puzzling question, I was faced with a new set of questions: how can the Asian Paradox be effectively dealt with to establish a strong regional partnership in East Asia? In search of the new puzzling question, I advanced to graduate school and found myself an opportunity with the CAMPUS Asia program. Through the program, I got an invaluable chance to study in the best academic institutions of CJK and made acquaintance with colleagues from China and Japan who shared similar interests and concerns as I did. We often spent nights discussing existing trilateral conflicts and how we could overcome the obstacles to promote intensified and strengthened trilateral cooperative mechanisms. After two and half years of the CAMPUS Asia program, I realized the key to outstanding trilateral relations in the coming future was up to me and my CAMPUS Asia colleagues.
When I look back at the times I had in Korea, China, and Japan, I think about how much I learned, and how amazing time I had with every CAMPUS Asia member. I can still vividly remember the time we all went to Jeju’s most delicious seafood restaurant. I introduced Korea’s different seafood to my dear Chinese and Japanese friends, hoping they would like it. When I was in China, I had a fond memory of my Chinese friends taking me to a restaurant with delicious Beijing cuisine. Peking duck, 烤鱼, and 麻辣香锅 still remain to be my favorite Chinese dishes of all time. In Japan, I especially remember the amazing combination of ジンジャーハイボール and various 焼き鳥 that Japanese colleagues recommended. My friends probably felt the same way I did when I was hoping the delicious Jeju seafood would make a positive image of Korea. These heart-warming recollections of CAMPUS Asia made me understand that the CAMPUS Asia itself was a process of bettering the CJK relation. Every one of the members in CAMPUS Asia will become important figures in their respective fields, and the identity we have as CAPers will bring us together to strengthen CJK cooperative mechanisms in the future. This process based on constructivism will be slow, but the effect will be strong.
For those considering joining the CAMPUS Asia program, I would not hesitate for a second to strongly recommend joining the program. Not only do you get to build your academic portfolio in the best academic institutions in East Asia, but you also get to learn from the best academics and professionals in the field. Furthermore, by getting a chance to actually live in China and Japan, you will encounter and embrace the real China and Japan. Practically experiencing China and Japan by the skin can be very different from theoretical learning. Last but not least, you will get to make friends and colleagues of a lifetime. These friends will become a valuable part of your life, and they will positively influence your private and professional life.
I would like to take this chance to show my sincere appreciation and gratitude to all the CAMPUS Asia friends, and faculty members that made this amazing experience possible. You will always be part of me.
Thank you.