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Adjunct Professor Jason Fiske at U.S.-Japan Conference in Washington

March 13, 2013

Jason Fiske at USJI
Jason Fiske at USJI

Few countries in the world have lately attracted more attention and created as much anxiety as North Korea. There has been nuclear saber-rattling and threats of a “rain of bullets” on South Korea in the news recently – a complex and ominous situation.

Adjunct Professor Jason Fiske, TJSL’s Program Director of Online Graduate Programs, was one of the guest panelists at an important seminar in Washington, D.C. on February 26 “The Korean Peninsula in the 21st Century.”  It was part of the U.S.-Japan Research Institute’s USJI Week Conference.

Professor Fiske’s panel was moderated by Maji Rhee, a professor at Waseda University in Japan, and a Graduate of TJSL’s International Taxation and Financial Services LL.M. program. Professor Rhee is also currently enrolled in TJSL’s J.S.D. (Doctor of the Science of Law) Program.

In his presentation, Professor Fiske reported that “South Korea has increasingly accepted foreign investment in the 21st century. In 2011, Korea received $32 billion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI,) which proves that there is a climate of increased acceptance of foreign investment by both the private sector and the government. The 12th largest economy in the world attracts U.S. investors, but what’s more important is it ranks 8th in the ease of doing business (it was 23rd in 2009). It also ranks 1st in broadband index, which has led to the trade agreement with the U.S. Now, 80% of U.S. exports of industrial products will be duty free. New laws protect property rights and create investment incentives to attract more FDI. Public-private partnerships are now being looked into, which suggests a further strengthening of South Korea’s pro-FDI attitude.”

“Research institutes such as the USJI working collaboratively with education institutions such as Waseda University and Thomas Jefferson School of Law can go a long way in developing creative ideas and innovative strategies to increase economic inter-dependence in the Korean peninsula which is a potential pathway to political stabilization.  It was an honor to be a part of that process,” said Professor Fiske.