Students from The School of International Studies at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) served as co-moderators with Chung-Ang University for the session “The Transformation and Expansion of Public Diplomacy: Roles and Perspectives of Next and Future Generations” at the 15th Korea–Germany Network (ADeKo) Conference held recently at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center, presenting their academic work on an international stage.

The conference, under the theme “Beyond Uncertainty: Rethinking Germany-Korea Crossroads and Unification,” brought together scholars, diplomats, and industry representatives from Korea and Germany to discuss directions for cooperation and exchange. Among them, JBNU students participated as members of the KF Public Diplomacy Capacity-Building University Project Group, supported by the Korea Foundation (KF). Their research presentations, which combined classroom public diplomacy theory with field experience, drew attention.

JBNU student Li Shiyi (The School of International Studies, exchange student at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China) presented on “Public Diplomacy in the Digital Era,” introducing cases in which U.S. and Chinese youth maintain informal exchanges through the RedNote platform and exploring the potential for citizen-centered diplomacy in the digital age. Following this, JBNU student Shaikh Saurav (The School of International Studies) analyzed how Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) functions as a means of building trust and diffusing soft power locally in his presentation “Korea’s ODA as a Tool of Public Diplomacy in Bangladesh,” demonstrating the tangible effects of public diplomacy.

JBNU student Shin Sol (The School of International Studies) explained, based on interpretation and operational experience at the “Asia Challenge” archery competition, how sports can serve as a public diplomacy platform that promotes mutual understanding beyond language and culture. JBNU student Kim Dong-in (The School of International Studies) shared the practical meaning of diplomacy learned through university field-learning programs such as international organization field trips.

Jeong Byeong-hwa, former Ambassador to Slovakia and the discussant for the session, said, “I was impressed that JBNU students connected the essence of public diplomacy to real cases,” and added, “They are the generation with the potential to grow into problem-solving diplomatic talent.”

Kim Hyo-jun, Chair of ADeKo, also remarked, “Youth are at the heart of public diplomacy,” and stated, “The presentations by JBNU students clearly showed how the younger generation can communicate and cooperate with the world.”

Professor Shin Bo-ram of The School of International Studies at JBNU said, “It was meaningful that students put the theories they had learned into practice at an international event and thereby gained academic confidence on the global stage,” adding, “We plan to further expand practical global leadership education centered on The School of International Studies.”