On November 22, the Embassy of Sweden in Seoul is arranging the fourth annual Sweden-Korea Nobel Memorial Symposium, celebrating this year’s Nobel Prizes in the Sciences, Economics and Literature. The symposium is part of a full-week program with events and seminars centered around the long-term strategic collaboration between eight top universities in Korea and Sweden.
The Nobel Memorial Symposium will be held on November 22 between 13:15-18:00 at Seoul National University Cultural Center. The event aims to spread knowledge about this year’s Nobel Prizes and stimulate interest and discussion on science, economy, and literature. The Symposium is a crescendo of the week-long Nobel Memorial Program, bringing together an incoming delegation of more than 30 researchers and leaders from Swedish universities with counterparts at some of Koreas foremost research institutions.
The program is organized by the Embassy of Sweden in Seoul in partnership with Seoul National University, Korea University, Pohang University of Science and technology (POSTECH), Korea Academy of Science and Technology, Korea Comparative Literature Society, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, Uppsala University, Gothenburg University and University of Umeå.
The eight university partners from Sweden and Korea are this fall initiating a three-year partnership: The Sweden Korea Education, Research and Innovation Collaboration (SKERIC). SKERIC is funded by the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education and will run from 2023-2027. The collaboration aims to foster the best and brightest young researchers and innovators in Sweden and Korea with the necessary tools, skills, and networks to address pressing societal challenges and advocating democracy and academic freedom.
“Sweden and Korea are leading nations in research, innovation and higher education. The Nobel Memorial Symposium constitutes a unique platform to celebrate discovery and creativity in the realms of science, economics and literature. It is rewarding to see that the collaboration between Korean and Swedish universities within the Nobel Memorial Program has evolved into a long-term partnership of significance also to the broader relation between Sweden and South Korea.” says Daniel Wolvén, Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Korea.
Prof. Ook Joon Yoo, President of KAST, said, "The Nobel Prize encapsulates the impact of basic science on human life and the inherent value of research and development. By examining the achievements of laureates, we can predict the future changes brought about by science and technology and engage in discussions about the preparations our society needs to make."
Furthermore, he added, "Since the inaugural Nobel Memorial Program Symposium in 2020, KAST has been participating as a partner in the field of science, contributing to the promotion of the values of the Nobel Prize. Moreover, the partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in South Korea is expected to serve as a crucial cornerstone not only for the advancement of science and technology but also for fostering overall goodwill between the two countries."
“The valuable significance of the '2023 Nobel Prize in Literature Symposium,' jointly organized by the Swedish Embassy in South Korea and the Korean Comparative Literature Association, lies not only in introducing the literary world of Jon Fosse, the recipient of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature, to Korean readers but also in discovering the universal values of world literature through the works of Nobel laureates. Through a comparative literary approach to world literature, we hope to find the connection between world literature and Korean literature, allowing Jon Fosse’s literary works to become part of world literature while also becoming a part of our own literature,” emphasizes President Hyung-jin Lee of the Korean Comparative Literature Association.
“The Nobel Prize symbolizes how our knowledge and passion can change the world. And Nobel laureates have tirelessly worked to make the world a better place. We should honor the contributions of Nobel laureates and strive to continue their legacy. This symposium is part of this effort and aims to enhance diplomatic cooperation between the two countries, as well as to explore further cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and higher education policy.” says Dr. Honglim Ryu, President of Seoul National University
Full program of the Nobel Memorial Symposium is available on the official website: www.nobelmemorialprogram.kr
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About the Nobel Prize
Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer and industrialist. Before his death in 1896 he stipulated in his will that his fortune should be used to establish a prize, reward achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The Nobel Prize is awarded for achievements in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Peace and Literature since 1901. The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was founded by the Swedish central bank and has been awarded according to the same principles as the Nobel Prizes since 1969.
The official website for the Nobel Prize is nobelprize.org
