Inequality and the Crisis of Democracy: The Case of South Korea in Global Perspective

5 March 2018   |   12:00–13:30   |   Room 505, Esther Lee Building, CUHK

Speaker
Prof. Yun Tae Kim

Director, Social Policy Center, Public Policy Institute, Korea University

Moderator
Prof. Anthony Y. H. Fung

Co-Director, HKIAPS

Prof. Kim analysed the main causes and processes of growing inequality by examining structural changes, the role of agencies, and the political institutional arrangements of Korea, with reference to advanced industrial countries. He pointed out that globalization and technological change would have an impact on growing inequality, as they weaken the traditional manufacturing and agricultural sectors, and ignore employment relations as well as labour relations.

Prof. Kim then focused the discussion on the power relations between the government and trade unions, and on the effects of redistribution mechanisms and socio-political institutions. He argued that inequality in Korea is the social and political consequence of an imbalance of power relations between rich and poor. He pointed in particular to the weakening of trade unions combined with labour market flexibility and incapacitated social policies on redistribution. Nearly forty scholars, researchers, and students attended the seminar. ■

Youth Culture in Hong Kong and China: Differences and Policy Implications

2 February 2018   |   12:30–14:00   |   Room 505, Esther Lee Building, CUHK

Speaker
Prof. Anthony Y. H. Fung

Co-Director, HKIAPS; Professor, School of Journalism and Communication

Moderator
Prof. Ying-yi Hong

Associate Director, HKIAPS

Organizers
Policy Research @ HKIAPS
Global China Research Programme, CUHK
Centre for Youth Studies, HKIAPS, CUHK

In the seminar, Prof. Fung raised the concern that young people are “revolutionary”. In mainland China, young people’s lives are shaped by their family, their education, and the Communist Party. This is proven by arranged marriages, long school hours, and the increasing proportion of young party members. Although the lives of Hong Kong teenagers are also influenced by family and education, their use of social media determines the differences between the young people in the two places. Social media is the major source of news and entertainment for Hong Kong teenagers, and also affects their attitude towards society. Both societies have developed solutions to manage youth culture. About thirty scholars, researchers, and students attended the seminar. ■