The 4th Session: Is History Inevitable or Accidental?

The 4th Agora Economica: “Is History Inevitable or Accidental?”

Date & Time: June 20, 2025, 4:00 PM
Venue: Yeollim Hall
Topic: Is History Inevitable or Accidental?

Presentation

• Tae-jong Kim, Professor, KDI School of Public Policy and Management

Moderator

• Myung-ho Park, Professor Emeritus, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Discussion

• Young-rok Kim, Professor, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

• Seong-hoon Park, Professor Emeritus, Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University

• Seong-sik Shin, Research Fellow, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)

• Hong-taek Jeon, Professor Emeritus, KDI School of Public Policy and Management

• Hyun-jin Cha, Former Standing Director, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC)

This session of Agora Economica explored diverse perspectives on historical interpretation and its implications for contemporary society, centered on the question: “Is history inevitable, or accidental?” Guided by the theme “Nothing comes from nothing,” the discussion examined the risks of overly deterministic views of history. It also expanded into reflections on the relationship between human choice and structural conditions, the boundary between predictability and contingency, and Korea’s modernization process—ultimately encouraging deeper thought on building a sustainable future.

LINK: https://www.cfe.org/20250620_27819