Based on diplomatic experience across more than ten Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, this talk examines why the framework commonly used in Korea to “understand the Middle East” fails to adequately explain the criteria by which real relationships are determined. Moving beyond general explanations of politics, culture, and religion, it proposes an account of how Middle Eastern states actually evaluate relationships and suggests principles for how Korea should approach them.

Byung-Jun Moon (Former Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Korean Embassy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Speaker Bio: A career diplomat with many years of experience in the Middle East. He previously served as Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai and as Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Saudi Arabia.