On May 26, Kyungnam University (KU) awarded an honorary doctorate in political science to Former Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. He entered politics as a member of the Japanese National Assembly in 1990 and was appointed as the 91st Prime Minister in September 2007 after serving as Vice Political Affairs Minister at the Japanese Foreign Ministry and Chief Cabinet Secretary. During his term of office, he contributed greatly to the establishment of future-oriented trust and friendly cooperation in Korea-Japan relations, established reciprocal relations based on common strategic interests with China, and took the lead in establishing an institutional foundation for peace on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, he has supported KU's international academic research activities with great interest and participated in academic and research conferences in Japan hosted by the Institute for Far Eastern Studies and given advice and encouragement. He expressed his gratitude, saying, "It is a meaningful and unforgettable experience to receive an honorary doctorate from Kyungnam University, which boasts history and tradition." He then said, "I will think deeply about Japan-Korea relations throughout my life, and I will continue to work harder to improve bilateral relations."
From the left: Director of Joint Economic Committee of Korea-Japan Choi Bok-sil, Chairman of Hanma Academy Board of Directors Lee Dai-soon, Former Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo, KU President Park Jae Kyu, Chairperson of the University of North Korean Studies Kim Sun Hyang, Chief Director of Joint Economic Committee of Korea-Japan Kim Ki-byung
