13th Annual Korean Studies Writing Prize Awarded: Co-recipient Jiwon Bang
Jiwon Bang (MA '24, East Asian Studies) is a co-recipient of the 13th annual Korea Program Prize for Writing in Korean Studies, for her thesis "Syngman Rhee’s Multidimensional Diplomacy: The Evolution of the Pacific Pact and the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea, 1948-1953."
"Jiwon meticulously examines the historical origins and evolution of the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK). Disputing the conventional view that the Treaty was a direct response to the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953), she uncovers its roots and complex processes extending back to pre-war discussions in 1948." says Gi-Wook Shin, Professor of Sociology, Director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea, Director of the Korean Studies Program, and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute. “Her study provides a nuanced understanding of the early Cold War security dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region and has contemporary relevance. By drawing lessons from the Pacific Pact’s failure, her thesis offers insights for contemporary regional security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Reflecting on her thesis, Bang comments on what sets her analysis apart from the prevailing view of this historic event: "My thesis delves into the origins and evolution of the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK). The conventional understanding posits that the Treaty was a direct response to the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953). In my paper, I challenge this belief and argue that the Treaty has a deeper genesis. Initial discussions regarding the Treaty commenced in December 1948 at the latest, with the first draft from the Korean side formulated the following April.”
“I also examine the often-neglected role of the ROK’s inaugural president, Syngman Rhee (1948-1960), in employing a multifaceted strategy to combat communism beyond this bilateral framework” she notes. “In May 1949, Rhee proposed three key measures: (1) forming a “Pacific Pact” similar to the Atlantic Pact (now known as North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO); (2) securing a defense agreement with the U.S., and (3) obtaining a U.S. declaration to defend a unified, democratic Korea. These initiatives shed light on Rhee’s aspirations to establish a robust security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region by pursuing both bilateral and multilateral frameworks. By analyzing Rhee's multidimensional diplomacy, I contend that the evolution and conclusion of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty was not isolated, but rather inextricably intertwined with and influenced by the concurrent development of the Pacific Pact.”
Sponsored by the Korea Program and the Center for East Asian Studies, the writing prize recognizes and rewards outstanding examples of writing by Stanford students in an essay, term paper or thesis produced during the current academic year in any discipline within the area of Korean studies, broadly defined. The competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
This year's co recipient is JB Lim.
Past Recipients:
11th Annual Prize Co-recipients (2022)
10th Annual Prize (2021)
9th Annual Prize (2020)
8th Annual Prize (2019)
7th Annual Prize (2018)
6th Annual Prize (2017)
5th Annual Prize (2016)
4th Annual Prize (2015)
3rd Annual Prize (2014)
2nd Annual Prize (2013)
1st Annual Prize (2012)