It has been my great honor to become the inaugural Visiting Research Fellow at the PNU EU Centre. Not only it immensely assisted me to get through the initial stage of a PhD project, but it also helped to generate a good collaboration between the PNU EU Centre and the National Centre for Research on Europe (University of Canterbury, New Zealand).

The interest in European Studies is growing remarkably in the Republic of Korea. The nation is considered as a reliable political and economic partner by many countries in Europe. In a significant addition, the Republic of Korea is an active participant in the on-going process of Asian integration that, in a number of cases, recognizes the benefits of regional integration as exemplified by the EU. In this context, the PNU EU Centre is destined to play a pivotal role in the field of European Studies on the Korean peninsular.

The PNU EU Centre’s Director, Professor Yi Chae-Deug, together with his colleagues Professor Kim, Research Fellow Mr. Lee, Researcher Ms. Ah and Administrator Ms. Bae, represent an excellent academic team of highly skilled achievers and wonderful friends. Their relatively young educational unit is already making the PNU’s image as a forward-looking university in the Asia-Pacific area.

Nothing lasts forever, and my time at the PNU is over. My small family and I have already started missing Pusan, an international city with a distinct Korean character. No doubts, it deserves to be re-discovered again and again. I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Yi and his staff for making such an outstanding introduction of their country, university and the PNU EU Centre.

Wishing you all the best,

Vlad Vernygora

National Centre for Research on Europe

University of Canterbury

New Zealand