VOL.04 ㅣ November, 2013 ㅣ NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RESEARCH SERVICE ㅣ www.nars.go.kr

- ▼ Full text is provided in Korean. For more information please contact -  sarahpark1@na.go.kr

• #1 Issue Brief • Title - The Current Situation and Future Directions of Economic Cooperation between South and North Korea: A Political Economy Perspective • Author : Lee Seung-hyun (researcher; Foreign Affairs and National Security Team) • Summary: Since President Park's flagship North Korea policy "Trust-Building Process on the Korean Peninsula" has kicked into high gear, it is assumed that governmental economic cooperation between South and North Korea is one of the vital agendas for achieving the administration's ambitious policy. By analyzing the policies outlined by the Park government so far, this report reached three major conclusions. First, encouraging trust building and enabling the recovery of the relationship (easing the tension) between the South and the North need to come first to promote an economic cooperation policy. Second, to activate economic cooperation, the Park Geun-hye government should develop an approach to avoid the criticism of unsparing generosity that had been repeatedly made toward previous governments. Third, to maintain stable implementation of economic operation plans and utilize their benefits, related policies and systems must be organized. For example, the 'Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act,' the 'Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation Act' and the 'Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund Act' will need to be amended. 11.13. Present and Future: Apple Inc. vs. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd Patent Disputes 11.11. Amendment to the "Basic Act on Disaster Safety Management" and Future Directions 11.08. The Current Status of and Proposed Improvements for the Human Rights Protection of Prospective Entertainers 11.07. The Current Situation and Future Directions of Investment in Economic Cooperation between South and North Korea: A Political Economy Perspective 11.01. Issues in the Current Confiscation Order and Tasks for Its Improvement 11.01. Problems and Suggested Improvements in the Hotel Classification System 10.30. Issues in Motor Vehicle Safety and Resolving Them for Consumer Protection 10.25. Policy Agendas for Vitalizing Fire Insurance for Traditional Markets 10.24. The Current Status and Countermeasures on Maritime Hit-and-Runs 10.23. Regulations on Foreign Super-supermarkets (SSM) and Big Retailers' Affiliated Chains of Small Stores: Issues and Tasks for Improvement 10.22. The Open Career System (Civil Service) and Its Future Directions 10.17. The Current Status and Challenges of the Integrated Health Promotion Programs in Local Communities

A seminar on 'The Current Status of and Proposed Improvements for the Human Rights Protection of Prospective Entertainers' was co-hosted by the National Assembly Research Service, National Assembly Human Rights Forum, and Hwang Woo-yea, member of the Grand National Party. Although Korea's entertainment industry has been the driving force of Hallyu and has shown a dramatic increase in size and businesses, issues related to the violation of rights of young entertainers have recently emerged. This seminar was held to address these issues including civil and criminal procedures related to the mushrooming of entertainment agencies, the signing of unjust contracts, and asking for sexual favors. Hong Wan-shik, Professor at Konkuk University Law School served as a moderator while Lee Duk-min, a lawyer at Yoon & Yang LLC, gave a presentation. Panel discussants included Hong Jong-gu and Vice President of Korea Entertainment Management, Kim Jung-sook; Head of Sexual Violence Center of Women's Human Rights Commission of Korea, Choi Bo -geun; Head of Popular Culture and Industry division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Kim Eun-mi, Director of Discrimination Remedy Division of the Human Rights Commission; and Cho Kyu-beom, researcher at the NARS. Past Seminars and Discussions 11.28. Use of Social Networking Sites and Communication Strategies of the 19th National Assembly 11.22. Korean Economy: Diagnosis and Prescription 11.20. Busan North Harbor Redevelopment Project Phase II and Co-development Plan for the Surrounding Area 11.13. Structures of Food-related Laws in Major Countries and Recent Trends: The European Union 11.08. The Need of Development for the SOC Account-Roads and Railways 11.05. A Legislative Improvement Task for Activating the Assessment System of Employment Impact 11.05. Policy Direction for the Legal and Institutional Improvement of Voting from Abroad 11.04. Policy Debate on the Introduction of Fiscal Rules and Improvement in Korea's Fiscal Soundness 11.01. The 4th International Seminar for Parliamentary Research Services The NARS Newsletter is issued on a monthly basis