EcoS in the News

05.09.2023

Reminder for course registration WiSe 2023 and changes in SoSe 2024

We would like to remind you that the course registration period is scheduled from September 13th to 27th

02.08.2023

Upcoming course registration period for the winter semester 2023

Our course directory for the upcoming winter semester of is now updated! The official registration period is from September 13th to 27th, 2023.

07.06.2023

Shifting Geopolitical Dynamics in Northeast Asia: Opportunities and Challenges Regarding North Korea

Join NCNK Executive Director Keith Luse as he moderates an insightful discussion with North Korean experts Rüdiger Frank, Rachel Minyoung Lee, and...

25.04.2023

Prof. Rüdiger Frank joined the Advisory Board of Global Neighbours

Global Neighbours is a non-profit organization that aims to build bridges between Europe, Asia, and beyond by creating a platform for fact-based...

06.04.2023

EcoS application period for the academic year 2023-2024

Explore the dynamic world of East Asia in our Master's program, East Asian Economy and Society (EcoS), at the University of Vienna! EcoS is now...

05.04.2023

Job Opportunity: Knowledge Management Specialist at Global Neighbours

Global Neighbours is seeking a Knowledge Management Specialist to join their team.

15.03.2023

Journal Article: "How Autocracies Disrupt Unsanctioned Information Flows: The Role of State Power and Social Capital in North Korea"

Discover how social relations play a critical role in determining the flow of unsanctioned information in authoritarian regimes, specifically in North...

15.03.2023

Publication "Beyond the Dumpling Alliance: Tracking Taiwan’s relations with Central and Eastern Europe"

Explore the fascinating relationship between Central Eastern European nations and Taiwan.

01.03.2023

Invitation to Ostasientag 2023

We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming Ostasientag (East Asia Day) 2023. After previous online versions, this time OAT will take place on...

22.02.2023

Course registration for summer semester 2023

Do not forget to register for your courses for the upcoming summer semester before the deadline on 27.02.2023 (10:00) on uspace.

01.02.2023

Job Opportunity: Research Fellow at the DPRK Strategic Center (Almaty, Kazakhstan)

The DPRK Strategic Research Center at the KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is looking for a motivated and proactive Research Fellow interested...

01.02.2023

Ph.D. Scholarship in Research on Korea

The International Institute of Korean Studies (IKSU) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is offering a Ph.D. scholarship in research on...

30.01.2023

Job Opportunity: Section IV of the Federal Chancellery

The Section IV of the Federal Chancellery, responsible for EU, International and Policy Issues has an open call for a full-time internship.

27.01.2023

Job Opportunity: Data Correspondent working for NK Pro

NK Pro, an independent platform that provides information sources that focus on North Korea, is looking for a data correspondent based in Seoul.

08.01.2023

38 North article: Because It Is Good for South Korea - Public Support for Defector Entrepreneurship

Dr. Steven Denney publishes insights from his research on public support for migrant entrepreneurship in South Korea at 38 North.

03.01.2023

Job opportunity: Market Specialist at the Korea business center Wien.

The Korea Business Center Wien, the Austrian branch of KOTRA, is seeking to hire a dynamic and experienced professional for the position of Marketing...

05.12.2022

130 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Austria

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Austria is celebrating 130 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Austria with an event that reviews...

13.10.2022

Book presentation "Hedging Strategies in Southeast Asia"

EcoS lecturer Alfred Gerstl will present his new book "Hedging Strategies in Southeast Asia" on the 18 October, 18:00-19:30

23.09.2022

38 North article: The Future of North Korean Studies

Prof. Rüdiger Frank and Dr. Steven Denney have collaborated on an article for the news outlet "38 North" in which they discuss the future of North...

03.08.2022

South Korea’s Potential to Ease Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

In an article recently published on 'Korea of Point', a forum from the Sejong Institute, Prof. Rüdiger Frank addresses the question about what South...

07.07.2022

China-Europe Academic Engagement Tracker Launched

EcoS lecturers Alfred Gerstl and Martin Mandl have joined an international team of researchers from Central- and Eastern Europe at CEIAS tto establish...

16.05.2022

Interview: The Philippines' election results

The Philippines elected Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., on May 9, 2022. What is expected from his presidential...

11.05.2022

Improving North Korean Defector Integration in South Korea: Survey Findings and Recommendations

Dr. Steven Denney co-authored a recent commentary on defector integration in South Korea, published by the news outlet specialized in North Korean...

20.04.2022

Event Invitation - Hackers and Social Networks: How North Koreans are accessing Foreign Information

On April 27, Dr. Steven Denney and Mr. Peter Ward will present findings and discuss implications from a recently completed research project on...

21.03.2022

Upcoming talk: The South China Sea and its implications for ASEAN countries

On Tuesday, 22 March, 19:00-20:00 EcoS Lecturer Alfred Gerstl will participate in an online discussion on "The South China Sea and its implications...

21.03.2022

38th North: North Korea as a Beneficiary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In his latest commentary for the news outlet 38th North, Prof. Frank talks about how Russia's invasion to Ukraine and its resulting geoeconomic and...

21.03.2022

News In-depth [Arirang TV]: Prof. Frank talks about South Korea's foreign policy

The English-language South Korean news program interviewed Prof. Rüdiger Frank and Bruce Klingner, from the Heritage foundation.

15.03.2022

Academic Writing Workshop by the CTL

The Center for Teaching and Learning - CTL is pleased to offer support for MA students of all English MA programs at Vienna University who are writing...

24.11.2021

Taiwan's Bubble-Tea and International Relations

For the independent online journal "Das Reispapier" (The Rice Paper), Martin Mandl comments on Taiwan's culinary heritage and how this heritage could...

02.11.2021

Bubble Tea Fieldwork in Brno

On October 25th, Martin Mandl joined a group of MA-students from the Department of Chinese Studies at Masaryk University Brno for a field trip to...

15.10.2021

Why Taiwan Matters? A Video Contest

A video and podcast challenge by the Taipei Representative Office in Vienna is looking for creative answers to the question “why Taiwan matters for...

12.10.2021

The Likelihood of Economic Reforms in North Korea: A Systematic Approach

In his latest article for Global Asia on the likeliness of economic reforms in North Korea, Prof. Frank argues that the current situation in the DPRK...

12.10.2021

EcoS Delegation visits Novosibirsk State University & Altai region

Austrian researchers from EcoS and the SINOFON Project at Palacky University Olomouc recently took part in a two day conference on "Current Issues in...

05.10.2021

The Indo-Pacific Region: Main actors and its importance for the EU.

Our sessional lecturer, Alfred Gerstl, has been recenetly interviewed on the Indo-Pacific and the European Union current ties with this region.

27.09.2021

Soft Power in Taiwan and Japan, by Prof. Nissim Otmazgin - Recording of Lecture

On September 21 Martin Mandl welcomed Prof. Nissim Otmazgin, incoming Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for a...

18.08.2021

Bubble Tea & Taiwan's Gastro-diplomacy in Vienna

For the Helsinki China Podcast, Martin Mandl is commenting on Taiwan's gastrodiplomacy and the recent return of Bubble Tea to the streets of Vienna.

22.07.2021

Taiwan's 'gastrodiplomacy': food, soft power and diplomacy.

On July 21st, Martin Mandl met with the head of Taiwan's mission in Austria, Ambassador Katharine Chang, to discuss Taiwan's food, its soft power, and...

21.06.2021

Martin Mandl on "Taiwan with a Side of New Public Diplomacy"

For "Taiwan Insight", Martin Mandl discusses his research on Taiwan's New Public Diplomacy, the Gourmet Taiwan programme, and he argues for the...

24.05.2021

Best Presentation Award for "A Taste of Taiwan"

Martin Mandl's presentation "A Taste of Taiwan" has been awarded the 'Best Presentation Award', supported by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, at...

01.03.2021

Save the date: Ostasientag is back

The Department of East Asian Studies' yearly event, 'Oastasientag' is around the corner! Save the date for 12 March, 2021, from 10:15 to 11:15, to...

01.03.2021

Upcoming events of EcoS' lecturers

We would like to share with you the invitation to two upcoming events that include the participation of our lecturer, Dr. Alfred Gerstl, which will...

25.01.2021

Review of the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) Session: Lowest Official Growth Rate in Decades

In his latest article for the news platform specialized on North Korea, 38th North, Prof. Rüdiger Frank analyses the documents of North Korea’s 2021...

20.01.2021

Prof. Frank's review of North Korea's 8th Congress of the Worker's Party

The Eighth Congress of the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP, or simply the party) was held in the DPRK from January 5 to January 12, 2021.

09.11.2020

Prof. Frank on "Promoting Human Security in North Korea"

On November 6, Prof. Frank participated in the World Economic Forum (WEF) panel on “Promoting Human Security in North Korea”.

30.10.2020

New Article: Human borders? Regulating immigration and human trafficking in East Asia

The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) has featured a co-authored article by Dr. Franziska Plümmer (Chair of East Asian Studies,...

12.10.2020

Save the Date: Lecture on Digital Authoritarianism in China

Dr. Franziska Plümmer will be part of the planned Lecture Series of the Department of Political Science (IPW Lectures) for the Winter Semester 2020-21

07.10.2020

Discussion Panel about the Division and Reunification Korea/Germany

On October 2, Prof. Rüdiger Frank was part of a discussion panel about the documentary film "My Brothers and Sisters in the North" (2016) by...

23.09.2020

Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies Vol. 12 is already available online

The latest volume of our Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies - VJEAS is now available online.

17.09.2020

Submission of printed version of your MA Thesis

Have you digitally submitted your MA thesis or are you planning to do so? This information will be useful for you!

18.08.2020

Border Crossers and the Militarization of China’s Border in Times of COVID-19

In her latest blog article for the Research Group 'Transient Spaces and Societies', Dr. Franziska Plümmer, from our Department of East Asian Studies,...

17.06.2020

Prof. Frank comments on current situation between North Korea and South Korea

The interview, featured by ORF's ZIB Nacht, focuses on DPRK's decision to blow up their liaison office with South Korea, located in Kaesong.

01.05.2020

Prof. Rüdiger Frank on Kim Jong-Un and his absence from the public eye

This past week, Prof. Rüdiger Frank was interviewed by diverse media on the different rumours about the North Korean leader.

14.04.2020

The 2020 Parliamentary Session in North Korea

On April 13, the news platform '38North' published and article from Prof. Rüdiger Frank, titled "The 2020 Parliamentary Session in North Korea:...

06.04.2020

How does North Korea deal with the Corona pandemic

ARD's Morgenmagazine explains how other countries deal with the Coronavirus pandemic, including the DPRK.

18.12.2019

The Department of East Asian Studies featured on 'Univie Global' Managzine 2019

This year’s issue of 'Univie Global', the magazine published by the International Office of the University of Vienna, features an article about the...

06.11.2019

From China to West Africa: Mediations and Translations along the Tea Trail

We would like to share the invitation to this lecture organized by the IFK International Research Center for Cultural Studies of the University of Art...

11.10.2019

Ninth International Conference on Food Studies

Do you happen to be in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on 24 and 25 October 2019? Join Martin Mandl and other international food experts for the Ninth International...

08.10.2019

Martin Mandl talks about "Fake Meat" in China

For European news agency Pressetext and the Austrian Wirtschaftsverlag, Martin Mandl is commenting on “Fake Meat” in China, its historical roots and...

21.05.2019

“Unterwegs in Nordkorea: eine Gratwanderung” featured as Book of the Month

Prof. Rüdiger Frank’s latest book features at this month’s recommended reading by the University of Vienna. “Unterwegs in Nordkorea: eine...

30.04.2019

Bid Invitation for an External Lecturer

The MA program in East Asian Economy and Society is looking for a lecturer to teach a seminar on East Asian Economic Systems in the winter term...

16.04.2019

Latest analysis of North Korea's Economy and more

Prof. Rüdiger Frank analyses the 2019 parliamentary session in his latest article for 38 North, a platform devoted to informed analysis of events in...

04.03.2019

New Article from Prof. Frank "US-North Korea Relations: From Infancy to Maturity"

Concerning the latest US-North Korea Summit, which took place on Hanoi on 27-28 February, Prof. Rüdiger Frank wrote a commentary on the news platform...

04.03.2019

Conference on Contemporary Asia 2019

The Sinology Department of the University of Würzburg and the German Association for Asian Studies (DGA) will host the Conference on Contemporary Asia...

18.01.2019

Prof. Frank's Book "Unterwegs in Nord Korea. Eine Gratwanderung" awarded the ITB BookAward

On March 8, on the occasion of the ITB in Berlin, Prof. Frank will receive the ITB BookAward awarded in cooperation with the Börsenverein des...

14.01.2019

Prof. Frank's analysis of Kim Jong-un's 2019 New Year’s Address quoted by the New York Times

The article, written for the specialized portal '38th North', delved deeper into the speech's content, which touched on topics like economic growth,...

01.06.2018

Upcoming lecture "Update zu Nordkorea" at ÖAVN

The Foreign Policy and United Nations Association of Austria [ÖAVN in German] will feature a lecture from Prof. Rüdiger Frank on the topic of North...

29.05.2018

Prof. Frank talks about the Korean Peninsula and the US-North Korea Summit

Prof. Rüdiger Frank was interviewed at Ö1's 'Morgenjournal', where he discussed the implications of a possible US-North Korea Summit, and the...

08.05.2018

The Specter of Taft-Katsura 2.0: Is a US-China Deal Far-Fetched? Prof. Frank newest article on 38th North

Prof. Frank points at the danger of a secret deal between the US and China and argues that such concerns might be one out of many reasons for the...

27.04.2018

Historic Summit between North and South Korea

Das Erste featured a special on the recent Summit between North and South Korea on its segment 'Brennpunkt'.

27.04.2018

Kleine Zeitung asks 'Was will Kim erreichen?'

Keeping up with the current events in the Korean Peninsula, Prof. Rüdiger Frank was interviewed by 'Kleine Zeitung'.

26.04.2018

Wiener Zeitung: Kim wants a Korean Unification

Why is North Korea suddenly interested in talks? Prof. Rüdiger Frank talks with Klaus Hubold from 'Wiener Zeitung'.

23.04.2018

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung features Prof. Frank on North Korea

The german newspaper offers two articles featuring Prof. Rüdiger Frank, discussing denuclearisation and the current role of the military in North...

21.04.2018

'An End to the Continuous Escalations' by Heute Journal

With the Summit between North Korea and South Korea taking place, both countries have decided to take their destiny in their own hands. Could this be...

21.04.2018

NDR radio: 'Kim won't give up the atomic bomb'

North Korea is discontinuing its nuclear program. Could we trust in Kim Jong-un? Prof. Frank Rüdiger talks about it with NDR radio.

09.04.2018

Prof. Frank discusses the current situation in North Korea and his new book "Unterwegs in Nordkorea: Eine Gratwanderung"

Prof. Rüdiger Frank has given a series of interviews during the month of March to discuss the current situation with North Korea, as well as his new...

12.03.2018

Prof. Rüdiger Frank's Interview with Der Standard "Nordkorea-Forscher: Das ist klar der Trump-Faktor"

The Austrian newspaper Der Standard recently interviewed Prof. Frank concerning the annoucement of a summit between United States and North Korea.

08.03.2018

New article by Prof Frank on 38 North: „Korea 2018: The Beginning of the End of the Post-1990 World Order?“

Prof. Frank discusses possible implications of the recent rapprochement between the two Koreas and the seismic changes this could herald for the...

23.02.2018

Book launch "Unterwegs in Nordkorea" on RBB

On the 14th of February, Professor Frank discussed travelling in North Korea and his new book "Unterwegs in Nordkorea" in a program on...

12.02.2018

DAS! with Prof. Rüdiger Frank

Prof. Frank is interviewed by the German TV magazine "DAS!" on his insights and travels to North Korea.

06.02.2018

Documentation on the DPRK's participation in the 1964 Olympic Games (with Prof Frank's comments)

On the 4th of February, the Austrian broadcasting services featured a documentary on the DPRK's participation in the 1964 Olympic Games with comments...

10.01.2018

"Tauwetter in Korea?"

Is the current rapprochment on the Korean peninsula a short-lived flare or a lasting development?

09.01.2018

"In Washington ist man ein wenig nervös"

In Austrian newspaper Der Standard, Prof. Frank comments on the current rapprochment between North and South Korea, international mediation, and the...

09.01.2018

Prof. Rüdiger Frank's Interview with "ZDF Heute"

On the 8th of January, 'ZDF Heute' featured an interview with Prof. Rüdiger Frank on the current talks between North and South Korea.

03.01.2018

Self-Confidence after a Tough Year

On 38 North, Prof. Frank commented on the 2018 New Year speech by Kim Jong-un.

01.12.2017

Nordkorea: Blick hinter den Vorhang

In a commented slideshow of pictures taken during his own travels in the DPRK, Prof. Frank offers a rare view inside the hermit kingdom.

29.11.2017

"Nordkorea unempfindlich gegen Sanktionen"

For the upcoming episode of 3sat's business programme Makro, Prof. Frank explains the limitations of sanctions in dealing with the DPRK, China's...

10.11.2017

Alfred Gerstl's Interview with "Wiener Zeitung"

On 9 November, "Wiener Zeitung" published an interview with EcoS Lecturer Dr. Alfred Gerstl on the Sino-US relations and their impact on East Asia,...

19.09.2017

Economic Sanctions and the Nuclear Issue: Lessons From North Korean Trade

On 38 North, Prof. Frank comments on the latest North Korean trade data in the context of the ongoing sanctions debate.

05.09.2017

Phoenix: Im Dialog mit Prof. Frank

In "Im Dialog", Prof. Frank talks to Michael Krons about the current level of escalation between North Korea and the U.S. and his assessment of...

04.09.2017

IM ZENTRUM: "Die Angst vor der Bombe"

In Austria's ORF2 talkshow Im Zentrum, Prof. Frank explains how and why the DPRK pursues its nuclear programme and discusses with other prominent...

01.09.2017

"Einblicke in den isoliertesten Staat der Welt, Hintergründe zum aktuellen Konflikt" - Ö1, Punkt eins, 31.8.

In this one hour feature, Prof. Frank discusses the recent crisis on the Korean peninsula.

14.07.2017

"Auch Kim Jong Un unterliegt Zwängen"

In his latest interview with 3sat's business programme Makro, Prof. Frank is arguing for a new international strategy towards North Korea.

10.07.2017

Navigating Difficult Waters: President Moon Jae-in’s Berlin Speech

On 38 North, Prof. Frank comments on the speech by South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in in Berlin, Germany on July 6, and his proposals about how to...

23.06.2017

The Case of Otto Warmbier

In a number of German speaking news formats, Prof. Frank critically comments on North Korea's handling of the case of US student Otto Warmbier, his...

05.06.2017

"Heading for a Cold War 2.0"

In German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, Prof. Frank talks about the conflict between the U.S. and North Korea.

10.05.2017

Tagesschau24: Nordkorea am Ende?

On 13 May, 9:02pm at Tagesschau24, Prof. Frank will discuss current North Korean topics with ARD's Ulrich Timm.

28.04.2017

The North Korean Parliamentary Session and Budget Report for 2017

Prof. Frank gave his annual analysis of the North Korean Parliamentary Session in an article on 38th North.

27.04.2017

Tensions with North Korea

In ORF ZIB24:00 on 26 April 2017, Prof. Frank analyses the current tensions with North Korea and how a U.S. rapprochement could counter military...

26.04.2017

"North Korea is Willing to Talk!"

In an interview with #Blog1600Penn, Prof. Frank assesses the current security situation on the Korean peninsula.

07.04.2017

Consumerism in North Korea

Prof. Frank discusses the latest changes in North Korea based on his visit to the country in Feb. 2017, and offers details on the surprisingly dynamic...

07.03.2017

"China needs a stable North Korea"

In an interview with German news broadcaster n-tv Prof. Frank explains the intentions behind North Korea's latest missile test, China's interests in...

23.02.2017

North Korea's Secrets

In ORFeins ZIB Magazin on 23 February 2017, Prof. Frank evaluates on a North Korea beyond official imagery by the state media.

09.12.2016

The Unification Cases of Germany and Korea: A Dangerous Comparison

Prof. Frank discussed the pitfalls of comparing the actual case of German unification with the hypothetical case of Korean unification.

30.09.2016

Prof. Frank comments on a recent U.S. State Department initiative

In this article, he has the opportunity to dicuss the media and information campaign in North Korea.

06.06.2016

Guest Comment in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung by Prof. Frank

Prof. Frank was just published in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ).

11.04.2016

Analysis of the North Korean budget report 2016 by Prof. Frank

Prof. Frank has published a short analysis of the 2016 budget report from North Korea.

16.03.2016

Discussion concerning the Kaesong closure with Prof. Frank

Prof. Frank and Theo Clement discuss the Kaesong closure in more detail, looking at the balance sheet for South Korea and for North Korea.

14.03.2016

New Interviews and Publication by Prof. Frank

Prof. Rüdiger Frank has recently addressed various topics related to North Korea, including the case of Otto Warmbier, the closure of the Kaesong...

15.02.2016

Interviews and Discussions by Prof. Frank

Prof. Rüdiger Frank has been recently interviewed on various topics concerning North Korea, nuclear tests, satellite launch and the impact of economic...

12.11.2015

New Article by Prof. Frank: "The 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2016: Return to a 'New Normal' or Risk a 'Take-Off'?"

On 30 October 2015, the North Korean media announced that the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) - the first WPK Congress since 1980 -...

23.10.2015