Sungkyun Institute of Chinese Studies Hosts 

the 16th China Society Research Forum

On February 3, 2026, the Sungkyun Institute of Chinese Studies (Director: Lee Jong-hyuk) successfully hosted the 16th China Society Research Forum at the 600th Anniversary Hall of Sungkyunkwan University. Held under the theme “Smart Governance and Science and Technology Policy in China,” the forum provided a comprehensive review of China’s evolving governance model and science and technology policy amid rapid changes in the global order and technological landscape. The event was conducted in a hybrid format, combining in-person participation with online attendance via Zoom, which enabled broad engagement from scholars both in Korea and abroad.

The forum opened with welcoming remarks by Director Lee Jong-hyuk, who emphasized the importance of sharing accumulated research outcomes on Chinese society and state governance. He highlighted the need for in-depth discussion of China’s policy responses in an era shaped by U.S.–China strategic competition and accelerating digital transformation. The subsequent presentation sessions addressed key issues surrounding China’s science and technology policies and strategies for smart governance from multiple perspectives.

Kim Jong-sun, Senior Research Fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), delivered a presentation titled “An Analysis of China’s Science and Technology Policy in Response to U.S.–China Hegemonic Competition.” His talk offered a systematic examination of how China has positioned science and technology at the core of its national strategy, analyzing recent policy shifts and their broader implications within the context of intensifying great-power rivalry.

This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Son Ae-sung of Korea University, titled “China’s Health Code as Smart Governance: Negotiating the Tension between Mobility and Security.” Focusing on China’s digital governance practices, Dr. Son explored the inherent tension between administrative efficiency and social control, shedding light on the complexities and consequences of smart governance in contemporary China.

The 16th China Society Research Forum served as a meaningful platform for sharing the latest research on Chinese society and state governance, while also encouraging critical reflection on the relationship between technological development and governance in China. The Sungkyun Institute of Chinese Studies plans to continue expanding in-depth research and interdisciplinary dialogue on social change in China in the years ahead.