On April 12, 2025, the HK+ Research Project of the Institute of Russian Studies organized a special lecture and seminar in Gwangju Metropolitan City as part of the Regional Humanities Center initiative. The event was held under the theme 'Russia’s Global Strategy in the Trump 2.0 Era.'

In the first session, Dr. Hyun-Ik Hong, Honorary Research Fellow at the Sejong Institute, delivered a lecture on 'U.S.–Russia Relations and the Korean Peninsula in the Trump 2.0 Era,' offering insights into the reshaping of bilateral ties following the inauguration of the Trump administration’s second term and its implications for the Korean Peninsula. He was followed by Dr. Byung-Kwang Park from the Institute for National Security Strategy, who lectured on 'U.S.–China Competition in 2025 and China’s Foreign Strategy,' analyzing the trajectory of U.S.–China strategic rivalry and potential shifts in China’s external strategy.

The second session featured presentations by graduate students: Ph.D. candidate Song Lee presented 'Blue Economy for Sustainable Development in the Arctic: Focusing on Cooperation between Russia and Arctic Littoral States,' while M.A. candidate Dong-Jae Um spoke on 'An Analysis of the Russia–Belarus State Integration Process: Facilitating and Limiting Factors.' The presentations were followed by an in-depth discussion with participating experts.