한국국제교류재단

It has already been almost a century since the first Korean emigrants arrived in Mexico. Large-scale Korean emigration to Mexico occurred only once in the two countries' history and still represents the smallest such event in the history of modern Korean emigration.

The first Korean laborers who came to Mexico almost a century ago officially arrived on four-year work contracts, but they effectively ushered in bilateral relations between the two countries, which had previously involved neither official nor personal exchanges. These first Korean workers, however, were unable to return to Korea and settled throughout Mexico and eventually moved on to other parts of Central and South America. With the passage of time and the absence of subsequent Korean emigration to Mexico, these Koreans were all but forgotten in Korean history.

Until the mid-20th century, most Mexicans were relatively uninformed about events taking place in Korea. However, since the 1960s and the onset of rapid economic growth, and particularly with the successful hosting of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Korea has become a popular subject of study in Mexico as well as a model for economic development. Interest in learning more about Korea took concrete form in 1994 with the establishment of the department of Korean studies at El Colegio de Mexico, commonly known as Colmex, which came in the wake of the adoption of diversification policies by both countries in the 1990s. It was also the result of the devoted efforts of both the school itself and the Korea Foundation.

The Korean studies department at Colmex is an independent graduate program within the Center of Asian and African Studies. Since the 1960s the Center has emerged as the only institute of its kind in the Spanish-speaking world and the leading center for Asian and African studies in Latin America. In addition to Korean studies, other departments include Southeast Asian studies, Chinese studies, Japanese studies, Indian studies, Middle East studies, and Sahara and South African Studies, with both masters and doctorate degree programs. The APEC Research Program is also affiliated with the Center.

Colmex was founded in 1940 by scholars exiled from Spain for the purpose of cultivating elite scholars in the fields of social sciences and the humanities. The university was originally a graduate school offering masters and doctorate degree courses, in addition to housing a specialist research institute for higher education. Some 20 percent of the current students are foreign, of which 90 percent are from Central and South America.

The 1st Korea-Mexico Forum held at COLMEX.

Despite significant progress in recent years, relations between Korea and Central and South America remain relatively underdeveloped. Thus the promotion of Korean studies in this region will likely require both more efforts and patience. In particular, due to the dearth of local specialists in the field it will take time to develop and promote academic programs that can both publicize and broaden interest in the field of Korean studies.

Already, however, Colmex's department of Korean studies has reaped significant academic achievements. The first was the successful hosting of the first Korea-Mexico Forum in Mexico, which featured academic sessions on Korean economics, culture, literature, and history. Second has been an increase in the publication of Korea-related papers and academic theses. In addition, an important part of the department's work is to offer open lectures on Korean issues for undergraduates at other universities in order to stimulate interest in Korean studies. Efforts to bring together Korean studies scholars from throughout the region for collaborative research and discussion are also taking shape.

The success of promoting Korean studies in Central and South America is closely related to the popular image of Korea in the region. In comparison to the United States, Japan, and Europe, with which Korea has long maintained active diplomatic and economic relations, the level of popular knowledge of Korea in Central and South America is still relatively low. As such, efforts to promote Korean studies need to be accompanied by measures that help to enhance the popular image of Korea in the region. Therefore, more dynamic efforts need to be made to popularize Korea and thus the field of Korean studies.

Since Colmex's Korean studies department is relatively new, additional funding and investment is needed to recruit new professors, purchase books, and grant scholarships. In particular, there is an acute need to develop Korean studies textbooks for students in Central and South America. Creating and promoting a Korean studies program that meets the needs of the students of this region is essential for the continued development of Korean studies.

It is my conviction that the professors and students of the department of Korean studies at Colmex are committed to pushing forward with a firm belief in the old adage, "No pain, no gain."