한국국제교류재단

Support for Korean Studies Activities and Research Institute Overseas

The Foundation supports various activities such as Korea-related research, conferences and the publication of research institutes and international exchange organizations overseas in order to contribute to the enhancement of mutual understanding and friendship between Korea and foreign countries. The beneficiaries from September to November are listed below.

Korea-Japan Forum

The 10th Korea-Japan Forum was held in Kanazawa, Japan, on Sept. 6-9, 2002, with the participation of 45 leading figures from Korea and Japan, under the co-sponsorship by the Korea Foundation (President: Lee In-ho) and Japan Center for International Exchange (President: Yamamoto Tadashi). Stressing the significance of the 10th anniversary of the Korea츹apan Forum, the co-chairs of the forum made keynote speeches entitled: "Looking Back on the Last Decade of Korea-Japan Forum: Development and Future of Korea and Japan." Afterwards, delegates from both sides reviewed the role of their forum in the strengthening of political, social and economic ties between the two countries during the past decade. They also exchanged views on the future economic prospects of China.
Sessions were divided into four groups : "Korea-Japan Exchange and Cooperation after World Cup 2002 and Initiatives for Another Leap Forward," "Socio-Political and Economic Developments in Japan & Korea," "Future of Korea-Japan Economic Cooperation and the Possibility of Economic Integration," and "The Rise of China and Future of the Asia Pacific Region." Wrapping up the forum, all the delegates participated in overall debate on a topic titled: "A Vision of the Next Decade of Korea and Japan."

Invitation of Young Leaders

The Foundation invited five next-generation leaders from Russia to visit Korea from Oct. 24 through Oct. 30. On Nov. 5-12, six Southeast Asian young leaders also visited Korea at the invitation of the Foundation. Future leaders from these countries called on senior Korean government officials and officials of related organizations to discuss relations between Korea and their respective country. In addition, the Foundation invited a group of Japanese college students from Oct. 22 through Oct. 31 in its efforts to help them have a better understanding of Korea.

Support for International Conference

The Foundation assigned funds for hosting three international conferences that were held in Korea in September and October 2002, such as the Autumn Academic Conference of Korea Political Science Society (Sept. 27-28), the 11th International Academic Conference of Korea Association of Middle East Studies (Oct. 11-13), and the 2002 Conference on Advance into Latin and South American Markets (organized by the Korean Council on Latin America and the Caribbean).

Support for Participation in Overseas Events

The Foundation funded travel expenses for Professor Bae Ki-dong of Hanyang University and other Korean delegates to the Seventh ICOM Asia-Pacific Area Conference that was held on Oct. 20-22 in Shanghai, China. Also financial support was provided for Korea's leading poet Sung Chan-kyung, who represented Korea in the Ninth Kuala Lumpur World Poetry Reading that was held Malaysia on Oct. 1-5. Sung is a member of the National Academy of Arts. In addition, the Foundation funded travel expenses for Korean nationals who attended four other international conferences.

Fourth Workshop for Korean Art Curators

More than 20 curators from major museums in the United States and six other countries explored Korea's Buddhist art as they participated in the Fourth Workshop for Korean Art Curators held in Korea on Sept. 3-13 under the sponsorship of the Foundation. The annual workshop, whose theme was "Buddhism and the Arts of Korea," took place in Gyeongju, Yangsan, Seungju and Seoul, with the attendance of 22 museum curators who are in charge of Korean or Southeast Asian arts. The workshop featured eight lectures by experts on Korea's Buddhist art, its principle ideas, architecture and paintings, and tours of historic relics as well as stays at time-honored temples. There were also seminars on Buddhist art of East Asia and preservation of Buddhist arts.

Korean Cultural Program for Foreigners in Korea

As part of its efforts to help foreign nationals (including diplomats) staying in Korea to deepen their understanding of Korean culture, the Foundation has sponsored a range of cultural events for expatriates since 2001. In April 2002, the Foundation sponsored a tour of the special exhibition "Renaissance of Korean Womanhood" for foreign diplomats posted in Korea. On Sept. 6, the Foundation invited soldiers of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces and their wives to view the popular theatrical performance Nanta. Furthermore, diplomatic mission chiefs and leading foreign businessmen staying in Korea had a chance to appreciate Korean classical music played by renowned gayageum p Hwang Byung-ki under the auspices of the Foundation on Nov. 26.

Festival d'Automne in Paris 2002

Korean culture is prominently featured in a major French festival. "Festival d'Automne in Paris 2002," France's major festival of dance, music and theatre, runs from Sept. 23 through Dec. 22 in Paris, and contains "Programme Coree 2002. This program includes performances of Korea's classical music including pansori, court and folk dance, Daedongguk (shaman's dance), Eunyul Talchum (mask dance) and modern music on a total of 30 occasions. Korea's modern poems will also be introduced to French citizens.

Taiwan 2002 Conference on the History of Painting in East Asia

The Foundation offered financial support for "Conference on the History of Painting in East Asia," which was held in Taiwan under the sponsorship of the Metropolitan Center for Far Eastern Art Studies (MCFEAS) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the MCFEAS' research grant program. The conference, which got under way on Oct. 4-7 at the National Taiwan University, brought together three generations of scholars from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Europe, and the United States. This event reviewed the current state of scholarship in the field and explored future areas of research, searching for new approaches and techniques of study.

SIDance 2002

The Fifth Seoul International Dance Festival (SIDance 2002) took place in Seoul from Sept. 30 through Oct. 24 with support from the Foundation. SIDance 2002 featured performances by 38 dance troupes-24 from Korea and 14 from overseas. Among the foreign troupes were the Ventura Dance Company (Switzerland) and Olga Pona & The Chelyabinsk Theatre of Contemporary Dance (Russia). In addition, related symposiums and workshops were held with the participation of five renowned foreign choreographers, critics and organizers. The event got under way at the Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Center for Performing Arts, Hoam Art Hall, the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and other venues.

Residency in Korean Dance

A workshop on Korean dancing was held at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo (Nov. 4-13) and 14 other New York schools (Nov.14-25) Korea's renowned dancer Sohn In-young demonstrated Korean dancing to American students and conducted lectures on the characteristics of Korea's classical and contemporary dance, The event was sponsored by SUNY and the New York-based Korea Society, with financial support from the Foundation.

Touring Exhibition of "Contemporary Art from Korea"

An exhibition featuring 50 works of 25 leading Korean painters toured four Latin American countries - Ecuador (July 2-20), Peru (Aug. 2-20), Argentina (Sept. 18-Oct. 7) and Mexico (Oct. 18-Nov. 15). The exhibition, which was sponsored by the Foundation and Korean embassies in the four countries, was intended to introduce contemporary Korean painting to peoples of these countries. To date, Korean's modern painting has been rarely introduced to Latin and South Americas.

Scholarships for East European and Chinese students
To foster next-generation Korean Studies scholars, the Foundation awarded a total of 62 grants for the Graduate Studies Fellowship Program. As part of this program, the Foundation provided scholarships to 27 students in five universities in Eastern Europe (ten from Moscow State University, three from St. Petersburg State University, six from Warsaw University, five from Charles University, and three from Sophia University), plus 35 students in two universities in China (18 from Peking University, 17 from Fudan University).
In addition to the Graduate Studies Fellowships, the Foundation is also supporting 15 Korean Studies students as they study in Korea (nine at Seoul National University and six at Yonsei University).
Under the Fellowship for Field Research program, 15 Korea-related scholars and specialists from eight countries are doing their research in Korea as of Oct. 31. Also, 49 college instructors, scholars, and graduate students from 26 countries are participating in Korean language training in Korea.

Invitation Program