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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

Third National Congress of Korean Studies

The city of Tucuman, in the north of Argentina, was the site where National Independence was declared on July 9, 1816. More recently, this city served as host of the Third National Congress on Korean Studies, which had been organized by the Argentina Association for Korean Studies (AAKS). On September 6-7, 2007, more than 200 participants got together to share their knowledge and discuss some 56 papers presented by distinguished Koreanists, future Koreanists, Koreans, and Korean immigrants. This article is intended to reflect the diversity of this meeting that helped to enrich the field of Korean Studies in Argentina and influence its development throughout Latin America.


The opening session was highlighted by the Vice Rector of Tucuman National University (TNU), Dra. Maria Luisa Rossi de Hernandez; Director of the Center of Asian and African Studies, TNU, Prof. Liliana Palacios de Cosiansi; President of the AAKS, Prof. Jorge Rafael Di Masi; Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Literature, TNU, Dra. Elena Rojas Mayer; and Ambassador of Korea to Argentina, S.E.D. Hwang Eui-seung.
Ambassador Hwang delivered a keynote address on “Bilateral Relations between Korea and Argentina: Present and Future,” which was followed by a presentation by Minister Councilor of the Embassy of Korea, Choo Jong-youn, on “Promotion of Cooperation in Natural Resources between Korea and Latin America.” The opening session concluded with remarks by Kang, Tae-min, Vice President of the Association of Korean Businessmen in Argentina (UDECA). He called the public’s attention to “Korean Diaspora and its Effect on the Argentine Economy.”
The first session, on the theme of History and Religion, included the presentation of papers on such subjects as “Goguryeo: Politics and the Manipulation of History,” “Nationalism and Identity of Korea,” “Confucianism of Korea,” “Catholics and Protestants (1945-1965),” “Religion and Women in the Traditions of Korea,” and “Acupuncture of Korea.”
As for the second session, the discussions were focused on the “Process of Democratization of Korea,” in which participants expressed their thoughts about “Impact of Japanese Colonization on the Formation of the Korean Bureaucracy,” “Democratization of Korea and the Impact on its Educational System,” “Role of Social Movements in the Democratization Process,” and “Marx and Weber: State Bureaucracy and Late Capitalism in Korea,” presented by Prof. Jorge Santarrosa, of the National University of Cordoba (NUC), and Vice President of the AAKS.
The third session was centered on “Economy and Modernization of Korea,” which featured the analysis of issues like “State vs. Market in Korea,” “Political Representation and New Technology in Korea,” and “Globalization and Human Development in Korea.” The session’s final presentation was by Prof. Jaime Silbert of NUC, and former President of the AAKS, who addressed “Social Transformation and Economic Development in Korea: A Decade of Crisis, 1997-2007."

The second day of the Congress started with a “Culture and Education” session that discussed such topics as “Educational Revolution of Korea,” “Visions of the Orient: Korea Viewed from Argentina: 1950-1970,” “The Identity of Koreans,” “Cultural Communication between Korea and South American Countries,” and “Korean Language Education in Argentina,” along with a closing presentation by Paula Iadevito, of the University of Buenos Aires, who presented a paper co-authored with Dra. Carolina Mera, Secretary General of the AAKS, about “Korea in Textbooks: The (Con)text of the Construction of an Image.”
There were also two lengthy sessions that discussed 12 papers on Korean immigration to Argentina, which focused on a wide range of subjects, including sociology, demography, psychology, and other areas related to the experiences of Koreans in various parts of the country and their interaction with local residents. Dra. Mirta Bialogorsky, of the Museum of Popular Art, presented the findings of a long-term research project about “The Korean Community, Inter-ethnicity and Discrimination in Argentina,” while Prof. Liliana Palacios de Cosiansi presented his study results about “Korean Immigration in Tucuman and Religion.”
After lunch, the session on “Literature and Arts” included the participation of a number of researchers that described a variety of characteristics about Korea’s culture and arts, related to literature, cinema, and mask dance.
The final two sessions were dedicated to the field of international relations and the Korean Peninsula that featured presentations about “The Korean Peninsula and the International System: Confrontation or Cooperation of the Major Powers?” by Prof. Jorge Rafael Di Masi, together with discussions of “Korean Reunification,” “Security Agenda of the Peninsula,” and “Korea and Free Trade Agreements in Asia.” Lastly, attention was focused on North Korea with presentations about “Economic History of North Korea,” “Economic Reform in North Korea,” and “North Korea and the U.S. - From Provocation to Negotiation,” by Prof. Bernabe Malacalza of the National University of La Plata.
As the first Association for Korean Studies in Latin America, the AAKS, which was founded in 2004, is dedicated to promoting this field of study from a multidisciplinary approach. The AAKS is comprised of more than 50 scholars from the most prominent universities in the country, but its membership is open to any other individuals with an interest in joining. AAEC, which is overseen by 11 board members, has launched an initiative to establish a Council of Honorary members in order to recognize relevant figures who have supported its efforts over the years. The first member is sure to be - if he accepts - the former Ambassador of Korea to Argentina, Choe Yang Boo, who provided the inspiration for the creation of the AAKS.
AAEC’s consolidation as a center for the creation and expansion of Korean Studies is evidenced by two publications of the papers presented at the previous Congress sessions. A third such publication is scheduled for distribution by the end of 2007. This Spanish-language material helps, to some extent, to make up for the general shortage of materials about Korea. There is also an approved project to compile independent papers as a means of ex-panding the knowledge about Korea in this region.
The AAKS has recently approved a Working Plan that includes several measures to upgrade the cooperation among universities, in terms of increasing the number of students who can take courses at local institutes, boosting the exchange of students and professors with Korean universities, publication of additional materials, strengthening relations with Korean businesses operating in Argentina, organization of the 2008 Congress - including the preparation of a photo exhibition about Korean immigration to Argentina, tangible development of existing MOUs with Korean universities, and initiation of a strategic partnership with the Argentina Society of Korea.
In large part, the success of this Third Congress is based on continuity, in regard to ongoing support from institutions, like the Korea Foundation, and the capability and dedication of hundreds of individuals who have decided to build bridges between two distant countries, which have more similarities than what most readers would imagine.
Indeed, there is a bright future for Korean Studies in Argentina. Based on the efforts of universities and the AAKS, together with organizations like UDECA and related groups, we have a favorable combination of factors that is producing impressive results. The number of students and researchers is growing steadily, such that the original two-day Congress is not enough to accommodate all the potential participants. It is important to facilitate the entry of new generations into the field of Korean Studies to assure its future development. There is still a long way to go, but it is worthy of note that there are so many persons willing to assume the challenges.

▲Tucuman National University Vice Rector Rossi de Hernandez presents a plaque of appreciation to Ambassador Hwang Eui-seung.

Tucuman and its university did a wonderful job, inspired by our Founding Fathers, who sought to an independent country in that city almost two centuries ago, while sending a message of unity amidst diversity. Korea and Argentina can look forward to a promising future in which everyone can find a place under the Sun.

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