KF뉴스레터-Steady Efforts to Enhance Korean Studies in Europe

Steady Efforts to Enhance Korean Studies in Europe

The Korean Studies Graduate Students Convention in Europe, an annual gathering supported by the Korea Foundation, was successfully hosted by Moscow State University’s Institute of Asian and African Studies and the International Center for Korean Studies (August 4-6).

Young Korean Studies scholars from various countries attended the Korean Studies Graduate Students Convention in Europe (KSGSC) to engage in in-depth discussion and to exchange opinions more freely than in other gatherings of this kind. The event also included about 40 paper presenters, from about 25 European and Korean institutions of education and research, who delved into a variety of subject matters, such as Korea’s history, economy, politics, society, democracy, nationalism, language, literature, religion, and culture and art, as well as North Korea-related studies.

Russia: First to Offer Korean Studies
It is particularly meaningful for this year’s Korean Studies Graduate Students Convention in Europe to be held in Russia, at Moscow State University’s International Center for Korean Studies. Of note, this year marks the 125th anniversary of the conclusion of the Russo-Korean Treaty of Amity and Commerce, the first treaty to promote diplomatic relations between the two countries. In addition, it could also be said that Russia has played a pioneering role in the development of Korean Studies in the European region.
During an opening ceremony, Korean Ambassador to Russia Lee Kyu-hyung noted: “Russia first offered Korean language courses at St. Petersburg, which was the capital of the former Russian Empire, about 110 years ago, and was the first country in Europe to initiate Korea-related academic research at the university level.” In his welcoming remarks, International Center for Korean Studies Director Pavel S. Leshakov pointed out that Russia is the only European country whose border extends to the Korean Peninsula, along with emphasizing how the Russian Empire became the first country in the West to accept Korean immigrants, when Korea first opened its ports to foreign countries.

Variety of Opportunities
The Korean Studies Graduate Students Convention in Europe has become an annual academic gathering that is held in cooperation with the Association for Korean Studies in Europe (AKSE). Following its inaugural session at Ruhr University, in Bochum, Germany in 2004, the convention has been held at SOAS, University of London, the U.K.; Charles University, in Prague, the Czech Republic; University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, the U.K.; and Leiden University, in the Netherlands. The convention participants and paper presenters were all satisfied with the event program and proceedings. During the gathering, the activities were held in the main building of Moscow State University, which houses the Office of the Rector, administration offices, various facilities, and dormitory units. For the convenience of participants, the International Center for Korean Studies staff members prepared a 15-page guide to Moscow so that people could leisurely tour the city on their own. The International Center for Korean Studies also arranged a boat cruise for the participants. While cruising along the Moscow River, which runs through the downtown area of Moscow, the participants also enjoyed an entertainment program. Especially, a rousing performance by a Samulnori troupe, of the Wonkwang Korean School in Moscow, provided a vibrant highlight.
To promote cultural awareness, since the early 1990s, the Wonkwang Korean School and the Won Buddhist Temple of Moscow have offered instruction on Korean language and culture for Russians with an interest in Korea. Today, these programs are highly popular among students and the only place in Moscow where they can learn Korean farmers’ music and traditional Korean dance. The Samulnori and dance troupes of Wonkwang Korean School are known for their impressive level of performance, which helped the participants to further their appreciation of Korean culture.
In addition, the event organizers presented a Korean-theme photo exhibition and contest. Without specific guidelines, students and faculty were encouraged to submit photos on Korean themes and subject matters. The photos were displayed at the convention venue, where the participants voted for the most outstanding works.

Groundwork to Upgrade Research
The sixth session of the KSGSC was successfully hosted by the International Center for Korean Studies of the Moscow State University. Moreover, the event reaped fruitful academic results, and at the same time enabled young researchers from various countries to enjoy Russia’s unique culture and make new friends.
The success of this year’s gathering is due to the efforts of: Pavel S. Leshakov, Director of the International Center for Korean Studies; Ekaterina A. Pokholkova, Professor of Moscow State Linguistic University, and member of the convention’s organizing committee; Kirill V. Ermakov and Ksenia V. Khazizova, researchers of the International Center for Korean Studies. The student volunteers also made such great efforts to assure the event’s smooth implementation.
The papers presented at the convention, although already published in various journals, will be revised and published as a collection of papers to encourage additional research efforts. It was also significant that plans for future research activities were outlined at the convention as well. At the 24th AKSE meeting, held at Leiden in June this year, Moscow State University’s International Center for Korean Studies was named the host institution for the 25th AKSE gathering in 2011. In this sense, it can be said that the Korean Studies Graduate Students Convention in Europe in August was a prelude for the AKSE international conference. It is thus expected that the 2011 AKSE meeting will be an even more outstanding and memorable event.

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Steady Efforts to Enhance Korean Studies in Europe

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Steady Efforts to Enhance Korean Studies in Europe

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