뉴스레터

My warm greetings to you all. My name is CHUNG Jae Jeong, the second president of this Northeast Asian History Foundation.

When I was appointed as president of this organization by the government on the last 17th of September, I felt nervous and afraid about the grave responsibility attached to the position. However, shortly after meeting with officers and workers of the Foundation who warmly welcomed me and also hearing words of encouragement and support from senior, junior and other fellow scholars in the academia who've shown affection as well as concern toward the history of Northeast Asia, I was relieved from the burden and felt at ease again. As a fellow scholar and an adviser for the Foundation, I had often deeply thought about the history issues in one way or another, and associated with them in a frank manner at all times, discussing with them about those issues. I've confirmed that I can have confidence and trust in them, and that they will help me sincerely no matter what adversities I face in my position.

With the positive expectation and support I've received from those many people, the burden of responsibility has changed into a source of fresh energy that prepares me and has rather provided me with great strength and will. Though my knowledge is not deep and my talent is poor, I will do my best in my position so that the Foundation may perform its given role satisfactorily.

Launched in 2006, Northeast Asian History Foundation celebrated its third anniversary on the last 22nd of September. While having had difficult situations in various forms during this time, the organization has settled and successfully laid its foundation for a take-off. Such a result has been achieved by the determination and effort of Mr.KIM Yong-deok, the former president, combined with the cooperative work of the staff, the researchers who've offered suggestions unreservedly and the figures in the civil societies.

Establishing itself as the center for initiating reconciliation about history

With the background of its birth and the characteristics of its mission, our Foundation has inevitably engaged people with a variety of talents. The Foundation needs to cooperate with scholars from a truly diverse range of disciplines and individuals and groups in civil societies in order to perform its business and carry out studies on such topics as the histories of Korea-Japan and Korea-China relations, the territorial land and waters including Dokdo, the ancient history including Koguryo to begin with, the contemporary histories of Korea and Japan, and international politics.

A diverse range of talented people gathered their strength for the same purpose and have achieved the result that we are witnessing today. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks again to all those people involved for their interest and effort.

Northeast Asian History Foundation has done a lot of work during the past three years. The Foundation always responded promptly and appropriately whenever there came out an issue with a neighboring country about history or territory.

The Foundation has also accumulated a lot of resources from a great number of researches performed in cooperation with domestic and foreign scholars on topics relating to the histories and territories in Northeast Asia. As a result, our neighbor countries and prominent institutions around the world have now turned their eyes on the activities of our Foundation.

The Foundation has made another significant achievement by constructing a network of knowledge and human resources pursuing and spreading a view of history that will contribute for the peace and mutual prosperity in Northeast Asia. Numerous academic conferences have been organized by the Foundation to provide opportunities for exploring mutual understanding and co-prosperity in Northeast Asia. By doing so, the Foundation has established itself as the center that can initiate and produce the knowledge and thoughts for reconciliation of history and friendly cooperation in Northeast Asia.

Do my best to strengthen the status of our think tank through change and reform.

The surrounding situation is not easy at all. Northeast Asia is in the state of a fluid where history or territory matters may develop into hot issues at any time. Particularly, for the ten years from 2010 which will mark the 100th anniversary of Japanese annexation of Korea till 2019 that will see the 100th anniversary of the 1st of March Independence Movement, the major topics in Northeast Asia would probably be about how to view the history and territorial right. In this circumstance, our Foundation may face new obstacles in the processes of pursuing protection of our history and territorial right, creating and sharing views of history that will contribute for mutual existence, and establishing the image of a model community toward peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia.

In order to overcome the coming obstacles and establish a peaceful and prosperous image of Northeast Asia, we need to, first of all, systematically connect and integrate the individual studies and achievements we have made in relation to the histories of Korea-Japan and Korea-China on a higher and larger scale. In that direction, our Foundation will continue to build a deeper and stronger network of scholars and researchers in various countries.

With regard to territorial issues including Dokdo, we will make 'Dokdo Research Institute' that has passed its first anniversary become the center for researches on 'Dokdo' in name and reality. In relation to the territorial right to Dokdo and the issue of naming the sea on the east of Korea, we will conduct researches on these issues and spread our views to the international society so that they will understand our position.

I believe that Northeast Asian History Foundation will be able to cope with situations and challenges coming from inside and outside the country. But, I also think that in order to make the Foundation stand firm as the hub for conducting researches on East Asia, now is the time to examine the true state of the organization thoroughly and improve its weaknesses and strengthen its qualities.

As an adviser for the Foundation before I was appointed as president and for the short period until now after I was appointed as president, I have heard a lot of comments, criticisms and assessments on various matters and issues through different channels. In this process, I've felt a significant atmosphere that change and reform is necessary to a great extent and across the board from the budget through to organization, human resources, research and operation. If we turn away from this current and national demand at present, we will be thrown into a serious situation.

From now on, I am going to gather the determination and strength of those caring about the Foundation and will solve the problems confronted by the Foundation one by one. I am not going to say ambitious goals and plans in detail right now. I am not going to talk big like 'I am going to solve all the problems at once' or 'I am going to achieve everything in a single effort'. I am going to sit with many people to think and discuss, and improve the situation gradually. Our direction is clear and firm, so I am not going to hesitate or escape. Together with our officers and the staff, I am going to take a new turn of my mind and make strenuous efforts.

Finally, I would like to thank those distinguished scholars and figures in the civil societies in Korea, China, Japan and other parts of the world who have shown interest in the Foundation's activities, and the general public who seek the right view of history. I hope that they will send us criticizing comments and advice as well as their affection and interest so that Northeast Asian History Foundation will firmly establish its position as a think tank by conducting researches on histories and developing policies for co-prosperity of the Northeast Asian countries.

Thank you all.

September 2009
President of Northeast Asian History Foundation

CHUNG Jae Jeong