뉴스레터

Participation in 2019 AAS Annual Conference’s Book Exhibition

The Foundation took part in the book exhibition at the 2019 AAS Annual Conference held in Colorado. U.S., on March 21 to 25. The Association for Asian Studies (AAS), the largest academic group for Asian studies in the U.S., holds the conference annually. Western scholars, as well as those from Korea, China, and Japan majoring in Asian studies, meet to promote academic exchange and to share knowledge and information, while organizing a book exhibition as an auxiliary event.

This year’s AAS Book Exhibition saw participation by 97 academic institutions and publishing companies from Japan, China, the U.S., Britain, Taiwan, etc. to display and sell a variety of publications. Aside from the Foundation, Korea’s National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, Literature Translation Institute of Korea, and private publishing companies also participated in the exhibition. The Foundation shared a booth with the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History to create a one stop shop at which participating scholars could attain information related to Korean studies and other publicized Korean studies by exhibiting books published by the Academy of Korean Studies. The Foundation used the exhibition as a chance to actively advertise its publication projects by distributing multi-language leaflets and lists of English books, as well as exhibiting published books and fostering understanding about its overall activities. Meanwhile, the books on display were donated to Duke University.

Symposium on “Afrosiyab Murals and Korea-Uzbekistan Exchange” 

Held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

The Foundation held a symposium in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on April 17 with the State Museum of Culture History of Uzbekistan with the theme of “Afrosiyab Murals and Korea-Uzbekistan Exchange.” Two figures wearing jowoogwan (a bird-shaped hat) and hwandudaedo swords, whose images are painted in the west wall of the Afrosiyab murals, have been presumed to be depictions of ancient Koreans. The Foundation has been carrying out a digital restoration of Afrosiyab murals since 2013. Lee Seongje, head of the Foundation’s Institute on Pre-Modern Korean History, Ko Kwang-eui, senior researcher at the Foundation’s Institute on Pre-Modern Korean History, Professor Jeong Ho-seop of Hansung University, Professor Park A-rim of Sukmyung Women’s University, Mustafofulof S, head of Afrosiyab Museum, Marina Leotova, head of Uzbekistan’s Institute of Archaeology, Mirza Ahmedov D.K., researcher at Uzbekistan’s Institute of Archaeology, and Ahadova G., researcher at the Archaeology Institute made presentations at the symposium. The Foundation saw the symposium as a chance to promote an understanding of Korea’s history and culture that unfolded in the ancient Silk Road and to foster the creation of relationships and academic exchange between Korea and Uzbekistan.

Operation of 4th Citizen History Class in Cooperation with University of Seoul

The Foundation’s 4th Citizen History Class was hosted every Thursday for seven weeks starting on March 14 at the University of Seoul’s Lifelong Education Center. During the history class that was taught with the theme of, “Centennial of the March 1st Movement, Reinterpretation of Memories,” the Foundation’s four researchers and guest speakers, including Park Gyeong-mok, head of the Seoul Prison History Hall, gave lectures while 50 citizens attended the class. Citizens from all age groups participated in the class actively, asking a great deal of heated questions. The Foundation and the University of Seoul plan to host a recruitment for the operation of the fifth class in September.

Symposium Held to Commemorate the Centennial of the March 1st Movement and the Establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the Publication of Shedding New Light on the March 1st Movement and the Provisional Government

The Foundation held an international symposium with the theme of, “Democracy and republicanism from the perspective of world history and independence movement in East Asia,” in the press conference room on the 19th floor of the Press Center in Seoul on April 9, just ahead of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. In the first session that was held with the theme of, “National independence movements and democratic republicanism from around the world before and after World War I,” our independence movement and activities of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea were compared to the trends of world history, such as Ireland’s independence struggle. The second session that was held with the theme of, “March 1st Independence Declaration, the Provisional Government, and its activities,” delved into political ideals contained in the March 1st Independence Declaration of 1919, tasks given to our people, how the March 1st Movement and the establishment of Provisional Government influenced Japan’s colonial rule, and China’s views on Korea as well as our people. Experts from overseas, including Professor Fearghal McGarry of Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Heou Zungjwin, researcher at the Institute of Modern History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Naoki Mizuno, emeritus professor of Kyoto University, and six domestic scholars made presentations.

In 2018, the Foundation also published Shedding New Light on the March 1st Movement and the Provisional Government – From Monarchy to Democratic Republic, a collection of theses and discussions that studied the March 1st Movement and the Provisional Government. The book highlights how “democratic republicanism,” the key topic of the symposium, was introduced to Korea from the latter era of the Joseon Dynasty to the period before the March 1st Movement, how it was understood, and how Korea pursued democratic republic as the basis of a new independent state.