뉴스레터

Academic conference held on “Khitan’s governing strategy”

The Foundation’s Institute on Eurasian History held an academic conference with the theme of “Khitan’s governing strategy” on September 27. During the conference, presentations were made on research into Khitan’s governing strategy from the perspective of “dynasties of conquest”, deviating from the existing Han-oriented interpretations. Six researchers spoke on Khitan’s external relations, the creation of letters, the economy, military, receipt of overseas studies, and imperial descendant theory. The conference showed that the Khitan, a nomadic state, could rule Han and other multiple peoples effectively with its policy acknowledging diversity. The results of the academic conference will be published in the name of “Khitan, the Moving State” in 2020.

Gwang Art Gallery transformed into Dokdo Permanent Exhibition Hall in Gwanghwamun

Having obtained approval to “use the underground passage of Gwanghwamun Station free of charge” from Seoul City, the Foundation opened the Dokdo Permanent Exhibition Hall in Gwang Art Gallery, the underground exhibition center of Gwanghwamun Station, on October 1 for a 3-year run. With an area of 135 square meters and located in the underground passage of Gwanghwamun Intersection, Gwang Art Gallery is at the heart of the capital city of Seoul, which boasts a large floating population. The exhibition hall will extend the “East Sea-Dokdo Map Exhibition”, which has been conducted by the Foundation since July, to the end of the year before opening formally in January 2020 after collecting opinions from citizens interested in Dokdo and experts in the related fields. Opinions about the exhibition hall in Gwanghwamun that would publicize Dokdo widely in the center of Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, can be submitted via email (idea_dokdo@nahf.or.kr). Small souvenirs will be provided for those whose opinions are selected.

Northeast Asian History Foundation’s “History Week” events held in 2019

In its effort to raise interest in East Asian history and Dokdo, the Foundation has designated the October 21-26 period as a “History Week” and conducted a variety of events regarding the Japanese military comfort women, Ahn Jung-geun and Dokdo, and educational programs. Marking the 19th anniversary of the “Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery” held in Tokyo in 2000, the Foundation invited Jeong Jin-seong, professor emeritus at Seoul National University, and Nakahara Michiko, professor emeritus at Waseda University — Korea’s and Japan’s then working-level representatives — and held an open talk in the Foundation’s conference room on October 22. On October 23, researchers of the Dokdo Research Institute organized the 2019 Dokdo academic forum to report on research projects related to Dokdo and the East Sea that were implemented last year and this year, and provided a chance to look at the research results of Dokdo, comprehensively encompassing history, geography, laws and policies, and interdisciplinary research. Meanwhile, the Foundation hosted a Korea-China-Japan academic conference entitled “Shedding New Light on Ahn Jung-geun’s Oriental Peace Theory” on October 24.

Foundation-sponsored Dokdo documentary aired on YTN and EBS

Sponsored by the Foundation, the Month of Dokdo video documentary programs for October were broadcast by YTN Science and EBS. YTN’s science documentary “How to Love Dokdo” is a 5-part YouTube video: Professional history lecturer Choi Tae-seong appeared in Parts 1 and 2, and Mir, the singer of the music group MBLAQ, and singer Kang In-won and photographer Lee Se-hyeon appeared in Parts 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The documentary was broadcast by YTN’s science channel on October 25. The EBS documentary “Seol Min-seok’s Dokdo” is about what professional history lecturer Seol Min-seok experienced with Lee Yong-soo, a now elderly former Japanese military comfort woman, during his visit to Dokdo, and was aired at 4 PM on October 26 (Saturday).

Northeast Asian History Foundation staff hold Anti-Corruption Week

The Foundation will operate the Anti-Corruption Week for its employees from November 4 to 8. During the week, there will be a variety of programs including the integrity golden bell quiz contest for staffers (November 7); pledge to boost employee integrity and uproot abuse of rank and the creation of stickers on how to report through standardized reporting systems; posting of flyers on the protection of whistleblowers; distribution of Q&A teaching materials related to staffers’ integrity and abuse of rank; and a survey of employees for the eradication of abuses of rank. The Foundation expects the hosting of the Anti-Corruption Week to contribute to uprooting abuses of rank and boosting the culture of integrity.

Series published on “Properly Understanding Imperial Japan’s History of Invasion”

Believing that the recent aggravation of Korea-Japan relations has been caused by the difference in historical perceptions and the incomplete settlement of history, the Foundation has planned a 40-book series entitled “Properly Understanding Imperial Japan’s History of Invasion” to help the public to understand Japan’s invasion correctly. Specifically, the Foundation recently published “Properly Understanding Imperial Japan’s History of Invasion 1: Japan’s False Claim and the Truth about Dokdo” and “Properly Understanding Imperial Japan’s History of Invasion 2: 30 Scenes of Japanese Invasion”. Series 1 is an updated version of the now out-of-print book “10 Truths about Dokdo Japan Doesn’t Know”, which will help the public to understand Dokdo more deeply and accurately. Meanwhile, the series 2 sorts out 30 topics so that readers can properly understand Japan’s invasion during the period of colonial rule. Data and photographs are used actively to help readers understand more easily. Foundation president Kim Do-hyeong expressed the hope that “the series will contribute to helping people to correctly understand the true picture of Japan’s invasion.”