뉴스레터

I was happy merely for activity

Lee Yeong-su, master's course in the department of Korean history, Graduate School of Korea Studies

I learned of the Northeast Asian History Foundation while serving in the military. I intensely thought that “I could realize my dream of passionately sharing Korean history with the public if I study history here.” I thus wrote my letter of self-introduction for graduate school saying that “I would like to later devote my life to research in the Northeast Asian History Foundation.” While steadily showing great interest in the Foundation, I came to know that the Foundation would be selecting the first class of online supporters. Following preparation while praying and longing for acceptance, I became a member of the first class of supporters with these respectable people. I was as delighted as when I had passed graduate school. I was excited with the anticipation that I could meet many scholars and learn much from them, as well as the novelty of the “first class”. Hearing the words of encouragement in the launching ceremony that “publicity about the Northeast Asian History Foundation relies on you,” I resolved to do my best and began my activity as an online supporter in earnest.

My first post for public relations was the summary of data related to the Northeast Project published by the Foundation. Having taken great interest in the Northeast Project, I was confident that I could write an amazing post; after completion, I even felt a sense of shame about its shabbiness falling far short of my plan. Next, I wrote a post about participating in an academic conference on the comfort women. This time, I was more satisfied with myself than before as I added stories about my participation in the Wednesday rally and assigned photos in various ways, in addition to my activity of “Peace Butterfly” during my undergraduate years. I began to feel a sense of interest about writing PR posts from then on.

Since then, I wrote posts related to the Wednesday forum such as on relics of the Korean Peninsula in Shosoin, friendly policies with the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and ancient Korea's exchange networks; I did work with pleasure because I could involve my ideas in the posts, all of which were about themes that usually interested me. I could also ask questions of the researchers of the Foundation I met in the Wednesday forum, and received great help in my personal studies by conducting a history trip under the theme of “visiting the historic sites of Admiral Yi Sun-sin”.

Writing my feelings about my activity as a supporter, I feel sorry for what was not realized from among my wishes I had revealed in my interview and the fact that I had fallen short of meeting the expectations of the Foundation. I think that I made the right choice, though, because I have gained a lot from my activity as a supporter. I hope that students interested in the Foundation and history will learn much through their activities as supporters. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Ms. Go Hyeon-jeong, who supported our activities both physically and spiritually.

Northeast Asian History Foundation: choice for one step forward

Jeon Dong-su, department of historical content, Sangmyung University

When I applied to be part of the online supporters of the Northeast Asian History Foundation, I was working at a part-time job without returning to school after being discharged from military service, so I still had a lot of nervous tension left, and it suddenly all burst out. I had once felt awkward about the military speaking style before conscription. When I applied for the supporters' program, I was very nervous. I made up my mind to study history, and entered the history department. While in the army, I had excavated remains, which was the work that history major students usually apply for, but did not retain much after the passing of time. I was thus desperate to find someone who could lead and teach me. That was when I learned of the supporters of the Northeast Asian History Foundation through posts by a department professor.

When I had the interview, I was far from studying history because I had extended my leave of absence after being discharged from military service, so I was obsessed with the notion that I would be deficient in knowledge and ideas about my major. But having heard that I passed, I became hopeful that there might be a chance nonetheless. At any rate, I began my activity with a small bit of confidence. For five months after the launching ceremony, as an online supporter, I wrote news about the Foundation and studied while taking part in events and writing news stories. I felt grateful that my friends and colleagues showed interest in my writings, which led me to renew my determination to work hard.

What is most impressive is the night opening of the Dokdo Museum Seoul that I visited recently. The night opening takes place once every month, with the museum's opening hours extended and one-hour classes held. I attended a lecture on Dokdo in September, and there was a lecture on the Japanese military comfort women in the November night opening that I visited recently. The comfort women issue interested me for a long time, so I have been sponsoring the comfort women grandmas. However, I was actually uninformed of why the comfort women issue occurred and the positions related to international law. After hearing the lectures, though, I recalled why I had made up my mind to study history, and renewed my resolve to contribute my small power for the sake of those in distress historically.

My activity as a supporter was a great challenge to me. I could study Northeast Asian history while taking part in various events and writing stories, and realized that it would be more difficult and important to let others know than simply knowing myself. I also realized how precious it would be to take on a challenge. Finally, I would like to thank all of the staff in the Foundation for giving me these opportunities, and I would like to request that the upcoming supporters act vigorously. I hope that they will remember that it is a precious time to learn something while supporting the Foundation.

Recording the Foundation's gazette for 5 months

Han Dong-hee, department of historical contents, Sangmyung University

Time flew past during my activity as a supporter, from July when forests were thick to November when the first snow fell. I met many people in academic circles and attended various academic conferences for five months. In that process, I met superb professors and was honored to publicize numerous events supervised by the Northeast Asian History Foundation.

I conducted diverse activities to publicize the Foundation during the five-month period. Where I put the most effort among other things was news coverage. I covered various activities supervised by the Northeast Asian History Foundation and uploaded writings about them on blogs, seven times in total.

My first writing as a supporter was about introducing the Foundation's history, foundation objectives, and office location while looking around its offices to help deepen understanding about the Foundation. For my second writing in August, I covered the “East Sea, Dokdo Map Exhibition” co-hosted by Foundation with the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, marking the centennial of the March 1st Independence Movement. The East Sea and Dokdo had been called as such from old times, but they were lost first of all in the course of Japan's invasion as the Japanese empire set Dokdo as the bridgehead of its aggression. On display in the exhibition were data proving that Dokdo and East Sea were the names used by our people from old times and photos featuring Dokdo's landscapes. I covered the Wednesday forum. The Northeast Asian History Foundation holds academic conferences and discussions under diverse themes on the last Wednesday of every month, and I covered the forums held in September, October, and November. The September theme was “Establishment of Shosoin and Baekje Artifacts” presented by Dr. Yeon Min-su, and the October theme was “Friendly Policies of the Sui and Tang Dynasties and the Dynamics Involving Neighboring States” presented by researcher Woo Seong-min, which delved into marriages pushed to avoid clashes between northern ethnic groups and the Middle Kingdom. In November, I covered the forum themed with the “World of China's Rock Carvings” by researcher Jang Seog-ho on November 27. I also covered various other events as a supporter. I was surprised to find that there were far more events hosted by the Foundation than I had thought. Most impressive among them was the academic conference on the Chungju Goguryeo Stele held recently. I still remember the crowds of people who came after hearing the news that new letters had been discovered from the stele in November, in addition to the value of the 40th anniversary of its discovery.

Aside from news coverage, there were quite a number of other activities. I regularly clipped blog posts on the Northeast Asian History Foundation three times a month and uploaded them on individual blogs; my irregular activities included writing reports about two books published by the Foundation and trips to historic sites. Among other things, I selected the historic sites related to ports in Incheon, which were created by mixing the diverse cultures of Northeast Asia. While on a field trip to Incheon, I was able to visit the hidden historic sites that were close but yet unknown, and while charting traveling courses I had the opportunity to think, “How can I let travelers know about these?” All of these activities were made possible thanks to the help extended by all in the Northeast Asian History Foundation. I thus deliver my appreciation to the Foundation, albeit on paper. I also hope that the next supporters will work harder to publicize the Foundation with novel ideas and unceasing passion.

Remembering 5 months estimating the "weight of historical facts"

Kim Yeong-cheol, department of history and archaeology, Inje University

After returning to school, I felt the necessity for external activities, and searched for activities. The Foundation's program of online supporters then meant a lot to me as someone learning history who had been very interested in the comfort women of the Japanese military and compulsory mobilization. Five months later, I cannot forget the sense of frustration that I felt after finishing the interview, having failed to say what I wanted to say. My activity as a supporter was anxious. Five months have passed, and it is time to put an end to my activity.

What Dr. Woo Seong-min of the Institute on Pre-Modern Korean History said in the launching ceremony in July was enshrined in my heart while I performed my activities. He said, “China invests much on a national level to take advantage of history as ideology. It is important for the public to know historical issues properly, because China is hard to counter numerically or quantitatively. In this respect, the role of the supporters is great.” I have also thought of whether my activity was faithful to such a role along the way. Now that I think of it, I feel sorry that my effort was insufficient, compared with my aspirations when I began.

Regardless of such a sense of frustration, however, I can confidently say that my activity as a supporter was of great help to my life. My diverse activities included visiting the National Women's Historical Hall in Busan, interviewing chairman Kim Mun-suk of the Citizen's Coalition for Volunteer Korea, viewing the Dokdo Museum Seoul, the “East Sea, Dodo Map Exhibition” in Gwanghwarang, and the National Memorial Museum of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Occupation, taking a trip to the modern heritage in Mokpo, and attending the talk concert marking the 19th anniversary of the 2000 Women's International Tribunal. These activities enabled me, a novice history student, to become interested in modern and contemporary history, the problems of the comfort women of the Japanese military and forced mobilization and to gain conviction in my career.

In "Korea-Japan Historical Issues: Overcoming Japan's Colonial Rule" published by the Institute on Korea-Japan Historical Issues that I read recently, there was a phrase "efforts to ascertain the weight of facts". While reading the book, I pondered what is meant by efforts to ascertain the weight of facts. Then I happened to watch the movie "Frozen II", where I got a hint. This film is about Elsa and Anna, who did not forget the history of the mistake committed by their grandfather, and made efforts to resolve the matter, resulting in drawing a hopeful future by clearing the dark mist. These are "efforts to ascertain the weight of facts", aren't they? It is about not hiding the dark past and looking at the mistakes of the past just as they are. Looking closely at the numerous activities of the Northeast Asian History Foundation over the past five months, I felt that those "making efforts to ascertain the weight of facts" are the staff of the Foundation. I reaffirm that the past five months, during which I could watch and feel such efforts, marked one indispensable turning point in my life.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the staff of the Foundation, who helped me find enlightenment and spent a rewarding time over the past five months, and who are endeavoring to devote themselves to "efforts to ascertain the weight of facts" even now, as well as those who read my poor writings.