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| European Association for Korean Studies | |
|---|---|
| Name | European Association for Korean Studies |
| Formation | 1977 |
| Type | Academic association |
| Headquarters | Varies (rotating) |
| Region served | Europe |
| Language | English, Korean, national languages |
| Leader title | President |
European Association for Korean Studies. The European Association for Korean Studies is a scholarly association linking academics across Europe focused on Korean studies, connecting specialists in Korean history, Korean literature, Korean linguistics, Korean anthropology and Korean political affairs. The association organizes conferences, fosters collaboration among university departments such as the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Leiden University, University of Helsinki and University College London, and liaises with institutions like the Academy of Korean Studies, the Korea Foundation, the British Academy, and the European Association for Asian Studies.
Founded in the late 20th century, the association emerged amid increased interest following events such as the Korean War historiographical debates and the expansion of area studies at institutions including Columbia University, Harvard University, Seoul National University and Yonsei University. Early meetings featured scholars influenced by figures associated with the London School of Economics, the School of Oriental and African Studies, the Max Planck Society and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales. Over time its trajectory intersected with diplomatic and cultural initiatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in London, the Korean Cultural Centre UK, the European Union cultural programmes, and bilateral projects with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (South Korea). Key periods paralleled developments such as the June Democratic Uprising and the consolidation of research networks modeled on the American Association for Asian Studies and the International Convention of Asia Scholars.
The association’s mission emphasizes scholarly exchange among specialists on topics tied to Joseon dynasty, Goryeo, Three Kingdoms of Korea, Korean independence movement, Kim Dae-jung, Park Chung-hee, Syngman Rhee, and contemporary issues involving Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk-yeol. Activities include facilitating panels on Korean War memory, comparative studies with Japan–Korea relations, analyses relating to China–Korea relations, and research collaborations engaging the United Nations archival sources and the European Parliament cultural committees. It supports networks that bridge centres such as the Korea Institute at Harvard University, the Toyota Foundation-funded projects, the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, the Max Weber Foundation, and national research councils like the German Research Foundation and the French National Centre for Scientific Research.
Annual and biennial conferences rotate among host universities and city partners like Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Lisbon, Prague and Barcelona. Notable conference themes have connected to topics in Korean cinema studies involving works by Im Kwon-taek, Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho and Kim Ki-duk, as well as panels on Korean literature featuring scholarship on Shin Kyung-sook, Han Kang, Yi Mun-yol and Ko Un. The association has organized joint events with the Korea Democracy Foundation, the International Council on Archives, the British Association for Korean Studies, the Association for Korean Studies in Europe and forum collaborations with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.
The association produces conference proceedings, edited volumes, and occasional journals drawing on contributions related to Hangul, Hangeul, Korean phonology, Korean syntax, Korean lexicography and studies of Confucianism in Korea and Korean Buddhism. Publications often appear through university presses such as Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Routledge, Brill and Leiden University Press, and include collaborative monographs with centres like the Seoul National University Press and the Academy of Korean Studies Press. Research topics span archival projects tied to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, comparative analyses with Manchuria and Tsushima Island, and interdisciplinary work involving European Commission research grants and Horizon 2020 funding frameworks.
Membership comprises faculty, doctoral candidates, independent scholars, and institutional representatives from departments including University of Edinburgh, Trinity College Dublin, Universität Heidelberg, Université Paris Diderot and Università di Bologna. Governance typically follows an elected executive board with roles such as President, Secretary, Treasurer and Programme Convenor, and involves advisory ties to bodies like the Korean Studies Association of Australasia and the Association for Asian Studies. Election cycles and statutes are influenced by models from the Modern Language Association, the International Association of Korean Studies and national academies including the Royal Society and the Swedish Research Council.
The association maintains partnerships with Korean institutions including Korea University, Handong Global University, the Korean Studies Centers Network, and international partners like the Asia-Europe Meeting, the European Association for Asian Studies, the East Asian Studies Centre at the University of Oxford and the Korean Cultural Centre in Brussels. Collaborative projects have involved archival exchanges with the National Archives of Korea, fellowships hosted by the Korea Foundation, and joint symposia with research entities such as the Wilson Center and the Brookings Institution.
Impact includes strengthening European expertise on Korean affairs, influencing curricula at universities like Sorbonne Nouvelle, Humboldt University of Berlin, and Universität Wien, and contributing to public scholarship cited by media outlets like the BBC, The Guardian, and Le Monde. Criticism has focused on perceived Eurocentrism in conference programming, tensions around funding from state-linked agencies such as the Korea Foundation and debates over access to archives tied to issues raised by organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Ongoing discussions engage scholars connected to networks like the International Journal of Korean History and the Korean Studies journal on transparency, diversity, and decolonizing area studies.
Category:Korean studies organizations Category:Academic organizations based in Europe