THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF KOREAN CULTURE

Established in 1958, the Research Institute of Korean Culture at EWHA Womans University (Director: Professor Younghoon Kim) has contributed to the development of systematic research on Korean studies. RIKC aims to explore all cultural aspects pertaining to Korea from ancient to modern times. Starting from its interest in Korean traditional culture, RIKC has continuously expanded and diversified its research over time in addressing times and issues of society. RIKC now serves as the leading research institute in establishing the concept of the ‘Korean culture.’ Due to the current phenomenon of specialization in academia, perspectives and attitudes in regards to Korean culture and Korean studies have become sub-divided. For example, Korean studies can be sub-divided into a range of different fields including studies on the Korean language, Korean literature, Korean traditional music, contemporary modern day Korean music, dance, art history, physical education, Korean history, Korean religion, Christianity in Korea, Buddhism in Korea, Eastern philosophy, Korean philosophy, Korean folklore, Korean women, etc. Despite such range in different fields of studies, sub-divided research studies also have its limits. In this regard, interdisciplinary approaches are required to expand the field of Korean studies and to assist in establishing the concept of Korean studies.

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The Institute is divided into three main parts: Research, Publishing, and Academic Conferences and Seminars. These divisions, respectively, conduct research projects, publish 『The Korean Cultural Studies』 and various series of scholarly books dedicated to Korean Studies, and hold academic meetings of all kinds, including conferences and forums.

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1. Research Projects Overview

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RIKC has been participating actively in a number of projects of the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRFK). Recently, the following list of projects, as part of basic research program supported by NRFK, ins currently in progress.

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On-Campus Specialization Project​
‣ Step 1. Framework Project for the Specialization of Korean Studies(2003~2006)

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‣ Step 2. Globalization Project of Korean Studies/Korean Cultural Education (2007~2010)

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Humanities Korea(HK) Project of NRFK​
‣ The Establishment and Expansion of Humanities Across Borders(2007~2017)

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Recent Research Projects of NRFK​

• Translation of Miscellany(文集) by Nak School in the Reign of King Yeongjo (2011~2015)
• A study on Gosa Painting(Figurative paintings about the ancient stories) during the late Joseon dynasty (2011~2014)
• ​The Occupation of the South and North Korea during the Korean War Period and its Legacy (2011~2013)
• ​The Compilation of a Reference Book for Appreciating Korean Classical Novels (2010~2013)

2. Research and Communication – a Place to Discuss Korean Studies

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Through planning and organizing conferences, symposiums, lectures, and other academic meetings, the RIKC is dedicated to facilitating research on Korean studies. In particular, the academic conferences and seminar team addresses a wide of important research issues on Korean studies in relation to which it provides places for discussion and exchange idea among scholars.

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Academic Conferences​

• ​International Conference ‘Crosscurrents of the Korean Wave II’ (May 30~31, 2014)
• ​International Workshop ‘Korea in the World-Promoting Mutual Understanding and Global Partnerships (May 22~23, 2014)​
• International Conference ‘Retranslate Knowledge-The Mapping of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese
• ​Translation in the Early 20th Century’ (April 5~6, 2013)

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Colloquiums

• (17th) Deconstruction of Mythology of the Confucian transformation in the Late Chosun Dynast (May 13, 2015)
• (16th) The Tragic Life of Koreans in Czech: Alice Hyun and Wellington Chung (April 16, 2014)
• ​(15th) Urban Space and Architecture of Korea (May 15, 2013)

Forums

• 2015 Forum ‘The History of Korean Medical Terminology’ (May 27, 2015)
• 2014 Forum ‘Linguistic Approach to Political discourse in Korea’ (October 15, 2014)
• 2013 Forum ‘Endless Mountains and Streams, Image of Utopia in the Late Choson’ (April 24, 2013)

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Lectures by visiting Foreign Scholars

• (17th) Assimilating Seoul-The Change of ‘Gyeongseong’ in Japanese Colonial Period- (November 27, 2013)
• (16th) Politics of Arirang (November 5, 2013)‣ (15th) Eat, Drink and Love Korea in Post-Cool Japan (October 16, 2013)

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3. Korean Studies-related Publications

The RIKC publishes a wide array of research publications from academic journals, periodicals, and research papers to English books on Korean studies. In doing so, the institute collects comprehensive research data on Korean studies, in order to outline the current status of Korean studies and to offer more efficient and professional research environment for young Korean studies scholars.

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RIKC publishes an academic journal entitled 『The Korean Cultural Studies』, which is the only academic journal that covers a diverse range of fields on Korean studies in Korea. This journal strives to deepen and enrich its contribution in establishing the fields of Korean studies and Korean culture by covering research in relations to key figures and discourses of Korean studies and various other topics which the previous studies have given less attention to. Particularly through book reviews, it is possible to collect and survey research in each field and to understand current circumstances and trends while anticipating what the future holds. Furthermore, both foreigners and Koreans who research Korean studies outside of Korea have the opportunity to publish their research essays based on their individual research of Korean culture in foreign scholars’ editorials, along with assisting the process of drawing more global interest in Korean studies. In 2015, 『The Korean Cultural Studies』 was assigned to be the registration scientific journal by NRFK, the excellence of this Korean studies journal was recognized once more.

Periodical Journal

• The Korean Cultural Studies : Published​ biannually since 2001 (~vol.29) (June 30 & December 31, every year)

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Series of Korean Studies

• Ewha Korean Studies Series (~vol.10) : Research finding of the Framework Project for Specializaton in Korean Studies
• Ewha Korean Cultural Research Series (~vol.17) : Research achievements of the Basic Research Project Team supported by the Korea Research Foundation
• Ewha Research Series (~vol.21)
• Publications of Doctoral Theses in Ewha Womans University‣ Korean Academic History Series (~vol.9) : Publications of the Research History Database Project in the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Korean Culture Series (~vol.26) : Collections of Papers submitted in response to a call for papers for the Open Competition to Enhance the Social Status of Korean Studies

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4. INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

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The RIKS is developing into a network hub of Korean studies by creating consistent and mutually beneficial partnerships with globally-renowned research institutions. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, RIKC looks forward to strengthening institutional autonomy for further research in pursuit of making a better future at the forefront of Korean studies.

• Korean Language Teaching and Research center
  Beijing Foreign Study University, China (October 22, 2007)
• ​Center for Korean Research University of British Columbia, Canada (November 2, 2007)
• ​Center for Korean Studies Fudan University, China (December 15, 2007)
• Center for Korean Studies University of Hawaii, U.S. (October 10, 2008)
• University of Languages and International Studies Vietnam National University, Vietnam (February 11, 2009)
• Asian Affairs Center University of Missouri, U.S. (June 16, 2009)
• Korea Culture Research Institute Peking University, China (October 20, 2009)
• ​Institute for Korean Language and Culture Oberlin University, Japan (February 3, 2012)