Busan National University Korean Ethnic Culture Research Institute Holds 30th Anniversary Academic Symposium and Commemoration Ceremony

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Busan National University’s Institute of Korean Ethnic Culture, representing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and advocating the value of ‘region’ while leading the discourse on locality, will celebrate its 30th anniversary with an academic symposium and commemorative event on the 6th at the Narae Museum on campus.

The Busan National University Institute of Korean Ethnic Culture has promoted regional studies and locality studies through the Humanities Korea (HK) support project (large-scale, 2007?2017) under the agenda of ‘Humanities of Locality.’ Recently, it has been focusing not only on research and lectures but also on practical activities such as the Humanities City Support Project (2021?2023), seeking humanistic solutions to the crisis of regional extinction.

Marking its 30th anniversary this year, the institute has prepared commemorative events and an academic symposium to reflect on its past achievements and explore ways to contribute to the university and local community. At the symposium, scholars from universities in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan will participate under the theme of ‘Universities and Research Institutes,’ discussing the operation of research institutes and their social roles, and considering ways to strengthen the social contributions of university research institutes.

The event will be held in two parts: Part 1 is the academic symposium, and Part 2 is the 30th anniversary ceremony.

Four presenters will participate in the symposium. First, Professor Jeong Myeong-jung from the Honam Institute of Regional Studies at Chonnam National University will discuss “The Ideal of a Research-Oriented University and Its Reality,” addressing how universities have claimed to be research-oriented but face a lack of virtuous cycles between departments and research institutes due to market logic, and will propose alternatives. Professor Choi Mal-soon from the Taiwan Literature Research Institute at National Chengchi University will present on “The Pursuit of Liberal Arts and the Establishment of National Literature,” analyzing the social role of Taiwanese university research institutes, their efforts, and support measures from universities and society.

Professor Park Jin-han from the Department of Japanese Regional Culture at Incheon National University will introduce the research trends and new challenges of regional history studies in Japan in the era of population decline, highlighting the research directions of Japanese universities and institutes as well as regional crises and university concerns. Professor Cha Cheol-wook from the Busan National University Institute of Korean Ethnic Culture will review the 30-year history of the institute, examine its research directions and roles, and seek alternatives in his presentation titled “Achievements and Challenges of the Institute of Korean Ethnic Culture over 30 Years.”

Following the presentations, Professors Kim Ae-ryeong from Ewha Womans University’s Ewha Institute of Humanities and Sciences, Kim So-jeong and Jo Myeong-gi from Busan National University Institute of Korean Ethnic Culture, and Professor Yoon Yong-su from Busan University of Foreign Studies’ Mediterranean Studies Institute will join the four presenters for a comprehensive discussion to reassess the institute’s direction and role.

The second part will be the 30th anniversary ceremony. Busan National University President Choi Jae-won and former Busan National University President Jang Hyeok-pyo, who served as the inaugural director of the Institute of Korean Ethnic Culture, are scheduled to deliver congratulatory speeches.

Poster for the 30th Anniversary Academic Symposium and Commemoration Ceremony of the Korean Ethnic Culture Research Institute at Pusan National University.