Grant from the Korea Foundation Boosts Korean Studies at UW–Madison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 1/31/2006 CONTACT: Ronnie Hess, Director of Communications, Division of International Studies, UW–Madison, (608) 262-5590, rlhess@wisc.edu GRANT FROM THE KOREA FOUNDATION BOOSTS KOREAN STUDIES AT UW-MADISON Madison, WI – The Center for East Asian Studies has received nearly $100,000 to expand Korean studies at the UW–Madison. The grant includes about $85,000 from the Korea Foundation, an independent organization affiliated with the South Korean government that promotes various academic and cultural programs fostering a better understanding of Korea around the world. Additional funds will be provided by the Hyuk Yu Korean Studies Fund, named after a UW–Madison professor emeritus in Chemistry who helped initiate a fundraising drive for Korean Studies at UW–Madison, and other funding sources. The Center for East Asian Studies, a member program of the International Institute, is one of eight federal (Title VI) national resource centers within the Institute, the largest number for any American university. Last year, in response to heightened interest in Korean language and area studies, the Center for East Asian Studies spearheaded a Korean Studies Initiative, which is devoted to improving and expanding Korean language and area studies offerings on campus, as well as making resources available to the community through outreach events. Korean language courses have been expanded this year to include third year level classes. A special topics course, “Modern Korea: North & South,” was taught last fall and was linked to a special series of public lectures, “Understanding (and Misunderstanding) North Korea.” This spring, a new course on “Korean Popular Culture” is looking at the “Korean Wave” of popular culture that has swept East Asia. ” The new funds will enable us to hire a visiting assistant professor next year to teach two Korean literature and culture classes each semester, as well as to sponsor a conference on Korean Confucian thought in February 2007,” says Hope Rennie, assistant director of the Center. “The visiting professor will meet the immediate needs of our students while our Center continues fundraising towards our ultimate goal of a new tenure-track position in Korean Studies.” According to Rennie, some Americans may not realize the strategic and economic importance of the Korean peninsula. South Korea is the seventh largest trading partner of the U.S. and North Korea is an important player affecting the future peace and security of the United States. Rennie says UW–Madison students, especially those interested in business or in international relations, will need to know more about Korean language, culture and politics in their careers. XXX