Column

I began my academic career in the United States in 1994. Over the past 30 years or so, I have witnessed the transformation of the field of Korean studies. It has grown from near invisibility to flourishing prominence. Looking through the Korea-focused papers at the annual conferences of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), it is clear how far the field of Korean Studies has come. We find Korea-related cutting-edge research presented not only in the Korea panels, but also in the inter-area, border-crossing, and other regional panels. The public is increasingly hungry for more information about Korea. Many factors have led to the current interest in the field-the changing role and status of the Korean peninsula, the recent global popularity of K-pop, and the systematic promotion of research and teaching about Korea by such organizations as the Academy of Korean Studies, the Korea Foundation, and others. At the heart of this remarkable growth are people – the scholars and students of Korean studies. They have dedicated their time, energy, and insights to advancing the field. We now have a fantastic young generation of scholars who present a compelling array of research that is simply breathtaking in its scope, rigor, and creativity.

Looking ahead, I can't think of a better time to invest in Korean Studies to assure that it not only sustains its current prominence but also expands and prospers. Toward that end, I would like to see two initiatives. One is a long-term vision and funding program to ensure the advancement of Korean Studies. Annual funding is important, but research requires long-term commitment on the part of researchers. Multi-year funding will lead to high-quality research products. I am the beneficiary of such investment. I received a five-year AKS Core University grant (2011-16) when I was affiliated with the Australian National University. One of the international conferences I organized with the AKS grant was a conference entitled "Latent Histories, Manifest Impacts: Interplay between Korea and Southeast Asia" (2015). There was very little research on the historical or contemporary connections between Korea and Southeast Asia, but thanks to the AKS multi-year grant, this conference provided unique insights and opportunities for scholars to learn from and inspire each other.

The other important initiative is engagement with broader global issues and outreach to the general public. We are well aware of the challenges we face in the academy and in the world, but this particular moment in history also offers exciting new opportunities for scholars of Korea and Asia to engage in research, teaching, and public service that will have a significant impact on the critical issues of our time, such as diversity, social justice, and ecology.

This is an exciting time to research and teach about "global Korea" in the context of the dynamic transnational flow of ideas, people, and materials. Building on a deep knowledge of Korea and its place in world history and culture, the field of Korean Studies can play a leading role in the academy and beyond.

Editor’s Note:

Professor Hyaeweol Choi is the President of the Association for Asian Studies (2024-2025). She is the first Korean-born scholar to be elected to this position since the founding of the AAS in 1941. The AAS is the world's leading scholarly organization in Asian studies, with over 6,000 members and a wide range of programs including conferences, publications, workshops, and mentoring. Her presidential column for the AAS can be found at the following link:
https://www.asianstudies.org/language-diversity-at-aas-conferences/