AKS’s Center for International Affairs Division of the Understanding Korea Project hosted the “2020 AKS Program for Textbook Specialist in Europe” online on October 17 (Saturday) and October 18 (Sunday), 2020. This program was the first in a series of planned seminars which will gather textbook experts from different regions around the world including Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. This program was held for the first time this year and gathered textbook experts from Europe. Participants of the program came from eight countries including Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Serbia, and the UK. The program included lectures on Korean studies and time to discuss how Korea is being taught in Europe.

 
The program opened on the first day with welcoming remarks from Director Yoong-hee Jo of the Center for International Affairs at AKS and an explanation of the Understanding Korea Project from Wonsuk Chang, head of the project. The Korean studies lectures were given by professors from SOAS University of London in the UK. The eight textbook experts learned in depth about Korea from the following lectures: “The Division of Korea, the Early Cold War and the Origins of the Korean War” by Dr. Owen Miller; “Korean Art – Past and Present” by Dr. Charlotte Horlyck; and “Understanding Korean History” by Dr. Anders Karlsson.

The seminar continued on the second day with discussions and presentations on how Korea is being taught in Europe. The presentations began with “Suggestions on Korea-related Topics to Be Included in European Textbooks” by AKS researcher Jae-yun Jeong, followed by: “History and Geography of Korea in Albanian Curriculum and Textbooks” by high school teacher Lulzim Hasan Abdiaj (Gymnazium “Sami Frashieri,” Albania); “Far Away on the Other Side: Korean History in Croatian Textbooks” by author and publisher Miljenko Hajdarovic (Profil Klett, Croatia); “Current Status of Korean History Classes at European Universities and Examples of Educational Material Use” by Professor Huntae Kim (University of Latvia, Latvia); “Korean War” by Professor Nikola Grahovac (Technical School ”Ub,” Serbia); and “Constructing National Narratives through Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea” by researcher Kristina Dziedzic Wright (Centre for Museum Studies, University of Oslo, Norway). These five presentations were followed up with discussions from Michael Maddison (Maddison Education Consultancy and vice president of England’s Historical Association), Professor Asya Antova ("William Gladstone" School, Bulgaria), Professor You Jae Lee (University of Tübingen, Germany), Professor Jeong-im Hyun (University of Central Lancashire, UK), Professor Charlotte Horlyck (SOAS University of London, UK).

Through this first AKS Program for Textbook Specialist in Europe, we were able to examine and share how Korea is being taught in Europe. The program also allowed us to prepare for future cooperation and sharing with these European textbook experts.