Marking the 70th anniversary of Korean independence from Japanese colonial rule, the Korea Foundation organized the KF Korean Studies Assembly 2015 at the Westin Chosun Seoul in downtown Seoul on July 24, 2015. Distinguished scholars and specialists around the world gathered to discuss the development of and prospects for Korean studies abroad. 

Under the theme of “Korea and Korean Studies in the World, 70 Years after Independence,” the KF Korean Studies Assembly 2015 was successfully held with the attendance of approximately 350 Korean studies scholars, relevant experts, and students at home and abroad, including 36 speakers – professors at foreign universities, directors of Korean studies centers, and researchers – from 15 countries.

In his opening remarks, Korea Foundation President Hyun-seok Yu said, "We would like to share the achievements of Korean-related research and education abroad to which the KF has put its utmost efforts into, thus far, and also would like to listen to the opinions of experts in this regard.” He added that the Assembly would provide a valuable opportunity to share the future and vision of Korean studies abroad in the 21st century. Also present at the opening ceremony was Chairman Chong Wook Chung of the Committee for the 70th Anniversary of Korean Liberation. He made congratulatory remarks and expressed gratitude to the participants from various countries who were there for the development of Korean studies on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Korean independence.

In his keynote speech, Professor Emeritus Youngmin Kwon of Seoul National University said the recent popularity of Korean culture abroad had contributed to increasing interest in Korean language and culture, and that it would serve as a great opportunity to further reinforce the foundation for the development of Korean studies in the world. Professor Kwon emphasized the need for fostering Korea specialists in various fields, strengthening Korean studies courses, and promoting international academic exchange as a way of further enhancing the academic status of Korean studies.

Following the opening ceremony, distinguished speakers and discussants made presentations and had heated discussions under such topics as the achievements of and prospects for Korean studies by region and period; the future vision of Korean studies; Korean studies challenges and policy solutions by area; and policy recommendations for the future development of Korean studies.

Key players in the development of Korean studies at leading universities and Korean studies centers in North America, Europe, East Asia, and Oceania attended the gathering to discuss the progress and pressing concerns of Korean studies in various regions and fields. They included Professor John B. Duncan, Director of the Center for Korean Studies, UCLA, and winner of the Korea Foundation Award in 2009 who has played a pivotal role in promoting Korean studies and fostering young scholars in the United States; Professor David C. Kang, Director of the Korean Studies Institute, University of Southern California, and renowned expert on Korean affairs; Professor Kimiya Tadashi of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo; Professor Niu Lin Jie, Dean, School of Korean Studies, Shandong University, China; Professor Eun-Jeong Lee of Free University of Berlin; Professor Nojin Kwak, Director, Nam Center for Korean Studies, University of Michigan; Professor Theodore Hughes, Director, Center for Korean Research, Columbia University; and Professor Jung-sok Suh, Executive Director, Korean Research Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia. In addition, scholars and practitioners in the forefront of building infrastructure for Korean studies research and education in Central Asia, Central Europe, and Central and South America participated in the Assembly and actively expressed their opinions on the future of Korean studies. They included Professor Tae-hyeon Back of Bishkek Humanities University, President of the Association of Korean Studies Professors in Central Asia; Professor Göksel Türközü of Erciyes University; Professor Renato Balderrama Santander, Director of the Center for Asian Studies, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Mexico, in charge of the KF Global e-School program for Central and South America; and Professor Ickhwan Kim, KF Visiting Professor of Korean Language, Jose Martí Cultural Society, Cuba, who has been working as an advance guard for promoting Korean language education in Cuba.

Other key foreign scholars in various fields as well as domestic experts also participated in the KF Korean Studies Assembly 2015 as moderators, presenters, and discussants to lead in-depth discussions on the direction of the future development of Korean studies.

Since its establishment in 1991, the Korea Foundation has implemented various programs to support Korean studies abroad to build infrastructure for overseas Korean studies and nurture Korean studies scholars. As of the end of 2014, a total of 117 Korean studies professorships were established at 81 universities in 13 countries with support from the Foundation, and approximately 6,000 Korean studies scholars and students in approximately 70 countries around the world received KF grants and fellowships. The Foundation plans to take the valuable opinions and advice accrued from the Assembly into consideration to implement its Support for Korean Studies Abroad Program in a more effective way.