KOREA FOUNDATION

Greetings, my name is Miriam Löwensteinová and I am a professor in the Korean Studies department at Charles University in Prague. I received my first KF fellowship in 1992, two years after the then Czech and Slovak Federative Republic and Korea established diplomatic relations. It was an era that would be absolutely unimaginable for today’s young generation. There were no mobile phones or internet and owning a computer was a privilege. Moreover, my country was a part of Eastern Europe for more than 40 years, and my experience with the outer world was limited. Therefore, the three-month scholarship from the KF was essential for me: finally, I had received a chance to see Korea, its people, and work at local universities and libraries! I felt like Alice in Wonderland.

Allow me to omit my second KF fellowship: it was short and of minor importance to my professional career. During my third fellowship in 2002, I finally found my research subject in medieval chronicles and biographies. I was lucky to be able to collect almost all the materials I needed and, thanks to them, I was able to write my habilitation thesis. Another four years passed before I returned in a new position and continued my research on historiographies. Then, I was just one step away from translating Samguk yusa into Czech, a joint project I carried out in cooperation with Marek Zemanek in 2012.

My last field research study was related to Samguk yusa, focusing on its recoding over the centuries, that is, how its stories are reflected in modern culture. This is my favourite theme, because it examines not only literature, but its relation to politics, education, entertainment, comics, films, and even industries such as tourism, for example. This intensive project brought me a little bit closer to Korea and Koreans, and I feel like I can pass my knowledge on with more confidence.

It is hard for me to sum up the almost 30 years of my professional life and the five fellowships I received from the KF or to find some commonalities within this span. I met many famous professionals — including professors, writers, and musicians — and had the chance to explore every part of Korea and its vital phenomena. I know Korea better than my own country. Nevertheless, I am quite aware of the fact that it is a privilege to study in the country of my interest. I have had the chance to observe Korea and Koreans in everyday life and to experience Korea as it has transformed from a modest country to a self-confident one. Thank you!

Korean Stuides department, Charles UniversityMiriam Löwensteinová_Professor

MiriamKF fellowshipSamguk yusaCzech