[The Suwan News, By Reporter Kim Tongjoo] The Yulgok Institute for Korean Studies, a foundation established to establish traditional humanistic values through research and dissemination of Yulgok studies and regional studies-based Korean studies in the Gangwon region, will hold its opening ceremony at 2pm on Tuesday the 2nd at the Institute’s Education Centre in Gangneung City, marking the commencement of its full operations. The event will proceed with the opening ceremony for the special exhibition ‘Five Fragrances, Gangneung’, which explores Gangneung’s historical legacy and culture through collected materials, followed by commemorative addresses, congratulatory speeches, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque. It is intended to mark a new beginning in partnership with the local community.
The Yulgok Institute for the Promotion of Korean Studies aims to modernise the legacy of Master Yi I, known as Yulgok, who formed a major strand of Korean Confucianism. Guided by the vision of “giving meaning to history and breath to tradition”, it researches and promotes history and tradition within the framework of Korean studies, focusing on Yulgok studies and regional studies. It seeks to establish itself as a pivotal institution for disseminating traditional humanistic values in the Gangwon region.
The organisation operates under a four-division structure comprising the Director, the Planning and Research Division, the Korean Studies Materials Division, the Education and Training Division, and the Management Support Division.
Key initiatives include: ▲ Re-examining Yulgok studies in step with the times ▲ Establishing a Korean studies-centred approach based on regional studies ▲Spreading traditional humanistic values in the new normal era. To achieve these, various initiatives will be undertaken, including: △Supporting Yulgok studies research and promotion △Archiving national studies materials in the Gangwon region △Developing national studies-based content sources △Discovering and disseminating traditional cultural values △Activating community-participatory training programmes.
Facility operations will also undergo a new restructuring. The main building has relocated to the ‘Saimdang Dreaming Art Centre’, housing the Director’s Office, Planning and Research Office, Korean Studies Archives, and Management Support Office, and will be utilised as a research facility for Korean studies materials. The existing Yulgok Research Institute will be converted into an education centre, actively operating humanities education and training programmes for young people and citizens. This will enhance the institution’s role and efficiency by separating and specialising its research and educational functions.
Special exhibition commemorating the opening: Based on materials collected over time concerning Gangneung, this exhibition showcases the geopolitical significance and characteristics of Gangneung through historical maps. ▲Prologue: ‘Gangneung Beyond the East Gate’ ▲ ‘Fragrance of People’ (人香)‘Land of Eminent Men’ (人傑之鄕), examining the literary collections and correspondence of Gangneung figures ▲ ‘Fragrance of Etiquette’ (禮香)‘Land of Righteousness’ (禮義之鄕), featuring materials illustrating the daily lives of Gangneung’s people ▲ ‘Fragrance of Literature’ (文香)_’Land of Literary Arts’ (文藝之鄕), showcasing works by local luminaries ▲Scholarly Fragrance: A Region of Literary Pursuits, explored through Gangneung-related texts ▲Literary Fragrance: A Region of Literary Heritage, examined through Gangneung-related documents ▲Natural Fragrance: A Region of Scenic Beauty, expressed through materials depicting Gangneung’s natural environment.
An official from Gangneung City stated, “We will establish the Yulgok Institute for the Promotion of Korean Studies as one of the nation’s four major hubs for promoting Korean studies, undertaking systematic surveys and research projects on Korean studies materials based on Yulgok’s scholarship.”
Meanwhile, the Yulgok Institute for Korean Studies is preparing various programmes to engage with the local community since its opening, including academic conferences, special lectures, and exhibitions of Korean studies materials. It particularly plans to develop into a Korean studies research platform accessible to future generations by establishing Korean studies education and digital archives that are easily accessible to young people and citizens.
The Yulgok Institute for the Promotion of Korean Studies, a foundation established to establish traditional humanistic values through research and dissemination of Yulgok studies and regional Korean studies based in the Gangwon area, held its opening ceremony at 2pm on Tuesday the 2nd at the Institute’s Education Centre in Gangneung City, marking the commencement of its full operations.
The event will feature the opening of the special exhibition ‘Five Fragrances, Gangneung’, exploring Gangneung’s historical legacy and culture through collected materials, followed by commemorative addresses, congratulatory speeches, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque. It will mark a new beginning in partnership with the local community.
The Yulgok Institute for the Promotion of Korean Studies aims to modernise the legacy of Master Yulgok Yi I, a pivotal figure in Korean Confucianism, under the vision of “Meaning in History, Breath in Tradition”. It seeks to research and promote history and tradition within the framework of Korean studies, centred on Yulgok studies and regional studies, positioning itself as a hub for disseminating traditional humanistic values in the Gangwon region.
The organisation will operate under a four-division structure, comprising the Director and ▲Planning and Research Division ▲National Studies Archives Division ▲Education and Training Division ▲Management Support Division.
Key initiatives include ▲Re-examining Yulgok Studies in step with the times ▲Establishing a national studies-centred approach grounded in regional studies ▲ Disseminating traditional humanistic values in the new normal era. To achieve these, it will undertake diverse projects including: △ Supporting Yulgok studies research and promotion △ Archiving Gangwon region national studies materials △ Developing national studies-based content sources △ Discovering and disseminating traditional cultural values △ Activating community-participatory training programmes.
Facility operations will also be reorganised. The main building has relocated to the ‘Dreaming Saimdang Art Centre’, housing the Director’s Office, Planning and Research Office, Korean Studies Archives, and Management Support Office, and will be utilised as a research facility for Korean studies materials. The existing Yulgok Research Institute will be converted into an education centre, actively operating humanities education and training programmes for youth and citizens. This dualisation and specialisation of research and education functions will enhance the institution’s role and efficiency.
The special exhibition commemorating the opening will showcase Gangneung’s geopolitical significance and characteristics through historical maps, based on materials collected over time. This will be presented through: ▲ Prologue: ‘Gangneung Beyond the East Gate’ ▲ The Fragrance of People (人香)_Land of Eminent Men (人傑之鄕) ▲ ‘The Fragrance of Etiquette’ (禮香)_The Land of Etiquette (禮義之鄕), featuring materials illustrating the daily lives of Gangneung’s people ▲ ‘The Fragrance of Literature’ (文香)_The Land of Literary Arts (文藝之鄕), showcasing works by local luminaries ▲ ‘The Fragrance of Books’ (書香)_The Land of Literature (文獻之鄕), examining Gangneung-related texts ▲The Scenic Fragrance (風香)_The Scenic Beauty Orientation (風光之鄕) section, featuring materials expressing Gangneung’s natural environment.
A Gangneung City official stated, “We will establish the Yulgok Institute for the Promotion of Korean Studies as one of the nation’s four major hubs for Korean studies, advancing systematic investigation and research projects on Korean studies materials based on Yulgok’s scholarship.”
Meanwhile, since its opening, the Yulgok Institute for Korean Studies has been preparing diverse programmes engaging with the local community, including academic conferences, special lectures, and exhibitions of Korean studies materials. It particularly plans to develop into a Korean studies research platform accessible to future generations by establishing Korean studies education and digital archives that are easily accessible to young people and citizens.
By Reporter Kim Tongjoo
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