Meeting Korea from the scientific perspective

Volgograd State University has hosted the "Meeting Korea" international scientific and practical seminar. It was attended by the representatives of universities of Russia, Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea, as well as national public associations of Koreans in the Volgograd and Rostov regions. Topical issues of the development of modern Korean studies in Russia, the study of modern Korean life and the analysis of the interstate dialogue experience became the main topics of the event.

The international scientific and practical seminar was organised by the Korean Studies Center of Volgograd State University with the support of Kazan Federal University and the Academy of Korean Studies of the Republic of Korea.

"Both the scientific and practical seminar and the activities of the scientific and educational Korean Studies Center are implemented within the framework of the "Eastern Vector", a complex university project on international cooperation. This project is one of the strategic directions of Volgograd State University international cooperation," Valentin Dzedik, Doctor of Economics, Associate Professor, the First Vice-rector, underlined. "I am sure that the scientific and practical seminar is an effective incentive for active academic exchange, it will play a significant role in expanding and strengthening interregional and international scientific and educational cooperation. Undoubtedly, the knowledge gained during the scientific and practical seminar will become an important contribution to the development of Korean studies in Russia, the research horizon of which will significantly expand."

Park Ho, Minister Plenipotentiary, Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea addressed the audience online: "Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Republic of Korea, and 2020-2021 became the year of bilateral relations. Over the past 30 years, relations between our states have strengthened in various fields, making Russia and Korea important partners in the international arena. Mutual deep understanding of the history, culture, politics and economy of our countries is also necessary for the meaningful development of international relations. The foundation of the Korean Studies Center in VolSU and the opening of a scientific and practical seminar are very significant events. And I believe that the participants of the seminar will be able to become a bridge of mutual exchange between Russia and Korea."

Ko Young Cheol, Professor of the Department of Altaic Studies and Sinology, Chairman of the Center of Korean Studies of Kazan Federal University expressed gratitude to the Volgograd State University leadership for organizing and conducting an international seminar. "It has been more than 30 years since Koreans moved to the Volgograd region from Central Asia. Learning Korean at VolSU is a very significant event," Professor Ko Young Cheol noted.

The seminar participants focused on the issues of politics and economics, the development of civil society and foreign relations of modern Korea. The analysis of the interstate dialogue experience and development prospects of socio-economic and cultural cooperation between Russia and the Republic of Korea were also among the key areas of academic discussion.

Alexander Kim, President of the "Association of Koreans in the Rostov region" regional public organization, Igor Kim, Chairman of the Board of the "Mirine" Volgograd Korean Center, and Andrey Park, Chairman of the Board of the "Association of Volgograd Koreans" regional public organization, emphasised in their speeches that the younger generation is interested in Korean studies: "It is especially exciting that many reports have been prepared by students, our youth, who will have to build and strengthen friendly relations between the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation in the future."

According to the leaders of national public associations, the hosting of such events by Volgograd State University makes a significant contribution to the further strengthening of interethnic relations, tolerant attitude development and contributes to the expansion of knowledge about the culture, traditions and customs of various peoples living in our region.

In his address, Nikolay Moskalenko, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Nationalities and Cossacks of the Volgograd Region, expressed his gratitude to Volgograd State University for expanding international scientific and educational cooperation in the field of Oriental Studies.

According to the participants of the event, the seminar provided additional stimulus and contributed to the further development of bilateral cooperation between Russia and the Republic of Korea in political, scientific, educational, humanitarian and other fields, as well as to the strengthening of interethnic relations in the Volgograd region. The proceedings of the scientific and practical seminar will become a valuable component of the source base for further scientific research in the main areas of Korean studies.

Background

The Korean Studies Center was created at VolSU in March 2021 with the support of Kazan Federal University and has been active ever since. The international scientific and educational cooperation of the university in the field of Oriental studies is also expanding.

In particular, an agreement on cooperation in the development of Oriental studies was concluded with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; beginning in October 2021, in cooperation with Honam University (the Republic of Korea, Gwangju), undergraduate students of "Pedagogical education (2 specialisations)", English and German Languages profile, "Foreign Area Studies" and "International Relations" programmes have the opportunity to study "Introduction to the practical course of the Korean language" as an elective course. Besides, within the framework of the further education system, VolSU offers two-year Korean language courses up to and including the fourth proficiency level. Lessons of Korean have aroused considerable interest among our students.

VolSU develops business cooperation with the national public associations of Koreans in the Volgograd region, namely the "Mirine" Volgograd Korean Center and the Association of Volgograd Koreans. Thus, with the publicity support of Volgograd State University, the annual XVI regional festival of Korean culture was held in October 2021.

In cooperation with the State Archive of the Volgograd region and the Center for Documentation of the Modern History of the Volgograd Region, the work on identification and researching archival documents concerning the resettlement and life of Russian (Soviet) Koreans in the Volgograd Region has been organised.