Participants listen during one of YEOL’s monthly seminars last year. (YEOL)

Living in Korea, but can’t quite grasp what this country is about? Try the YEOL lectures.

YEOL, the Korean Heritage Preservation Society, offers a series of English seminars featuring prominent scholars, experts and intellectuals in the field of Korean history, culture and art to discuss new insights into Korean society.

They are free of charge.

The monthly lecture series will kick off next week with professor Emanuel Pastreich from Kyung Hee University speaking on the philosophy of Park Ji-won (1737-1805), a Joseon-era scholar and novelist.

Titled “Engaging China and Discovering Korea’s True Strengths ― The Philosophy of Park Ji-won,” the two-hour lecture will focus on how the 18th-century man perceived the world, Korea’s place in it, and its implications for modern Korea.

“We can learn much from the insights of the Korean scholar and writer Park Ji-won who formulated a practical and thoughtful response to China in the 18th century that stressed an informed engagement,” the introduction to the lecture reads.

Pastreich’s lecture will be held at the seminar room on the first floor of the Seoul Museum of History from 11:30 a.m. on March 3. Food, including sandwiches and drinks, will be available for 10,000 won.

To attend the seminar, send your name and contact details to yeol400@hanmail.net.


Upcoming lectures

• “Engaging China and Discovering Korea’s True Strengths ― The Philosophy of Park Ji-won”

Emanuel Pastreich, director of the Asia Institute in Seoul and associate professor at the College of International Studies, Kyung Hee University

March 3, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

• “Hangeul: Philosophical and Linguistic Principles”

Robert J. Fouser, associate professor at the Department of Korean Language Education, Seoul National University

April 7, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Walking lecture “Kim Swoo-geun to Seung H-Sang: A very brief tour of modern Korean architecture” (including site visits to Kyungdong Church and Welcomm City)

Pai Hyung-min, professor, School of Architecture, the University of Seoul

May 17, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

• “Recent Trends in the Return of Cultural Objects to their Countries of Origin and their Implications for Korea”

Lee Keun-gwan, professor, School of Law, Seoul National University

June 9, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.


By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)