Over the past decade, Korean studies in the Philippines has grown in scope as an academic discipline. This can be attributed to two factors. First, there are more local institutions now that offer Korea-related courses at undergraduate and graduate levels. Second, more Filipino students go to Korea to pursue higher degrees and they return to the Philippines with greater knowledge of Korea.
Recognizing these developments, the UP Korea Research (UP KRC) convened the 1st Philippine Koreanist Congress on 26 May 2018 at Microtel by Wyndam in Quezon City. With the theme “Building Ties, Fostering Collaboration”, the congress aimed to forge stronger academic and cultural exchanges between Korean and Philippine organizations in and outside the Philippines.
In his opening remarks, UP KRC director Eduardo Gonzalez emphasized the need to expand networks and exchange resources in order to continue sustainable collaborations for Korean studies in the Philippines.
The presentations given by Dr. Aldrin Lee (co-researcher, UP KRC), Prof. Ronel Laranjo (head, Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea Alumni Network), Regina Arquiza (program officer, KOICA Philippine Office) and Gina Borinaga (president, Philippine KOICA Fellows Association Inc.) showed how collaborations with Korean institutions have helped Koreanists in the Philippines as scholars and professionals. The graduate students who recently finished the Korea study tour organized by UP KRC presented lessons from their trip.
Also present at the congress wre Executive Vice President Teodora Herbosa, representing President Danilo L. Concepcion, and Third Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea Tae Eun Lee.
UP KRC is a unit supervised by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
