[KS] RAS Lectures in Seoul and Mid-Spring Tours

[David Mason]

Dear Studiers of Korea,

The Royal Asiatic Society-–Korea (founded in 1900) offers
excellent opportunities for scholars visiting the nation
to present their latest research in a semi-formal setting
with a wide cross-section of English-speaking Koreans and
international residents in the audience.  We invite all
academics working on Korea to make a 1-hour presentation
at one of our semi-monthly Lecture Meetings held in the 
heart of Seoul (2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month).  
If you will be visiting or resident in Korea and feel you
have something fresh and interesting to say as a result 
of your studies, please contact us as early as possible 
to arrange the appropriate date for you to be our Speaker.


Now then, here are upcoming activities of interest:

Tuesday, April 8th: RAS-K Lecture-Meeting, featuring Dr.
Andrei Lankov (well-known researcher on social and cultural
aspects of 20th-Cen Korean modernization,  including the
DPRK, now a Fellow at Australian National University,
columnist for several publications, PhD from Leningrad
State University)  speaking on “Transformation of Seoul
Traffic in the 1940s and 1950s.”  He will focus on
fascinating details of how Seoul has evolved one of the
world’s exemplary public transportation systems.  7:30 pm
in the 2nd-floor Resident’s Lounge of the Somerset Palace,
Anguk-dong (just north of Jogye-sa), Seoul.  Free for RAS
Members, w5000 donation requested from others.

Sat-Sun April 12-13:  Tongdo-sa and Haein-sa Temples Tour
Visit two of Korea's three "treasure temples". Tongdo-sa,
the "bul" (Buddha) temple, is one of the few temples in
Korea where actual remains of the Buddha are believed to
reside. Haein-sa is the "Bob" (Law) temple, holding the
Tripitaka Koreana, the world-famous set of wood printing
blocks for the Buddhist canon. Led by
longtime-expat-in-Korea and religious-expert Dr. Daniel
Adams.

Fri-Mon April 11-14th: Central Honshu Island of JAPAN Tour
This trip to Japan's main island focuses on the industrial
and historical Kansai region.  The tour begins in Osaka,
moves on to Asuka and Nara, the eighth century Japanese
capital, and continues to Kyoto, the capital up until 1868.
 Castles, shrines, temples and museums insure a varied
experience of Japan.

Sat-Sun April 19-20  Gyeryong-san Mountain-spirit
Ceremonies Festival Tour -- On this trip to the famously
beautiful “Rooster Dragon Mountain” National Park, one of
the holiest set of peaks and gorges in Korea (highly sacred
to all religious traditions), we will enjoy short hikes
through the springtime slopes to interesting shrines and
attending the annual Festival that honors this mountain’s
powerful spirit. We will watch several rituals of Buddhist,
Shamanic and Confucian styles, with everything explained by
our expert guide Professor David Mason.

Sat April 19th:  Gyeonggi-do Cherry Blossom Tour
Enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the springtime cherry
blossoms, set against some of Gyeonggi Province’s most
beautiful backdrops.

Sun April 20th:  Magnolia Tour:  Chollipo Arboretum
A relaxing and educational weekend spent in Asia's largest
and most extensive private arboretum.  The RAS way to lose
oneself in a sprawling botanical paradise next to Chollipo
Beach.

Tuesday, April 22nd: RAS-K Lecture-Meeting, featuring
Ambassador Victor Wei (envoy of Belgium, posted to Seoul
since 2004), speaking on “Regional Integration: an
East–West Comparison.”  He will focus on the contrast
between economic and political progress towards unity in
Europe with that of the Southeast and Northeast Asian
regions.  7:30 pm in the 2nd-floor Resident’s Lounge of the
Somerset Palace, Anguk-dong (just north of Jogye-sa),
Seoul.  Free for RAS Members, w5000 donation requested from
others.

Sat-Sun April 26-27th:  Geumgang-san Diamond Mountain Tour
(in North Korea) -- *details to be announced soon*. 
Anybody with a passport can go. Please see ‘Event Calendar’
for updates.

Sun April 27th:  Ganghwa-do and Seongmo-do Islands Tour
Strategically located at the mouth of the Han River,
historic Ganghwa Island was traditionally a royal refuge
and the scene of several naval battles during the "opening"
of Korea.  Highlights include the majestic fortress, a
prehistoric dolmen, and the oldest Episcopal Church in
Korea.  We will have the opportunity to visit Dr. Kim’s
newly built traditional Korean House and learn about Korean
architecture. We will also visit the Bomun-sa Temple, a
famous temple with a long history and a spectacular
cliff-carving, on nearby Seongmo-do Island (a brief
ferry-ride).  Led by Ganghwa resident and expert Dr. Kim
Yong-duk.

Sat-Sun May 3-4th:  Jiri-san National Park Tour
A weekend trip to one of Korea's three most-sacred
mountains.  In addition to the fantastic mountain scenery
and views from dramatic passes, we will visit the grand
Ssanggye-sa and Hwaom-sa Buddhist temples, a charming folk
Village and the profound alpine Cheonghak-dong [Blue-Crane
Village].  Led by longtime-expat-in-Korea and
religious-expert Dr. Daniel Adams.

Mon May 5th:  Bugak-san Fortress Wall Hiking Tour in Seoul 
Join the RAS for one of the classic and historical views
you will ever see- right at the heart of Seoul! Seoul was
the capital city of Korea for more than 600 years and is
unique in the way of being surrounded by 4 mountains, 4 big
gates and 4 small gates each. We climb up Bugak-san and
walk along the ancient / restored fortress.

Sat May 10th:  Bukchon Hanok-Neighborhood Walking Tour in
Seoul -- Walking tour in this area to see some of the
remodeled traditional Korean houses (hanok) and to visit
some artisans who set up their workshops there.  Includes a
visit of the new Bukchon Culture Center in Anguk-dong with
its preservation project for traditional Korean houses
(hanok). Led by Prof. David Mason.

Being a Member of the Royal Asiatic Society - Korea has
many benefits, including free attendance of interesting
lectures, receiving newsletters of activities, discounts on
great tours of Korea’s most beautiful and fascinating
places led by experts, discounts on books about all Korean
subjects in English, and more.  Everyone involved with
Korean Studies who speaks English would do well to join
this 108-year-old scholarly organization.  For more
information, call 763-9483 in Seoul during business hours,
write to raskb at kornet.net or visit our website
http://www.raskb.com/



David A. Mason  
Professor of Korean Tourism, KyungHee University
Office #710, College of Hotel and Tourism Management
http://www.san-shin.org
Phone: 02-961-0852    Mobile: 011-9743-9753