Korean Confucianism - Acknowledgments I

The Center for International Affairs (CEFIA) at the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) undertakes the task of promoting a better understanding of Korean history and culture and Korea’s contemporary development among the young people around the world.

This book is the third book in the Understanding of Korea Series (UKS) covering Korea’s world-class cultural heritage. Our UKS endeavors to publish books on Korea that provide in-depth understandings of Korean culture and society.

As a beginner’s introduction this book explains various traditional and contemporary aspects of Korean neo-Confucianism that are related to philosophy, education, family, social ethics, politics, national identity, spiritual culture, and the practice of rituals. Although the book is a scholarly work, it is written for a wide range of readers from experts to general readers who are interested in Korean Confucianism. It will also be a valuable reference to those studying Korean Confucianism.

Many people have contributed to the publication of this book. I am grateful to all of them. I would like to thank the author, Professor Edward Y. J. Chung. My thanks also go to the Bank of Korea (Mr. Hyeoncho LEE Yu-tae and Mr. Woljeong Chang Woo-seong), Ojukheon & Museum in Gangneung (Mr. Idang Kim Eun-ho), Korean Tourism Organization, Sŏnggyun’gwan, Tosan Academy, Yeonhap News, and Mr. Son Sung-hoon for generously permitting the use of their photos.

I sincerely hope that this book will contribute to the better global understanding of Korean culture by inspiring the international community’s interest in Korea.

February 2015

KIM Hyeon, Ph.D.

Director of the Center for International Affairs