June 24 - July 10, 2009


Twenty American educators, led by Yong Jin Choi, senior director of Korean studies at The Korea Society, attended the 2009 Summer Fellowship in Korean studies from June 24 to July 10 in Korea. During the first week of the program, the fellows participated in a series of intensive morning workshops held at Yonsei University on topics such as Korean history, culture, education, art, language, and politics. Yonsei served as a springboard for the group's exploration of Seoul and their growing understanding of Korean culture. After morning lectures, the fellows decamped for afternoon field trips to points of interest around Seoul, including the Sangdo Meditation Center, Chong Wa Dae (the Korean Presidential residence), Ch'angdŏk Palace, Insadong, Koyang Foreign Language High School, the DMZ, and the National Museum. From July 3 to July 6, the fellows traveled throughout southern Korea, visiting historical sites such as Suwon Hwasong Fortress, Ch'ŏngju Early Printing Museum, Haeinsa, Kyŏngju National Museum, Sŏkkuram Grotto, and Pulguksa. On July 8, the group was led by docent Mark Peterson, professor of Korean studies at Brigham Young University, to Kyŏngbok Palace and SungKyunKwan, a Confucian Academy during the Chosŏn period. The fellows learned about the Confucian tradition and its legacy. On July 9, their last night in Korea, the fellows participated in a farewell dinner and closing ceremony.

Summer fellow Brian Hyland shared his reflections upon returning from the fellowship trip:

“The summer fellowship in Korean Studies was an intense experience that profoundly affected me on many levels. I reveled in the constant barrage of sensations—new sights, sounds, smells, tastes and tactile experiences that made each day an adventure. The reading list which we each received before departure will become an invaluable guide over the next several months as I process all of the information and integrate the experiences into my professional life as a teacher. I owe an immeasurable debt to the Korea Society for choosing me as one of its twenty educators for the 2009 Summer Fellowship in Korean Studies. It was an honor to be chosen for such a great adventure. I owe thanks as well to the Korea Foundation and the Freeman Foundation for their overwhelmingly generous financial and logistical support that made the fellowship possible.”