Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation to Co-Host Academic Conference with Ewha Womans University

Sponsorship for the Ewha-Yale-Columbia Academic Conference
Support totaling 60 million won through 2030

On November 20, the Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ewha Institute for the Humanities and Sciences at Ewha Womans University to jointly host the Ewha-Yale-Columbia Academic Conference.

The signing ceremony, held on November 19 at the Ewha Institute for the Humanities and Sciences, was attended by Kim Aeryung, Director of the Ewha Institute for the Humanities and Sciences; Baek Sumi, Chairperson of the Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation; Kim Jinhee, Researcher at the Institute; and Kim Yeonmi, Professor of Art History, among others.

The Hansae Yes24 Culture Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding on the 19th at the Ewha Institute for the Humanities and Sciences to jointly host the Ewha-Yale-Columbia academic conference. (From left) Kim Aeryung, Director of the Ewha Institute for the Humanities and Sciences, and Paek Sumi, Chairperson of the Hansae Yes24 Culture Foundation. Provided by Hansae Yes24 Culture Foundation.

With this agreement, the Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation will increase its annual sponsorship from 10 million won to 12 million won and continue its support through 2030. As a result, starting in 2026, the Ewha Institute for the Humanities and Sciences will co-host the academic conference each year with Yale University and Columbia University, and will invite at least two experts in the field, including those specializing in Southeast Asia, as presenters for sessions related to the region.

Kim Aeryung, Director of the Ewha Institute for the Humanities and Sciences, stated, "I am grateful for the continued support from the Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation," and added, "We will expand the existing academic conference into the Ewha-Yale-Columbia Academic Conference, creating a platform for discussion on diverse research topics and participation from scholars across more countries."

The Ewha-Yale Academic Conference has been jointly organized annually by the Ewha Institute for the Humanities and Sciences at Ewha Womans University and the Council on East Asian Studies at Yale University since 2014, serving as a venue for scholars from Korea and abroad who study Asia to interact and exchange ideas. Since 2019, the Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation has entered into a business agreement with Ewha Womans University and has been the official sponsor of the conference. In 2023, the Foundation offered a five-day program for world-renowned scholars attending the conference to visit cultural heritage sites in Korea, such as Jeju and Gyeongju, to deepen their understanding of Korean culture. In May of this year, the cumulative sponsorship amount reached 50 million won, for which the Foundation received a "Plaque of Appreciation for Service" from Ewha Womans University.

Baek Sumi, Chairperson of the Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation, remarked, "It is truly meaningful for the Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation to participate in this significant event where scholars from East and West explore and exchange ideas about Asian culture," and added, "We will continue to support efforts to enhance global awareness and research on Southeast Asian studies and culture."

The Hanse Yes24 Culture Foundation is a social contribution foundation established in 2014 by Kim Dongnyeong, Chairman of Hanse Yes24 Holdings, with his personal funds. The Foundation has established and operates the Uidang Academic Award in collaboration with the Korean Medical Association to promote the advancement of basic medicine and laboratory medicine in Korea. Since 2022, it has also supported academic activities through the Humanities Research Support Project, which aims to highlight the value of the humanities. To further expand cultural exchange between Korea and Southeast Asia, the Foundation organizes international cultural exchange exhibitions, publishes the Southeast Asian Literature Series, and undertakes various other cultural exchange initiatives.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.