Return to *North Korean Studies*
26 July 2004
Dear KSAA Members,
I am writing to inform you of the status of the World Congress of the Korean Studies.
On the 24th of July, the Organising Committee of the 2nd World Congress of Korean Studies informed us of the cancellation of the Pyongyang Congress which was scheduled to commence on the 3rd of August.
The Academy of Korean Studies received the notification from the North Korean counterpart on the 23rd of July and was unable to reverse the politically motivated decision.
Best wishes,
Kyu Shin,
President Korean Studies Association of Australasia
26 July 2004.
[...]
The 2nd World Congress of Korean Studies, co-hosted by the Academy of Korean
Studies (ROK) and Academy of Social Sciences (DPRK), is cancelled due to recent North-South political conflict.
DPRK authority notified that the Academy of Korean Studies is not admitted into DPRK unless ROK government makes an apology regarding no permission to visit Pyongyang around 10th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's
death (July 8th of 2004).
Although the cause of cancellation is beyond hosting organizations' authority, we cordially extend our heartfelt apology to all participants.
Regardless of lamentable situation, AKS will continuously endeavor to promote overseas Korean Studies. Therefore, your interest and support would be deeply appreciated...
Sincerely
Chung, Yoon-jae. Ph. D
Director, Office of International Cooperation
Co-chair, Organizing Committee of the 2nd World Congress of Korean Studies
26 July 2004
[...]
1. International Society for Korean Studies (ISKS) and Academy of Korean Studies
(AKS) have decided to withdraw from the Pyongyang Congress.
2. Therefore, the General Meeting and the meeting of board of directors has been cancelled.
3. It is not clear if Academy of Social Sciences DPRK (ASS) can host the Congress
alone. (maybe very difficult)
4. You should cancel your air tickets to/from Beijing as soon as possible.
ASS informed us yesterday that:
1. The Pyongyang Authority has rejected the all participants from South Korea. (50 scholars)
2.The Pyongyang Authority has rejected forty six participants from overseas; US, Australia, China, and so on.
The reason is that the South Korean Authority disapproved of South Korean citizens going to the North to make a call of condolence on Kim Il-Sung.
If 100 scholars from the world cannot attend the congress, we can no longer call it 'World Congress'
The Congress is totally different from the congress which three parties agreed fist
time.
[...]
International Society for Korean Studies, Osaka