Campaign News

Press Releases

CELEBRATING THE KOREA FOUNDATION’S $1 MILLION AWARD TO THE CENTER FOR KOREAN STUDIES

(Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) — When the Korea Foundation made a $1 million gift to the Center for Korean Studies at UH Mānoa for endowed professorships that will reside in various departments on campus, they also set in place a challenge. A key requirement of this gift is that the Center and UH Mānoa match their pledge with another $1 million from other donors over a period of 4 years, which breaks down to $250,000 a year. This will then bring the total amount of funds for this faculty endowment to $2 million which will be used to recruit faculty in areas of study for which the campus does not have Korean specialists.

The Center received the first $250,000 from the Korea Foundation last October, and has since raised $250,000 in matching funds. To express appreciation to local donors who made that match possible, and to help raise funds to match the second $250,000 installment, the Center for Korean studies held a special event at KCC.

The Center for Korean Studies coordinates and develops resources for the study of Korea at UH Mānoa, and has the largest concentration of Korea scholars and resources outside of Korea itself. The Center conducts scholarly conferences; sponsors research projects; presents seminars, and lectures; publishes significant research on Korea; and contributes to the enhancement of the University’s library system and other University research facilities. Promoting an interdisciplinary and intercultural approach to Korean studies, The Center draws on its faculty members in disciplines as diverse as communication, dance, economics, ethnomusicology, education, geography, history, language, linguistics, literature, political science, sociology, and urban and regional planning.

Above, guests at this special event from left to right are Martha Kim, Evelyn Shon, Robert Kim

Other guests included Edward Shultz, Changdong Yuh, Yong J. Kim, Kyong Chung, Margaret Chung, Mrs. "Sue" Sung Kim

The Korea Foundation is an independent organization affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by public funding and private donations. It was established in 1991 with the aim of enhancing Korea’s image and reputation in the world through the promotion of various academic and cultural exchange programs. The fundamental mission of the Foundation is to promote a better understanding of Korea in the international community and to foster global friendship by conducting various exchange activities between the Republic of Korea and foreign countries around the world.

About the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation
The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is an independent, university-related, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise private funds according to priorities determined by the academic leadership of the University of Hawaiʻi and approved by the Board of Regents. Founded in 1955, the Foundation provides a full range of fund raising and alumni relations services for all 10 UH campuses. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.uhf.hawaii.edu.