RAS Korea offers a couple of lectures in most months, and excursions when the weather is willing. We also have various special interest groups.

Lectures

We host regular English-language lectures by respected figures on various aspects of Korean culture and history. All are welcome.

  • RAS Korea members: free entry
  • Non-members: 10,000 won
  • Students: 5,000 won (upon presenting valid student ID)

New membership registration is available at lectures, at which point entry to the lecture is free. Lectures are held in FAST FIVE Tower (5th Floor), located near Euljiro-1-ga Station (을지로입구역, Subway Line 2).  They typically run from 7:30 to 9:00, and attendees usually go out for Korean food and makgeolli afterward.

Cultural Excursions

Royal Asiatic Society Korea conducts educational and fun excursions to cultural, historical and scenic spots throughout Korea, led by exceptionally knowledgeable guides. View a list of upcoming excursions. Prices differ according to individual excursions. Due to both the popularity of our excursions and preparation requirements, we ask would-be participants to register for excursions by the deadline specified for each tour. An RAS Korea member can bring 1-2 non-members as their guests on an excursion at the member’s discount rate once. Those guests pay the full non-members’ rates on subsequent excursions until they become members. Children through high school age brought on excursions are charged 75% of their parents’ rate.

Special Interest Groups

The RASKB holds many smaller events catering to special interests.  

Colloquium in Korean Studies

The Seoul Colloquium in Korean Studies is jointly organized by the Seoul Center of the Ecole Française d’Extrême Orient (ÉFEO) and RASKB. Everyone interested in Korean Studies is welcome. No registration is needed. The Colloquium has existed since 2013 as a forum at which Korean Studies scholars (whether faculty or students) can present work in progress in English in an informal setting and invite discussion of their ideas. In recent years the Colloquium has been held in the Asiatic Research Institute of Korea University, thanks to the collaboration of the Ecole Française d’Extrême Orient. Scholars wishing to make a presentation should contact Brother Anthony at ansonjae@gmail.com or Elisabeth Chabanol at echabanol@hotmail.com.

  • Take exit 1 from Korea University subway station, turn right onto the footpath leading up onto the campus.
  • Walk straight up the road past LG Posco Hall, the Business School and Main Library (all on the right hand side).
  • The Asiatic Research Institute is the building next after the Library (Building 39 on the Campus Map).
  • After 6 pm the front door of the Institute will be locked, so please try to arrive a little earlier. If the door is locked, please wait for someone to come out so that they can let you into the building. Or call Brother Anthony at 010-8979-8301.

Korean Literature Club

The Korean Literature Club (formerly ‘Reading Club’) meets once a month in the North Terrace book-cafe in Seoul to talk about a work of Korean fiction in English translation. Those attending will normally have read the work before coming. Join the Facebook group for more information including upcoming readings. The group is open to all who are interested in translated Korean fiction.  

Business and Culture Club

The Business and Culture Club meets somewhere downtown at noon on the third Tuesday of most months for a lunch-hour tour of a different site each time. Join the Facebook group for more information.

 

RAS Dongducheon Foreign Language High School Branch

RAS Dongducheon branch at the high school was founded in 2019. Students at the school are eligible for membership of the DFL branch. The members of the branch engage in special research projects to understand and promote Korean history and culture. The president for 2021 is Shin Suhyeon.