Visiting scholars establish award

The IU Korean Visiting Scholars Association recently donated $2,500 to the East Asian Languages and Cultures Department to establish an undergraduate award for a Korean studies major. Thirteen visiting scholars were involved in the donation.\nAssociate professor Youngman Lee, president of the association, said the award is aimed to promote Korean studies and make meaningful contributions to IUB.\nThe association is composed of 20 to 30 members each semester who have positions ranging from professors to government officials to press reporters.\n“Our goal is to support the personal adjustments for living and studying at IUB,” Youngman Lee said, “and to exchange information about IU and promote mutual friendship among the members.” \nNow the group has a new goal: collecting at least $1,000 a semester to support Korean studies students.\nBob Eno, chairman of the East Asian Language and Cultures Department, said the creation of the award is a great symbol of the visiting scholars’ friendship.\n“It’s impressive because although they all have different fields, they formed together a community and decided what they wanted to do to support IU and support students interested in Korean studies,” Eno said.\nThe award, tentatively named the Korean Visiting Scholars’ Award, is managed entirely by the East Asian language and cultures department. Professor Hyo Sang Lee, coordinator of the Korean Language Program, is involved with managing the award and described how recipients of the award will be chosen.\n“A committee will go over transcripts and request recommendations from faculty to narrow the search,” Hyo Sang Lee said. “Our ideal recipient must be a Korean studies major, have a good GPA and have high aspiration for pursuing Korean studies.”\nTwo students will be selected for the award mid-April.\nEno said the award will make an immense impact, especially if it’s permanent.\n“We expect more and more students will study Korean, do business in Korea and immerse themselves in the interesting culture of Korea,” Eno said. “This award encourages more students to do so while representing the appreciation of the visitors from Korea for Korean studies students and for IU.”