Opening of Yonsei Confucius Institute

On November 15, the Yonsei University Confucius Institute (延世大學孔子學院) was opened on the Sinchon campus.  Founded in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, this educational institute’s ultimate goal is to cultivate greater interest in Chinese language and culture in Korea.  Also partnering with Yonsei in the venture is Sichuan National University, one of China’s prestigious comprehensive national universities, located in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.  
 The Yonsei University Confucius Institute is designed to promote the advancement of research in sinology, as well as Chinese language acquisition.  Expected to become the top academic institute in the country for studies related to China, the Confucius Institute will be implementing two signature projects:  the creation of a comprehensive database of antique Chinese documents at the Yonsei-Samsung Library and the innovation of Chinese-language pedagogy in Korea.  In addition to scholarly research and Chinese language education, the institute will hold forums and events related to the languages, literatures, and cultures of China and Korea, and it will be publishing its own academic journal.  And to foster greater understanding and warmer relations between Korea and China, the Confucius Institute will hold Chinese language camps during the summer and winter, while sponsoring short- and long-term study abroad programs in China for Yonsei students.      
 The dedication ceremony for the Yonsei University Confucius Institute was held on November 15 at the Korean Language Institute (KLI). Yonsei President Jeong Kap-young, Sichuan National University President Xie Heping, and over 100 other delegates were in attendance.  At the ceremony, guests were treated to performances of pansori, a traditional genre of Korean singing, daegeum, a traditional Korean flute made of bamboo, biàn liǎn (變臉), a sub-genre of Chinese Sichuan opera, as well as a Chinese martial arts demonstration.  Later in the day, the Confucius Institute’s board of directors convened at President Jeong’s office, while two special lectures were held at the Chang Ki-Won International Conference Hall: “How Should We Understand the Study of Culture and Heritage?” by Koo Seung-ik, President of the Yonsei University Confucius Institute, and “The Revival of Confucius—Does Confucius still Speak to the “Human Being?’” by Professor Kim Sun-ja from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature.
 In his dedicatory speech, President Jeong said: “The Yonsei University Confucius Institute, through its research and education, marks a significant advance in Chinese studies in this country.  It is destined to help shape the future of higher education in Korea.”