Institute of Middle Eastern Affairs established at Myongji University

The following article was contributed to The Korea Post media for publication by Professor Kim Jong-Do of Myongji University in Seoul in the interest of promotion of relations, friendship and cooperation between Korea and the Middle East countries.—Ed.

Profs. Lim Byung Pil, Jung Sang Ryul, Kim Jong Do and Park Hyun Do at Myongji University in Seoul, who are noted specialists in the Middle East affairs.

Middle East with its ancient civilization stretching from the Levant region to the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, over past years has gained increased influence and interest it the world due to its geopolitics, resources, dynamic development and religious matters.

In response to the urgent need for deepening research on the history, religion, politics, economy, society, and culture of the region in the rapidly changing international society, the Institute of Middle Eastern Affairs (IMEA) was established at Myongji University in March 2002. The Institute is closely affiliated with the Department of Arabic Language, established in 1976 and a Graduate School, established in 1992. This profound academic infrastructure provides a solid foundation for research on the Middle East.

Books written by the members of the Institute of Middle Eastern Affairs of Myongji University.

Main fields of activities of the IMEA is collecitng and analyzing data, conducting projects and research on Middle East and Islamic Law, including Humanities Korea (HK) project, as well as providing translation and interpretetation services in Arabic language. The Institute hosts regular academic conferences, presentations and lectures, taught by domestic and foreign professors. In November 2002, a doctoral program was established at Myongji University in cooperation with the Institute to continuously train future generations of scholars.

Director of the Institute, Mr. Lee Jong Hwa, has a strong background in Middle East Studies with a substancial academic experience in the Arab region. Since 2003 he has successfully been conducting work as a director of small and medium sized projects in the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).

Photo shows National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye Kyun (second from left) poses with Ambassador Mohamed Alharthy of Oman in Seoul (3rd from left), Professor Kim Jong Do (right) and other leading members of Myongji University.

Among Institute's publications are the quarter-yearly Journal of Middle Eastern Affairs and a research project “Social Change and Homo Islamicus in the Modern Middle East: Laying the Foundation for Middle Eastern Studies with a Special Focus on Shariah” funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). Islam has created a huge international community in Central Asia and Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Since Islam is not as widely presented and known in Korea, one of the goals of IMEA is to provide profound and up-to-date information on the matters, related to Islamic Law.

Professor Kim Jong-Do of Myongji University (center) presents a copy of book written on Tunisia to Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nafti of Tunisia (right). Professor Kim Jong Do looks on at left.

In 2010 the Institute of Middle Eastern Affairs was chosen as a Humanities Korea Project for overseas studies. University aims at broadening intellectual horizon for Middle Eastern Studies through interdisciplinary research and its regular publications. Interdisciplinary research became possible due to the collaboration of four Institute's teams: Humanities Research Team, Sociological Research Team, Politics and Economics Research Team and Translation and Interpretation team. Also the Institute provides analysis and consulting on Middle Eastern Issues.

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