Jon Dunbar is a copy editor at The Korea Times, as well as editor of the Foreign Community page and curator of the Korea Times Archive. If you have suggestions for possible articles, or wish to contribute articles yourself, contact jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr.
Foreign Line
Lecture on Manchu invasions of Korea
In the 17th century, Korea faced invasions from the Manchus, who attacked in 1627 and again a decade later, after Korea aligned itself with the Ming Dynasty in China.
Scholar George Kallander will give a lecture about the second attack for the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea, next Tuesday. Kallander will share the diary of scholar-official Na Man-gap, who recorded the events of the second invasion in 1636. The diary was the basis of Kallander's recent book, “The Diary of 1636: The Second Manchu Invasion of Korea.”
Kallander is an associate professor of history at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where he is director of the East Asia Program at the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs.
The lecture will be held Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Attendance is free, but donations are urged to support the world's oldest Korean studies organization. Visit raskb.com or fb.com/raskb for more information about the lecture.
AMCHAM hosts fireside chat
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM Korea) is hosting a fireside chat next Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.
The talk will feature Joseph Yun, former U.S. ambassador to Malaysia as well as U.S. special representative for North Korea policy and deputy assistant secretary for Korea and Japan.
Yun will share his insights on the personnel, priorities and interests that will shape the incoming Biden administration's foreign policy and explore the implications for Korea.
The event will held online and is free for everyone to join. Attendees must RSVP by Jan. 26 at noon. Visit amchamkorea.org or fb.com/amchamkorea or email
for more information.