Royal Asiatic Society celebrates 118 years in Korea

The residence of the British Ambassador to Korea, built in 1890 in Jeong-dong, central Seoul, hosts the 118th anniversary garden party of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch. / Image by Jon Dunbar

By Jon Dunbar

The world's oldest Korean studies group held its annual garden party at the British Embassy in central Seoul to celebrate 118 years since its creation in 1900.

The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch welcomed over 180 guests onto the lawn behind the British Ambassador's residence, constructed in 1890 in Jeong-dong, seeing a healthy mix of foreign members, Korean members and those somewhere in between.

Quite a lot of its members are long-term foreign residents of Korea, while others live overseas and return periodically. Several are Korea Times contributors. Some arrived in strollers and others using a cane. The only ones in short supply were boring people.

Attendees of the RASKB garden party check their raffle tickets. / Image by Jon Dunbar

While protests raged outside (minimum wage protesters, Park Geun-hye supporters, peace activists), the new British ambassador's yard rang with excited conversation and laughter. The garden party rotates between the U.K. and U.S. ambassadors' homes year to year.

Last year it was at the deserted Habib House, the U.S. ambassador's residence. The year before, when it was at the U.K. compound, it happened on the same day as the Korean Queer Culture Festival, and attendees had to push through a

assembled in front of the embassy.

But everything ran smoothly this year despite some light rain near the end. Simon Smith, the new ambassador, debuted as honorary RASKB president, an honor extended to every British ambassador to Korea. Smith was named to the position last year and spent a year studying the Korean language before taking up his appointment in March this year.

British Ambassador to Korea Simon Smith, middle, poses with RASKB President Brother Anthony. / Image by Jon Dunbar

Despite the “royal” name, the RASKB is an apolitical group and many of its founding members were Americans. It has been recognized by the

, and today there are other RAS branches in

and

The party also serves as a release party for Transactions, the RASKB journal published annually since 1900. Just like the party, this year's issue was stuffed with 13 articles on various topics, such as

, fortune-telling, the

and the

(today's Hongik University area). All members as of 2017 receive a free copy; it is 10,000 won for everyone else.

Attendees enjoyed copious amounts of food and booze, with not one but two traditional alcohol brewing companies represented. Julia Mellor of

served up cheongju sangria and makgeolli made with sticky rice, and homebrewer Mark Salinas served two-stage takju infused with purple sesame leaf.

The Sool Company director Julia Mellor (left) raises cups of cheongju sangria with The Korea Times contributor Choe Chong-dae. / Image by Jon Dunbar

Meanwhile,

offered makgeolli made with kimchi probiotics, as well as “Korea Wine Powder” kits that are durable enough for international delivery and can be easily mixed to make makgeolli within 48 hours.

There was even

on hand to dazzle up people's hair.

Wellbeing & Beauty CFO Joo Min-seon introduces her Detok Makgeolli, made of kimchi probiotics. / Image by Jon Dunbar

“During three hours of fellowship, while sharing plentiful beverages and food, new relations were formed and old friendships were reaffirmed,” the RASKB

. “We are not only the world's first Korean studies organization, we are also a society of friends and acquaintances.”

On June 16, 1900, 17 men founded the RASKB, established a constitution and elected a president. All but four were Protestant missionaries, including James Scarth Gale, Homer Hulbert, Horace Underwood and H.G. Appenzeller. The RASKB was interrupted in times of war, such as the 1904-5 Russo-Japanese War, the 1941-45 Pacific War (World War II) and the 1950-53 Korean War.

Its

, who came here in 1980 at the invitation of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan. Brother Anthony was born in Cornwall, U.K., and became a monk of the Order of Taize in France before coming to Korea. In 1994 he became a naturalized Korean citizen, and

A nonprofit organization, the RASKB offers lectures a few times every month, as well as excursions to all parts of Korea and a few overseas. It also has an extensive library and bookstore, plus other special interest groups focusing on photography, literature and food. Visit

for more information.