By Steven L. Shields
There is a small, not-well-known Korean studies association in Korea. The organization began in the late 1890s. Yes, more than 100 years ago. It was the first “learned society” in Korea, organized by Westerners. Its name evokes an era that is, perhaps, long-lost and anachronistic. The Korea Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (RASKB) is the world's first and oldest organization to pursue and promote Korean studies. It predates, by many decades, every Korean studies department at any university, anywhere in the world.
One might ask, why does an organization in modern Korea have such a name? Korea hasn't had anything “royal” for a long time. The era of kings and emperors in Korea is but a memory from history. Korea's last emperor, King Sunjong, died in 1926 but was effectively deposed by the Japanese in 1910. Some have wondered if the name should be changed to reflect changing times.
The first “Asiatic Society” was organized in 1784 in Kolkata, the then-capital of British India. A counterpart was organized in Mumbai in 1804. As interest in the Indian subcontinent grew, other societies were organized at Chennai, Bengaluru and Bihar. In the succeeding years, societies were formed throughout the British Empire.
The “mother” Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was formed in London in 1823, and received a royal charter from King George IV, with patronage. With that patronage, the various societies throughout the British Empire were “Royal.” There have been two non-British Empire exceptions: Korea and Japan. The Asiatic Society of Japan was established in 1872 and the RASKB was chartered in 1900.
English and American missionaries and diplomats organized the RASKB. They had been meeting since at least 1899 and engaged in correspondence with other Asiatic societies in the region. They were encouraged to seek affiliation with the London-based organization and received a charter, with rights to the name. Members of the RASKB are allowed membership rights to many of the programs and services of the parent organization when visiting London.
The British Empire was a world power, with colonies around the globe. Scholars and students alike held the Royal Asiatic Society in London in high esteem. Being affiliated was considered a great honor.
“Royal” was a common term in those days, for even Korea was a kingdom, or empire, in its own right. Even Korea's royalty was intimately familiar with many RASKB key members.
After the 1895 assassination of Queen Min, King Gojong surrounded himself with a group of Western missionaries at all times. This included James S. Gale, Homer B. Hulbert, George Heber Jones, Horace G. Underwood and H.G. Appenzeller, all who were involved in the foundation of the RASKB shortly after.
The first general meeting of the newly formed society was on Oct. 24, 1900, with a lecture by Gale, a Presbyterian missionary from Canada who distinguished himself in linguistics, Bible translation and as a scholar of Korean history and culture. His topic was “The Influence of China upon Korea.” He traced almost 3,000 years of relations between the two. As readers of history know, there was tension in the region between China and Japan at the time. Korea was right in the middle, and most know the result.
The journal of the society, “Transactions of the Korea Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society,” carried the date 1900. There are gaps in the activity and publications of the society during times of war. The society has published 92 volumes of “Transactions” containing hundreds of scholarly papers on Korea's history, arts, politics, diplomatic relations, industrial development, architecture, transport, religion and more.
At the official organization meeting, the first RASKB president, J. H. Gubbins of the British Legation, noted, “A distinguished traveller, who has written about this country, is reported to have said there was little or nothing in Korea to repay research. Your Council do [sic] not agree with this view. We are aware that the literature of the country…is not as accessible for purposes of research as the literature of other countries…I am sure that you will all agree in thinking that there is every reason to hope that the efforts of our society, though its beginnings be small and its work at first slow, may be successful …for the information of all who take an interest in Korea and the Far East.”
The RASKB is indeed successfully fulfilling the vision of its founders.
Steven L. Shields, a retired cleric, serves as a vice president of the Korea Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society and is a columnist for The Korea Times. Visit
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