On March 28th, the K-Academic Diffusion Research Center of Inha Center for International Studies(ICIS) successfully held an international academic seminar at the Harbor Park Hotel in Incheon under the theme of "The Current Status and Direction of Mutual Understanding between Korea and Japan: The Search for a New Korea-Japan Relations through Korean Studies." The conference was hosted by the K-Academic Diffusion Research Center of ICIS and sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies.

In particular, the year of 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, and the seminar was designed to re-examine bilateral relations and seek future-oriented cooperation measures. The main purpose of the seminar was to shed new light on Korea-Japan relations through Korean studies and to discuss the direction of deepening academic and cultural exchanges beyond the existing historical and international relations-oriented approach.

The first session discussed the current status of Korean studies research in Japan and the challenges of its spread. There was a presentation of "The Current Status of the Spread of Korean Studies in Japan" by Ryo Tahara, a researcher at Inha University, and Takashi Kimura, a professor at Fukuoka Women's University, "The Demand and Challenges of the Spread of Korean Studies in Kyushu, Japan," followed by an in-depth discussion.

The second session focused on re-examining Korea-Japan relations through cultural elements. Various presentations were conducted to analyze exchanges between Korea and Japan from the perspective of tourism, education, and history and to explore the intersubjectivity of Korean culture.

In the last session, a roundtable was held to discuss the direction of development of academic and educational cooperation in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan. Participants sought practical measures for revitalizing academic exchanges and mutual cooperation and exchanged various opinions on future cooperation models.

The academic seminar is significant in that scholars and researchers from both Korea and Japan gather to explore the possibility of interdisciplinary cooperation and open a new chapter for international academic exchanges through Korean studies. In the future, the K-Academic Diffusion Research Center at ICIS plans to continue research and exchanges for the development of Korea-Japan relations while focusing on Korean studies.

(photo materials) Conference photography/Event program