Upcoming Events

WINTER BREAK EXCURSION

Sunday, February 26, 2012 - 8:30am - 7:30pm
The HMS House: Hanok Restoration and Adaptive Re-use - The HMS Memorial Museum of Literature (since 2007)

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Lecturer: Architect CHO, In-Souk (Principal of DaaRee Architect & Associates)
INDEPENDENCE DAY EXCURSION

Thursday, March 1, 2012 - 8:00am - 8:00pm
Icheon Kiln Tour

Saturday, March 3, 2012 - 9:00am - 6:30pm
Seochon: Wandering Seoul's Last "Untouched" Neighborhood

Sunday, March 11, 2012 - 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Competition Dilemma: Has Korean Competition Reached Its limit?

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Lecturer: Lee Chong-ae (Kristen) (SBS-TV)
Yeoju Tour: Shilluk-Sa, Empress Myongsong’s Birthplace , and King Sejong’s Tomb

Saturday, March 17, 2012 - 8:30am - 7:00pm
WALKING THROUGH BUKCHON

Sunday, March 18, 2012 - 9:30am - 1:10pm
WALKING LECTURE EXCURSION THROUGH JOSEON (Chosŏn) DYNASTY SEOUL

Sunday, March 25, 2012 - 9:00am - 3:30pm
Traditional Korean Porcelain Culture: The Art and Science of Underglaze Painting

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Lecturer: Carolyn K. Koh Choo, Professor Emeritus, Chung-Ang University

About Us

History

The Korea Branch of the RAS was born in June 1900, when 17 men met to form a branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain. These founding members were missionaries and diplomats who were interested in forming a society where they could share and deepen their knowledge of Korea and the Far East. The RASKB has been meeting and growing ever since, only ceasing to function during the Pacific War (1941-5) and the Korean War (1950-3). Its membership soon grew to include gold miners, doctors, adventurers, business people, teachers, men and women, Koreans as well as foreigners.

Click here to read about the early years of the RASKB.

Click here to read a survey of the history of the RASKB's first century.

Membership

Today the RASKB has several hundred members in Korea as well as many overseas members and friends. Members are from a great variety of professions and jobs, they include both non-Koreans and Koreans. In addition to free admission to the lectures, members receive discounts on RASKB excursions and books, and a free copy of the annual journal Transactions. Members also receive an emailed newsletter listing upcoming cultural excursions, lectures and other information.