The mission of CKS is to act as an advocacy group for Korean Studies within the AAS, to represent the Korean Studies membership within the AAS Northeast Asia Council (NEAC), and to serve the communal needs of the expanding field of Korean studies through programming initiatives. CKS was founded in 1968 by Hesung Koh, who was the first chair from 1968 to 1970. A survey of membership interest conducted by Dr. Koh indicated that there were 300 members registered; they not only included scholars but also graduate students, government officials, and journalists. This survey helped to legitimize the existence of a separate Committee at AAS.
Beginning in the early 1980s, CKS administered small grants for travel and research, and in the 2000s it served as the award committee for graduate student fellowships funded by the Korea Foundation. In 2008, the organization started sponsoring and co-sponsoring professional workshops and conference panels to support its members in their various professional stages. A website for CKS has been online since 2008. Today, it includes announcements and reports, news of the field, library resources, and useful links for the CKS membership. The website can be accessed from the AAS webpage under NEAC or directly at https://koreanstudies.org.
In 2018, CKS redefined and expanded its mission into a community-building organization, with program initiatives that focus on teaching, mentorship, and professionalization. CKS also continues to advocate the interest of Korean studies within the AAS in cooperation with NEAC. The Executive Board of CKS is currently composed of five officers elected by the CKS membership, each of them serving staggered three-year terms.
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