President¡¯s Greetings

Dear Members of the Korean Sociological Association,

Since the establishment of the association in 1957, it is now almost half a half a century mature. Throughout its history, the KSA has contributed not only to the development of Korea¡¯s social sciences, but also to that of Korean society per se. As Korea experienced a variety of social problems during the rapid processes of industrialization and democratization in the 1960s and afterwards, the KSA was always there on the cutting edge, with diagnoses and solutions. More or less recently, when Korea started to face new sorts of issues regarding its transformation into an information and knowledge-based society, the KSA affirmatively addressed accompanying issues withfuture-oriented frameworks.

As globalization proceeds as a great transformation of the time, such an environment requests the KSA additionally respond thereto academically and pragmatically. During my term of office, I would like to stand in line with the challenge in the following manner.

First, I will make every possible effort to enhance the KSA¡¯s capabilities for academic activities and policy contribution. As well known, the KSA currently has more than 20 sections and sub-organizations. By strengthening inter-organizational networks amongst them whilst preserving each organization¡¯s autonomy and expertise, I plan to equip the KSA with a more comprehensive perspective and more of shared knowledge within. In doing so, I would like to actively support interdisciplinary research so that Korean academia may more feasibly provide with trans-disciplinary resolutions to contemporary social issues.

Second, I will make efforts to internationalize the presence of the KSA. For this matter, I am planning to develop exchange programs with sociological associations of other major countries. Also, I will invite renowned scholars to international conferences where they can present and discuss with KSA members.

Third, I will come up with ways to support KSA members¡¯ research and employment efficiently. To assist graduate students¡¯ research in particular, I will institutionalize small research fund opportunities to encourage them, which I hope will ultimately help them participate in association events more actively.
I suspect that all these would remain hard to accomplish only with the efforts of KSA staff members. Rather, every member¡¯s good-will interest and active participation will turn all the plans into reality. I cordially ask for your suggestions and advice throughout the year.
Thank you very much.

Hyun-Chin Lim
Professor of Sociology, Seoul National University
President of the Korean Sociological Association

Short History

The Korean Sociological Association (KSA) is a nation-wide academic organization of scholars interested in Sociology and related social sciences. Founded in 1956, it has grown into one of the largest academic organizations in Korea with active membership of over 800 individual scholars and institutions. KSA seeks to encourage academic activities and intellectual dialogue among scholars and to promote academic partnership and mutual understanding among Korean and foreign scholars. KSA pursues to analyse diverse social phenomena and social changes in Korean society and to explore the future and prospect of Korean society in globalization era.

Academic activities of KSA include annual symposia, workshops, and the publication of a journal. Academic activities are organized by the Research Committee of KSA which consists of several subdivisions. KSA hosts biannual nation-wide conventions, quarterly seminars, and occasional workshops. KSA has published Korean Journal of Sociology since 1964.

KSA has also been actively involved in international academic activities. It has hosted several international conferences to which both Korean and foreign scholars have been invited. Among others, in 2005, KSA successfully hosted international conference titled "Globlaization and Socio-cultural Changes in Comparative Perspective" in Seoul participated by over 100 Korean and foreign scholars from several countries. Also, KSA is going to host international conferences titled "Global Futures of World Regions: New Asias" and "East Asian Sociologists Conference: The Vision of East Asian Sociology" in September 2006.