Welcome from the Director

On behalf of our researchers and all staff, I extend a heartfelt welcome to the official website of the CIU Institute for the Humanities.

As we strive to attune ourselves to the rapidly changing currents of the world, there is something we must pause to listen to. That is the humanities, which once again prompt us to ask questions about human life. The humanities is an academic field that explores human values and human culture, a treasure trove containing thousands of years of human history and wisdom.

We have diligently pursued economic growth, but the quality of our lives and the depth of our thought have not grown proportionally with our economic advancement. The arduous reality remains unchanged, and each of us is physically and mentally exhausted by the severe weight of life. Now, rather than focusing solely on material achievements or enhancing competitiveness, it is time to reflect on the life we've breathlessly rushed through, compose ourselves, and seek direction for our lives. Especially to actively cope with modern society, which is becoming spiritually desolate, we must take a breath with the humanities, which embody the essence of human society, and prepare for a new beginning. This is what is known as 'Humanities & Healing'.

Furthermore, the 21st century is often called the 'Era of Cultural Warfare', as the influence of culture on our politics, economy, and society as a whole continues to expand. The humanities, which foster understanding and insight into humanity, are truly the cornerstone of culture and a discipline that offers a compass for future civilization. Just as Microsoft founder Bill Gates amplified the value of the humanities by stating, "Without the humanities, there would be no me and no computer," the humanities are the driving force that transformed the landscape of human life and imagination, and can be considered the cultural 'DNA' that changed history.

In response to this call of the times, the CIU Institute for Humanities, established in April 2014, was founded to foster humanities research, communicate its findings to the public in an accessible manner, and resonate socially with the importance of the humanities. Embracing the banner of ‘Beopgochangsin(法古創新)’, as articulated by Yeonam Park Ji-won, a Silhak scholar of the late Joseon Dynasty, the Institute aims to rediscover human values in a world dominated by the logic of economy and capital. In an era that demands cultural production and critical cultural insights, we seek to fulfill the social role of the humanities by using the wisdom of ancient sages as a mirror for today.

As part of our efforts to deepen and expand humanities research, we have also planned humanities lectures that bring the humanistic thoughts of emerging scholars with world-class research capabilities in diverse fields such as literature, history, and philosophy out of the research lab and communicate them with the public.

We sincerely hope for your great support and participation so that the "CIU Humanities Lectures," composed of fascinating topics, can unfold vibrantly with you and further develop into a global feast of the humanities.

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Professor Jin Hwan Kim, Ph.D. Director