BAKS Newsletter Autumn 2001

In April 2001 Dr Choi Sung-hong left London on receiving appointment as the new Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs in Seoul. His successor, Dr Ra Jung-il, has been made an Honorary Member of the Association, and Council members had the pleasure of meeting him at the Korean Embassy on 4 September.

The Political Counsellor, Ha Tae-yun, also returned to Korea (August 2001), and has been succeeded by Mr Hwan-Seong Jeong. 

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Dr James Hoare, British Charge d'Affaires to Pyongyang, was present as the Union flag was hoisted over the building acquired for the new British Embassy there in August. His wife Susan Pares has now joined him in Pyongyang, and they are both hopeful that their days of living in a hotel room are numbered.

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Dr Tat Yan Kong (School of Oriental and African Studies) has been co-opted to the BAKS Council.

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Members of BAKS succeeded in attending two conferences in one week in April, that of the Joint East Asian Associations in Edinburgh (reported under Conferences), and of the Association for Korean Studies in Europe in London.

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The link between Egglescliffe Comprehensive School, Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees and Annam Middle School, Inchon was inaugurated in Yarm on 6^th June with a day of Korea-related events. In the morning the traditional musician Inok Paek led a group of sixth-formers in a workshop on Korean rhythms, and in the afternoon gave a kayagum recital as part of a programme devoted to Korean and English music. Younger children gave a powerpoint presentation of their research on South Korea. Donations to the school library from the Korean Embassy and BAKS were on display. Pupils at the two schools have established e-mail links, and a joint website is being planned. BAKS member Dr Judith Cherry will pay Annam School a visit in September to present video recordings of Egglescliffe, and staff and pupil exchanges are under consideration.