Support the Center
Spotlight
Ryosuke Koyama
East Asian studies/Education major and Volunteer
IU senior Ryosuke Koyama plans to become a high school Japanese teacher in the U.S. after he graduates. His work as an EASC volunteer has been excellent preparation for his future career—he’s taught Japanese at local elementary and middle schools; introduced calligraphy to families at Lotus Blossoms, an annual art education outreach event; and lectured on Japanese culture to elementary students in Canada and southern Indiana through interactive video conferencing. He loves sharing his culture with children and families. “I’m glad to see the enthusiasm of people toward a new culture,” he says. “It inspires me every time I teach Japanese.”
Society of Friends of Korean Studies
The Society of Friends of Korean Studies (SOFOKS), a private fundraising organization, is a committed union between community and higher education ensuring continued support for Korean studies and young Korean studies scholars at Indiana University.
History
In 1983 under the leadership of Heun Y. Yune, M.D., now Professor Emeritus of Radiology at the IU School of Medicine, a group of business professionals and IU faculty in Indianapolis formed SOFOKS to encourage the development of Korean studies at IU. Since its founding, SOFOKS members have donated more than $190,000 to support students and faculty engaged in studying Korean language and culture, providing for, among other things, an annual fellowship for graduate students and an annual Excellence in Korean Studies award for undergraduates.
In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of SOFOKS in 2008, founder Dr. Yune wrote a fable expressing the longstanding commitment between the once fledgling Korean studies program and its supporting community of SOFOKS members. Read the fable (PDF or Word), and view a timeline (PDF) of the development of Korean studies at IU.
To join the Society of Friends of Korean Studies, easc [at] indiana [dot] edu (contact us).
Make a gift to the Korean Program Fund.
2011-12 Donors:
Mr. & Mrs. William T. Jackson
Dr. & Mrs. Heun Young Yune
Mr. & Mrs. Heung Chul Moon
Dr. & Mrs. Hee-Myung Park
Dr. In Sook Seo
Mr. & Mrs. Jaeyon Lee
Dr. & Mrs. Han Won Paik
Dr. & Mrs. Young Soo Suh
Dr. & Mrs. Moo Nahm Yum
Dr. Hwi Yul Suh
Dr. & Mrs. Bong Hyun Chang
Mr. & Mrs. Dal Soo Kwon
Dr. & Mrs. Hyo Sang Lee
Mr. & Mrs. Sung Jae Park
Dr. & Mrs. Kun Hong Kim
Mr. & Mrs. JaeYun Kim
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Lee
