'Academic Award' for contributions on 'research of territorial rights of Dokdo‘ through Japanese specimens
Research on Dokdo proving possibility for universal interpretation
Opened 'Dokdo Research Center' for the first time in Korean universities at YU
[February 3, 2016]
YU Honorary Professor Kim Hwa-gyeong (69) was selected as the winner of the 57th March 1 Culture Award.
Professor Kim Hwa-gyeong was selected as the winner of the academic award in the humanities and social science sector for his contributions in establishing a universal logic that is not specific to Korea, but can be applied to both Korea and Japan through research on myths and Dokdo Island through over 30 years of positivism methodologies.
In particular, Honorary Professor Kim was evaluated to have contributed in creating the logic that revealed that Japan's territorial claims over Dokdo Island is invalid based on specimens from Japan. He was also recognized for his efforts in research to establish territorial rights over Dokdo Island such as founding the nation's first college Dokdo Research Center at YU in 2005.
Honorary Professor Kim earned his bachelor's at Seoul National University and his master's and PhD at the University of Tsukuba in Japan and has served as a professor at YU since 1983. From 2005 to August 2012, he served as the director of the YU Dokdo Research Center. From October 2009 to October 2015 he served as an executive at the Northeast Asian History Foundation and he also received the Dugye Academic Award 92006) and a medal from the Minister of Education (2015) for his tireless research activities. Major books that he authored include 'Japan's Myth' (2002, Moonji Publishing), 'Origins of Korean Myths' (2005, Jisik-Sanup Publications), and 'Historical and Geographic Research of Dokdo' (2011, Kyungin Munhwa Publications).
The March 1 Culture Award that is granted by the Sam-il Cultural Foundation is Korea' first public interest award system enacted in Korea in 1959 to encourage the succession and development of the March 1 spirit in the cultural and academic fields. This award is given to figures who achieved excellent results in academic (humanities and natural sciences), arts, technologies and special fields.
The winner of the 57th March 1 Culture Awards included Honorary Professor Kim Hwa-gyeong, Yonsei University Professor Seo Jin-geun (academic award in the natural science sector), and Korea Musical Theater Association Advisor Park Man-gyu (art). The award ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on March 1 at the Western Premier Seoul Garden Hotel Grand Ball Room in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
