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Alumni & Giving

Help Support IKS

Dear friends, supporters, and alumni of IKS,

Since the establishment of the Institute for Korean Studies (IKS) in the spring of 2016, our mission has been to promote Korean Studies at IU, throughout the Bloomington community, and at our partner institutions across the U.S. and the world. IKS has grown exponentially during this time, with the number of undergraduate majors increasing from just 13 students to 50, the number of MA students increasing from none to a cohort of six, and our faculty growing from four members to seven. These numbers reflect our dedication to growth and progress and are a testament to the continuous support of people like you.

The Korea Foundation (KF) has been instrumental to our success, supporting two of our tenure-track and tenured faculty positions. In recognition of our efforts to strengthen and expand Korean Studies in the Midwest, KF has awarded us once again with one-million dollars to fund an endowed faculty position. Our eighth faculty member will be a specialist in the field of social science and policy, allowing IKS to offer IU students a well-rounded, interdisciplinary education that is difficult to find anywhere else in our region.

The one million dollar award from the Korea Foundation is called a matching grant, which requires the award amount to be matched by other funding sources. Toward this end, we have already received generous gifts from two alumni donors, Young-Jin Kim, CEO and Chairman of Handok Inc., and Won-Suk Joo, Chairman of Mediawill.

To reach our remaining commitment to match the Korea Foundation’s generosity, we ask you for your support to help us raise $250,000. Together we can raise Korean Studies at IU to a new level. We have several options for giving, including one-time gifts and recurring annual or monthly gifts. If you would like to discuss giving in other ways, such as giving a major gift, including IKS in your estate plan, or making a corporate contribution, please contact our giving officer, Maarten Bout, at 812-856-2515.

Excellent faculty members are the foundation of student success in higher education. At IKS, we are responsible for preparing the next generation of Korean Studies scholars, world leaders, policymakers, government employees, and non-profit specialists. Please consider joining us as we build the best program possible for our students and community. We thank you in advance for your generosity and support and hope you will join us for our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Seung-kyung Kim, Director

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We would love to meet with you and discuss the opportunities for you to make a lasting impact on Korean Studies education in the Midwest.

Lynn and Bill Jackson have spent much of their lives promoting a better understanding of the various cultures in their community. In addition to making financial contributions to the Korean Studies program, Bill is active in IU's Korean activities and Lynn is committed to furthering her understanding of Central Asian and Middle Eastern Islamic cultures. Both feel strongly that America's ability to live in peace with other nations is dependent on better understanding their way of life.

In the late 1990s, Bill and Lynn decided to give back to IU in appreciation of the wonderful educational experience it provided their children. They consulted with Professor George Wilson who, at the time, was director of the East Asian Studies Center. Professor Wilson hoped to strengthen the Korean Studies effort at IU, and Bill and Lynn made the decision to help in this effort. They have been supporting Korean Studies ever since.

Bill continues to cultivate his interest in East Asia. He has spent considerable time studying the language, history, and culture of China, Japan, and Korea, and has visited these countries with Lynn. He attends Korean Studies colloquia and conferences to further his own education and to interact with students, which is what he enjoys most.

I'm very impressed with what the Institute for Korean Studies has accomplished. As a challenge for coming years, I hope the institute fosters the teaching of the Korean language in Indiana high schools and educating the public about the culture of the Korean people. While I recognize the need to educate students about current events in Korea, I also feel strongly that students should obtain a foundation in the ancient history, literature, music, geography, and other cultural aspects of the country to properly evaluate current events.
Bill Jackson, Research Scientist, Eli Lilly & Co., Biochemistry Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison