종합경제사회연구원 Research Institute of the East-West Economy & Society 종합경제사회연구원

HOPIA, The Land of Hope

With the launching of WTO, the world economy at the forefront of the 21st century plunged into an era of complete competition. Furthermore, indiscriminate complete competition is not merely limited to the field of economics but is spread into all walks of life.The method that makes this possible is informatization and the facilitated expansion of the internet is contributing to its acceleration. I would even dare to call the computer the 'Language of God'.Through the binary system, that is to say the 0 and 1 of the method of language, all the languages of the world are gathering and all the images, photos, and pictures are coming together.

In this world, interpretation and translation, race, culture, and religion form another different world that takes part in it indifferently. Therefore the influence is more frightening than the nuclear weapon. Even though it is in the experimental stage, the dialogue of the universe is also being implemented. At a point where there is not much time left until the coming of the 21st century, we human beings may be building a 'New Babel Tower'.

Dr. Seong-Min Hong

(President, RIES)

Our institute has started the research on Area Studies with focus on human problems 5 years ago. During which time though eye-opening research contributions have not been presented, the hastening of informatization is anticipated to provide a great deal of help in our research. The fact that our internet homepage was set up by the internal technical training of diligent researchers, after more than a years worth of research, will contribute greatly even to the international exchange in this field. With this, a domain was newly set up and the derived name was Hopia, that is, 'The Land of Hope'. Now, our institute has newly equipped itself through the internet and will go forth as the land of hope.

Research Institute of the East - West Economy & Society (RIES) focuses on research and economic exchange on the East-West. In order to fulfill this goal, we have divided the world into 6 regional economic blocs and have put together the overall and compound research on history, philosophy, politics, society, culture, language, art, religion and so on. Also, a team under the responsibility of each director of division was created that performs diverse and specialized research by accurate and prompt research and analysis of related projects.

Especially, by effectively applying the 'Home Library System' of members through the computer network hand in hand with the age of informatization, we will aim for the promptness of efficient research and research activity through the trimming of expenses.

Furthermore, RIES will not neglect its effort to establish the regional research that pursues 'Seeking after Truth, Based on Facts' which will revolve around the Korea Institute of the Mideast Economies (KIME), an auxiliary organ, and Korea-Yemen Center(KYC). In addition to this, we believe that the RIES Pusan support that publishes the The Silk Road as of last year in order to promote the Chinese Studies research will also put the institutes development to the test. Their abundant participation and cooperation will be of immense help to the development of the institute. Hoping for the much participation and encouragement of those interested…

(Translated by Mr. Park Daikeun)

July 1998

History

August 15, 1993 RIES is a private reseblished to study the comprehensive area study on August 15, 1993. Now RIES has two special study centers that consist of Korea Institute of the Mideast Economies (KIME) and Korea-Yemen Center (KYC) with its precepts of seek after truth, based on facts.

December 29, 1994 our institute became to recognize the need of exact Yemeni knowledge. In accordance with this fact Research Institute of the East-West Economy & Society(RIES) began to feel the need of basic Yemeni study to found a Yemeni studies in Korea through the comprehensive study of history, society, culture, art and economy of Yemen. For the purpose of it, Korea-Yemen Center was born in the form of study center attached to RIES under the article 3 of the institute regulations on December 29, 1994.

March 31, 1995 Established sister body of KIES in Busan Korea.

October 9, 1995 RIES raised the 'Research Department' of the Middle East Studies to higher rank of the 'institute', namely 'Korea Middle East Institute', attached to RIES on December 12, 1995.

November 2, 1996 As RIES activities progresses and the gravity of the Middle East Area grows up, RIES reset up the organization. Further KMEI renamed 'Korea Institute of the Mideast Economies' (KIME) by RIES committee on November 2, 1996.

August 1, 1996 KIME publisehd 96-1 KIME Mideast Studies: Area Study of Yemen: Yemen (Korean) in the name of Korea-Yemen Center

December 29, 1997 Opened internet homepage of Research Institute of the East-West Economy & Society(RIES)(http://hopia.net/ries/index_e.html), Korea Institute of the Mideast Economies (KIME)(http://hopia.net/kime/index_e.html) and Korea - Yemen Center (KYC)(http://hopia.net/kyc/index_e.html)

July 5, 1997 KIME published 97-1 KIME Mideast Studies: The General Economy of the Middle East (Korean)

May 18, 1997 KIME published KIME Human Studiies: Alī Abdullāh Saleh Al Ahmar - The Leader of Yemeni Unification (Korean) in the name of Korea-Yemen Center

Febrary 15, 1998 President Dr. Seong Min Hong, RIES met with Yemeni president, H.E. Ali Abfulla Saleh in Bejing, China and presented president's portrait that was produced by Prof. Sang Bong Lee(Sungkunkwan University, in Korea) there.

May 15, 1998 KIME published 98-1 KIME Human Studiies : Ali Abdulla Saleh ;(Korean and Arabic) in the name of Korea-Yemen Center

June 30, 1998 Moved the main office from Bongcheondog into Shillimdong, Seoul Korea.

October, 1998 RIES published Korean Journal of Economy & Society; KJES, Vol. 24.

December, 1999 RIES published RIES Newsletter No. 18.

August, 2002 RIES jointly published AfroArab Study, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Serial Number 6) with AfroArab Center, Myungji University, Korea.

Febrary, 2003 RIES jointly published AfroArab Study, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Serial Number 7) with AfroArab Center, Myungji University, Korea.

November, 2002 RIES hold jointly the International Symposium for the preliminary conference of African and East Asian Scholars in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of RIES foundation with AfroArab Center in Dongkuk University, Korea on December 14-16, 2002.

December, 2003 RIES jointly published AfroArab Study, Vol. 5, (Serial Number 8) with AfroArab Center

December, 2004 RIES jointly published AfroArab Study, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Serial Number 9) with AfroArab Center

October 26, 2004 Korean Association of Arab & Middle East(KAAM) established Bustaan of Arab & Mideast Culture(BAMC) with the support of KIME and KYC

May, 2005 KYC published The Process of the Realization of Yemeni Unity: The Special Lecture in Commemoration of Korean Visit that ) was edited by Korean, English and Ababic language.

May, 2005 Dr. Seong Min Hong, president of RIES as a representative of Korea-Yemen Center visited Yemen officially by the invitation of Yemeni government and participated in the 15th anniversary ceremony of Yemeni unity on May 22, 2005.

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