HOPIA, The Land of Hope

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

Aug. 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.

Dec. 29, 1994    RIES 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.

Oct. 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.

Nov. 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.

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

Dec. 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

Feb.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.

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

Dec. 1999           RIES published RIES Newsletter No. 18.

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

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

Nov. 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.

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

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

Oct. 26, 2004       Korean Association  of Arab & Middle East(KAAM) established Bustaan of Arab & Middle East Culture(BAME) 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.

May, 2005          RIES secured the land for construction of Training Institute and Bustaan of Arab & Middle East Culture(BAME)

Aug. 2005          RIES was hold 'The First Forum of the Middle East & Africa'  jointly with AfroArab Center

Dec, 2005          RIES jointly published AfroArab Study, Vol. 7, (Serial Number 10) with AfroArab Center

Dec. 2005          RIES was hold 'The Second Forum of the Middle East & Africa'  jointly with AfroArab Center

May, 2006         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 16th anniversary ceremony of Yemeni unity on May 22, 2006.

May, 2005         RIES was hold 'The Third Forum of the Middle East & Africa'  jointly with AfroArab Center

July  2006          Korea-Yemen Center of RIES published a book "Arabia Felix: Yemen - President H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh" in Korean edition

Aug  2006         Dr. Hong, president of Korea-Yemen Center presented his book to Yemeni president, H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh on Aug. 27, 2006 during his official visit to Yemen

Dec. 2006         RIES jointly published AfroArab Study, Vol. 8, (Serial Number 11) with AfroArab Center

Dec. 2006         RIES executive office moved to #418 SK Hub-Green, Silim Dong 1421-29, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul Korea

Dec.  2007        RIES jointly published AfroArab Study, Vol. 9, (Serial Number 12) with AfroArab Center

Feb. 2008         Korean Association  of Arab & Middle East(KAAM) revised the regulation to extend the sphere of activity from the Middle East to Africa. According to the new                       regulaion, the name of KAAM changed MINAS(中東阿弗利加協會, The Middle East & African Society) and agreed to use the official name of 'MINAS, 미나수                       (彌橠樹)'. Thus Bustaan of Arab & Mideast Culture; BAME) became to the sister body of MINAS.

May, 2008         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 16th anniversary ceremony of Yemeni unity on May 22, 2008.