Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
A new history and research center focused on Korea has been established at Roanoke College through a collaboration with The Independence Hall of Korea, expanding cultural exchange and research opportunities tied to the college’s longstanding relationship with Korea.
The Kim Kyusik Center for Korean Studies is named for Kim Kyusik, a leader in Korea’s independence movement and a 1903 graduate of the college. The center is designed as a hub for education, research and historical preservation and features exhibits tracing Kyusik’s journey from student to statesman.
College officials said Kyusik’s path was shaped in part by connections formed in the 1890s, when Roanoke College began admitting Korean students — an uncommon move at the time. That relationship has continued through student exchanges, cultural programming and international research initiatives.
Inspired by that shared history, The Independence Hall of Korea — a national museum dedicated to the history of Korea’s liberation movement — awarded the college a grant to establish the center. The project proposal was co-sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States and the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
The center is located in the Bank Building on Salem’s Main Street, home to other history program facilities. College officials said it is believed to be the first dedicated research center in Southwest Virginia focused on Korea.
“This is an important step forward in Roanoke College’s commitment to deepening our understanding of the world,” said Stella Xu, the college’s John R. Turbyfill Professor of History and coordinator of the East Asian Studies concentration. “The Kim Kyusik Center for Korean Studies offers a platform for new research, cultural exchange and collaboration with global partners. It will advance the study of Korea’s rich history and contemporary influence while creating opportunities for students and faculty to engage in meaningful, cross-cultural scholarship.”
Xu said it was an honor to work with The Independence Hall of Korea on the project. The museum is one of the largest in South Korea and includes multiple exhibition halls, a theater and a national monument honoring the Korean people’s pursuit of freedom.
Curators from the museum designed the center and sent a team to Salem to oversee its installation during winter break, reflecting what college leaders described as strong partnerships with Korean institutions.
“The work being done at Roanoke College to collaborate with Korea is opening doors to extraordinary possibilities,” said Kathy Wolfe, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “Together, we are expanding cross-cultural understanding and creating opportunities for students that would not be possible alone.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the center was held March 13 in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States. Moon Inseok, minister and consul general with the embassy, spoke on behalf of Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha.
“I see this center as a place for the next generation of American and Korean leaders to meet,” Moon said. “I want the students of Roanoke College to walk through these doors and understand that they are part of a legacy that has changed the world.”
The center includes a 200-square-foot permanent exhibition highlighting Kyusik’s life and legacy. The exhibit was created in partnership with the Korean Embassy, the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and The Independence Hall of Korea.
The dedication ceremony drew Korean dignitaries, descendants of Kim Kyusik, regional leaders, faculty and students.
College officials said the facility will be used for classes, research and community events, and discussions are underway to explore additional partnerships and grant opportunities to expand the center’s work.
