Introduction to the Institute for Mediterranean Studies

Institute for Mediterranean Studies

     In December 1997, the Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS) at Busan University of Foreign Studies (Republic of Korea) was founded with the purpose of focussing on the Mediterranean as a unit of research and promoting academic exchange in the diverse fields of Mediterranean Studies. The main objective of the IMS is to concentrate research efforts on the political systems, economy, history, culture and society of the Mediterranean region and to keep pace with Korea's social and academic needs for comprehensive studies of this region.​

     The IMS intends to contribute towards further establishing Mediterranean Studies beyond the frontiers of its native Korea, and to promote this research focus through links with established institutes working on Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, or the Western and Arab world in general.

     The IMS is currently supported and funded by the Humanities Korea (HK) Project of the Korea Research Foundation (KRF), a public organization operating under the Ministry of Education in Korea. The majority of the Institute’s academic activity is directed to meeting the research agenda set by the KRF, especially in the field of Foreign Area Studies [Research Agenda: A Study on the Cultural Interactions of the Mediterranean Civilizations (Term: 2007.11-2017.8)].