Say it’s not so! I read in the pages of The Korea Times that Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea, after 124 years, is dying a lonely and isolated death. Can that be true?

For those who do not know, RAS Korea is the Korea branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. The word royal is a reference to the royalty of England, where the headquarters is located. RAS Korea is one of several branches that has existed in various places in Asia.

RAS Korea was formed in Seoul in 1900 for the purpose of learning about Korea for members of the foreign community — meaning diplomats, missionaries and scholars. The driving force in the early days were the missionaries who had a scholarly interest in learning about the country in which they were serving.

When I first participated in RAS activities in the mid-60s and again in the 70s and 80s, the key figures in the organization were still the long-term missionaries living in Korea, but there were diplomats and students, too.

I served as an officer in the organization on several occasions, once as vice president. The president I served under was an ambassador from the Netherlands — and I enjoyed working with him very much. He was a truly gracious diplomat’s diplomat.

My first academic presentation to a Korean audience was at RAS Korea. Maybe I shouldn’t say that it was a........

© The Korea Times