Support the Center
Spotlight
Michiko Owaki
Volunteer
As a volunteer in the EASC outreach program, Michiko Owaki has performed a Japanese tea ceremony, taught calligraphy to middle and high school students, and talked about Japanese culture to middle school students through a video conferencing link. She came to Bloomington from Japan to join her husband, a New Zealander who is an IU professor. Although she enjoys many hobbies, such as playing the piano and gardening, her volunteer work has been particularly enriching. “I love having the opportunity to share the rich traditions of Japanese culture with people here,” she says. “It helps promote mutual understanding between the two cultures.”
Society of Friends of Korean Studies
The Society of Friends of Korean Studies (SOFOKS), a private fundraising organization, is a committed union between community and higher education ensuring continued support for Korean studies and young Korean studies scholars at Indiana University.
History
In 1983 under the leadership of Heun Y. Yune, M.D., now Professor Emeritus of Radiology at the IU School of Medicine, a group of business professionals and IU faculty in Indianapolis formed SOFOKS to encourage the development of Korean studies at IU. Since its founding, SOFOKS members have donated more than $190,000 to support students and faculty engaged in studying Korean language and culture, providing for, among other things, an annual fellowship for graduate students and an annual Excellence in Korean Studies award for undergraduates.
In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of SOFOKS in 2008, founder Dr. Yune wrote a fable expressing the longstanding commitment between the once fledgling Korean studies program and its supporting community of SOFOKS members. Read the fable (PDF or Word), and view a timeline (PDF) of the development of Korean studies at IU.
To join the Society of Friends of Korean Studies, easc [at] indiana [dot] edu (contact us).
Make a gift to the Korean Program Fund.
2010-11 Donors:
Dr. & Mrs. Bong Hyun Chang
Mr. & Mrs. William T. Jackson
Dr. Dongsoo Kim
Mr. & Mrs. JaeYun Kim
Mr. & Mrs. Jaeyon Lee
Dr. & Mrs. Hyo Sang Lee
Dr. & Mrs. Han Won Paik
Dr. & Mrs. Hee-Myung Park
Mr. & Mrs. Nam Se Park
Mr. & Mrs. Sung Jae Park
Dr. In Sook Seo
Dr. Hwi Yul Suh
Dr. & Mrs. Young Soo Suh
Dr. & Mrs. Moo Nahm Yum
Dr. & Mrs. Heun Young Yune
