Circles and Squares

The Academy of Korean Studies

Societas Koreana Lecture

Emanuel Pastreich

“Seoul’s Culture: A Tale of Two Cities”

I was invited to deliver a talk on the cultures of Seoul at the Academy of Korean Studies this evening (December 12, 2014) at the Lotte Hotel.

The event was kindly arranged by Dr. Lee Yong Bae , President of the Academy of Korean Studies, and attended by a variety of expats living Seoul (primarily academics and diplomats).

This lecture was my first chance to discuss with an audience my ideas concerning the emergence of Seoul’s culture over the last hundred years, with an emphasis on the dynamic of Gangbuk (North of the River) and Gangnam (South of the River) culture. I was impressed by the thoughtful questions I received and the growing  interest in Seoul’s cultural past in the international community.

Conversation with Dr. Kim Hyun, Director of the Center for International Affairs at Academy of Korean Studies.

Opening of the Talk

Dr. Lee Bae Yong  is in the center in a red dress.