Regional Studies is an academic field that reorganizes the past and present of regions and predicts the future of regions by researching its history, culture, humanities, geography, and environment. For a long time, conventional historical and cultural research have overlooked or sometimes ignored the local regions due to its state-centric structure. However, now the ‘Glocal’ which puts emphasis on the unique color of the local areas becomes important and popular, establishing the identity of regions has become necessary more than ever. In this sense, Regional Studies is a field where reconstructing and re-establishing the past, present and future of regions by placing local citizens at the center of their regions’ history and culture.
The Yongin Cultural Center recongnized the necessity of Regional Studies and introduced the new academic field called ‘Yongin studies’ in 2009. It renamed its research institution <Yongin Local Culture Research Center> to <Yonin Studies Research Center> and in 2017, wrote and published official textbooks of Yongin studies. As of 2022, there are 9 universities, including Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Dankuk University, Jyunghee University, Gangnam University, Myongji University, Yongin University, Yongin University of Arts and Sciences, Luther University, and Calvin University, introduced and took Yongin studies as their official course.
In addition, the Yongin Cultural Center continuously broadens its targets to educate Yongin studies not only students in colleges but also public officials, professors, soldiers, and even corporations. At the same time, under the principle of ‘Yongin Sstudies As Communication’ rather than unilateral ways of delivering Knowledge, the center is developing diverse field trip courses visiting related historical sites or local areas in order for students to see and experience what they learnt in person.
In order for Regional Studies to be improved and grow, continuous efforts including interdisciplinary research upon the region’s historical and cultural aspects, establishing its unique identity based on the research, and cultural aspects, establishing its unique identity based on the research, and developing local contents must be done. Based on these perspectives, running affiliated offices such as the Gyubang Culture(Traditional Korea Woman Culture) Research Institute, the Independence Movement Memorial Association, and the Storytelling Research Institute can be a good solution. As the affiliated research institute follow the regulations specified in the articles of association of the cultural center, the affiliated research institute are stably operated and managed by the agreement of members.
Futhermore, this article includes some projects run by the Yongin Cultural Center and ideas upon agendas related to the Regional Studies.