NAFSIK

The primary aim of the National Association of Foreign Scholars in Korea (NAFSIK) is to become a professional platform for non-Korean scholars teaching and conducting research at various universities in Korea. At present, there are approximately 1000-3000 foreign academics including PhD candidates in Korea (20~50 scholarsｘ203 universities). The results of their research works are significant in the concept of K-academia for the development of global Korea. However, the academic conditions of foreign scholars are not often visual and recognised. The fact that they are usually isolated with the lack of support from universities, causes the discontinuation of research in Korean universities. It also affects the long term plan of Korean government for the global influence. 

The new National Association (NAFSIK) is composed by a group of scholars, researchers and PhD students interested in any subject area, including Korean Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts, Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The NAFSIK, as a multidisciplinary academic organisation, is also open to Korean scholars who are able to exercise their research in English. One of the roles of the NAFSIK, therefore, is to become a professional bridge between the foreign scholars working in Korea and the Korean government (the state agencies), in order to communicate and develop the practical strategies for the globalisation of Korean Studies or research from Korea. If you are interested, please join with us.

Free Membership: Please fill out the form 

Benefits: The members of the Association will regularly receive various competitive information about funding, jobs, and welfare, originated from the Korean government and the NAFSIK. They can participate in all the academic activities of the National Association. As we can represent members as the official organisation of academic life, the members will receive the following useful sources for personal development: 

• Scholarship: The NAFSIK could offer an opportunity to engage with such organisations as Korea Foundation (KF), Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), and Korean Research Foundation (NRF). 

• Academic Jobs: Members will be able to access to academic job advertisements in Korea and have an opportunity to join NAFSIK database of local and international academics available for media commentary, consultancy and services to community.

• Welfare: The organisation will provide access to special research funding programmes and organize information events (for example, seminars about funding opportunities in Korea and various issues related to personal welfare – taxation, pension, childcare). Addressing the issues of discriminations in university life (between Korean scholars and foreign scholars) is an additional scope of the organisation, such as the cases of sabbatical leave, salary, or children’s education fee.  

• Networking: The NAFSIK would serve as a platform for networking and cooperation between foreign scholars in Korea.

• Supporting PhD candidates: The foreign research students in Korea will have opportunities of mentoring and counselling for their unique study or lifestyle in Korean universities. 

The fundamental scope of NAFSIK’s academic activity is to develop three strategies of research, networking, and publication for the globalization of intellectual knowledge or technical knowledge from Korea, (East) Asia, North America, Europe, and the rest of the world. While the regular activities of conference, forum, seminar, and casual fellowship play an important role, the international collaboration of the Association will positively help the academic reputation of Korea, as well as Korea’s international relationships with other nations. The Association would also support the process of national and international funding for the projects of members. 

1. Conference:  NASFIK will host international conference (every one and half year for 3 days) bringing not only foreign scholars in Korea but also experts from all of the world in an interdisciplinary approach. In addition, it will be another chance to build the socio-cultural relationship with the foreign embassies in Seoul through hosting special nights for ambassadors and diplomats. 

2. Seminar and Forum: NASFIK will regularly invite special guest speakers for seminars (3-4 times: June, September, and December (Christmas Party)). 

3. Research publication : NASFIK offers to its members (scholars and PhD students) an opportunity to publish their research papers (8000-10,000 words) or manuscripts (120,000 words) if they are accepted by peer review process. As NAFSIK plans to establish an international journal (A&HCI, SSCI, SCIE, SCI, SCOPUS, or ESCI level) and launch a book series in cooperation with a major publisher or a University press in Europe or America, the publication would include transnational or transcultural issues in which Korean and regional studies is the major subject of focus or Korea within many politio-scientific subjects. 

4. Fellowships: NASFIK will organize occasional events for the fellowship of members, such as Christmas party, St. Patrick's, or Easter.