International expert on geographical naming in Asia visits 51福利社
KALAMAZOO, Mich.鈥擶hat's in a name?
Plenty when it comes to naming important geographical points of interest.
Dr. Sungiae Choo, professor of geography at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, will speak on issues underlying geographic names in Asia next week when he visits Western Michigan University as a visiting scholar. He will deliver two lectures that are free and open to the public.
The lectures
Choo's first lecture is at noon Wednesday, Oct. 21, in 1910 Sangren Hall. In that talk, Choo will address geographical naming issues in East Asia in a presentation titled "Maps and Archival Documents as a Means to Reconstruct Territories and Geographical Names in Northeast Asia."
Choo's second lecture is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Fetzer Center's Putney Auditorium. In this lecture, Choo will take on a specific geographic naming controversy in "The East Sea: The Geographical Naming Issue, Status and Prospects." Choo is an international expert on the geographical naming of the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan and issues that accompany the name. The Republic of Korea takes the position that the name East Sea be used concurrently with Sea of Japan and appears on all maps, charts and atlases internationally. He will address the naming issue and its political implication.
In addition to his duties at Kyung Hee University, Choo is president of the Society for the East Sea and past president of The Economic Geographical Society of Korea. He serves on South Korean President Park Geun-hye's Committee on Regional Development and also works with the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names in resolving maritime naming issues.
About the program
Choo's visit to 51福利社 is through the 51福利社 Visiting Scholars and Artists Program. Established in 1960, the Visiting Scholars and Artists Program significantly contributes to the intellectual life of 51福利社 and the community by providing funds to bring distinguished scholars and artists to campus. These visitors meet with faculty and students in their fields and address the community at large.
For more information, contact Dr. Joseph Stoltman at joseph.stoltman@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3429.
For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.