International partnership creates new Center for Korean Studies at Roanoke

A new history and research center has been established at Roanoke College in collaboration with one of Korea’s largest national museums — a partnership that draws on Roanoke’s unique history with Korea and sets the stage for a new era of cultural exchange and student opportunities. 

The Kim Kyusik Center for Korean Studies was carefully designed by historians to serve as a hub for education, research and historical preservation. Named after Korean Independence Movement leader and Roanoke College graduate Kim Kyusik, it features exhibits that trace Kim’s remarkable rise from student to statesman. 

Related: Virginia Historic Marker dedicated in honor of Kim Kyusik 

Related: Kim Kyusik descendants visit campus 

Kim's path was supported by the close ties formed between Roanoke and Korea in the 1890s, when the college, in an almost unheard-of move for the time, opened its doors to Korean students. That positive relationship continues today, marked by student exchanges, cultural demonstrations and international research opportunities.  

Inspired by that shared past and the potential for future partnerships, The Independence Hall of Korea, a museum dedicated to the history of Korea’s liberation movement, awarded the college a grant to build the Kim Kyusik Center. The project proposal was co-sponsored by the Korean Embassy and the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. 

The new center was installed in the Bank Building, which houses other history program facilities. It’s believed to be the first dedicated research center in Southwest Virginia focused on Korea. 

“This is an important step forward in Roanoke College’s commitment to deepening our understanding of the world,” said Stella Xu, Roanoke's John R. Turbyfill Professor of History and coordinator of the East Asian Studies concentration. “The Kim Kyusik Center for Korean Studies offers a platform for new research, cultural exchange and collaboration with global partners. It will advance the study of Korea’s rich history and contemporary influence while creating opportunities for students and faculty to engage in meaningful, cross-cultural scholarship.” 

Xu added it had been an honor to work with The Independence Hall of Korea on the project. The museum is one of the largest in South Korea, with seven exhibition halls, a theater, and a national monument honoring the strength and resilience of the Korean people in their pursuit of freedom. 

Curators from the museum designed the center and dispatched a team to lead its installation over winter break. Their support reflects the strong relationships that Xu and other college leaders have cultivated with Korean partners. 

Related: Korean ambassador visits Roanoke College 

“The work being done at Roanoke College to collaborate with Korea is opening doors to extraordinary possibilities,” said Kathy Wolfe, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “Together, we are expanding cross-cultural understanding and creating opportunities for students that would not be possible alone.” 

Discussions are already underway to explore future partnerships and grants that could further the mission of the Kim Kyusik Center. The new facility in the Bank Building on Salem's Main Street will be open for Roanoke classes and wider community events.  

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is being planned for this spring. For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Dr. Stella Xu at sxu@roanoke.edu.