History of Korea Argentina Study Center

The activities related to Korea in the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) began in the Gino Germani Research Institute of the School of Social Sciences in 1995. The Institute hosted the research project on Korean Immigration in Argentina, directed by Carolina Mera PhD.. In 1997, and as a result of this investigation, the University of Buenos Aires published the book "Korean Migration in Buenos Aires". Besides, since 1999, Prof. Carolina Mera. is working on a research project at the Gino Germani Research Institute concerning the Identity of the second generation of Koreans in Argentina.

During 2000, various events were organized in relation to the 35 years of the Korean community in Argentina. Among these were many conferences, seminaries, and cultural activities, as the exhibition "35 years of the Korean collectivity in Argentina". This exhibition was coordinated by Prof. Carolina Mera and organized by Gino Germani Research Institute, the Roca Museum Institute of Historical Research, the Korean Embassy in Argentina, the Association of Korean University Professionals in Argentina (APUC) and the Association of Korean university students (AUCA)

After the meeting of the Commission of Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Argentina and the People's Republic of China held in Beijing on May 30 of 2001, in which Prof. Pedro Krotsch, participated, the East Asian Studies Group (GEEA) was created at the Gino Germani Research Institute. Its purpose was the promotion and strengthening of the study and research of the region, within the academic realm.

As part of the Cultural area of the Institute, the GEEA has been functioning as an interdisciplinary study group coordinated by Korean Studies Professor Carolina Mera, and conformed by graduated professionals and students of the University of Buenos Aires. Since it creation, the GEEA has been leading several research and work projects related to East Asian and Korean issues.

In the frame of this project, diverse courses, seminaries and research projects related specifically to the Republic of Korea were developed, reflecting the increasing global importance that the country has acquired in the last years. Thus, as a result of this work in the Institute, a deepening in the interchange of knowledge and experiences between Korea and Argentina was carried out. Joint activities and more interest appeared in the academic, scientific and cultural fields between the UBA and the Republic of Korea.

Within this frame, the idea of creating the Korea - Argentina Study center in UBA (CECA) arouse, thanks to the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Argentina, through then Ambassador Choe Yang Boo, the Korea Foundation, through the President Kwon In Hyuk and the presidency the University of Buenos Aires, through then President Guillermo Jaim Etcheverry.

The creation of the CECA is based on the conviction that collaboration between the two countries will be of great importance for the work of teaching and research that is developed in both academic communities and in the need of coordinating and reinforcing the existing interchanges, developing new areas of mutual interest. Besides, it is also based in the idea that it is fundamental to deepen the dialogue between specialists of the most diverse disciplines, and between the policy makers in the cultural, scientific and technological fields.