The Koret Foundation of San Francisco has approved a $300,000 gift in support of the Korean Studies Program at Stanford University.

The two-year gift allows the Center to establish a Koret Fellowship and to bring leading professionals in Asia and the United States to Stanford to study United States–Korean relations. The fellows will conduct their own research on the bilateral relationship, with an emphasis on contemporary relations with the broad aim of fostering greater understanding and closer ties between the two countries.

“As a Korean American, I am pleased to support efforts to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Korea and the United States,” said Susan Koret, chairman of the board of the Koret Foundation. “The strength of Stanford’s program is a strong indicator that our foundation’s support will have a positive impact.”

“This is a very important and timely grant, as the two allies seek to repair the strains of the past and to strengthen their long standing relationship for the future,” said Professor Gi-Wook Shin, Center director. “Equally, we value our relationship with Koret, and we believe this is the beginning of a long-lasting relationship between the Foundation and our Center.”

The Korean Studies Program (KSP) focuses on multidisciplinary, social science-oriented, collaborative research on policy-relevant topics on Korea. KSP's mission is to be a research center in the truest sense, with its own research fellows and collaborative projects.

An entrepreneurial spirit guides Koret in addressing societal challenges and strengthening Bay Area life. Investing in strategic, local solutions, Koret helps to inspire a multiplier effect – encouraging collaborative funding and developing model initiatives.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Koret adds to the region’s vitality by promoting educational opportunity, contributing to a diverse cultural landscape, and bolstering organizations that are innovative in their approaches to meeting community needs.

The Koret Fellowship is expected to commence with the 2008/2009 academic year.

About the Korean Studies Program at Shorenstein APARC

The Stanford Korea Program was formally established in 2001 at the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center with the appointment of Professor Gi-Wook Shin, as the founding director. The Stanford KSP offers courses on Korea, hosts seminars related to the study of Korea, sponsors workshops and conferences, conducts research projects, supports fellowships, and collaborates with a broad range of visiting scholars.