RAS Korea President Steven L. Shields, above, announces the winners of the society's essay contest for students, which were presented by U.K. Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks, left, during RAS Korea's garden party at the U.K. Embassy in central Seoul, Sept. 16, 2023. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Royal Asiatic Society Korea (RAS Korea), a 124-year-old organization specializing in Korean studies, is organizing a series of fundraising events this fall in a desperate bid to ensure its survival.

"We still get donations from various sources, but it is a downhill trend overall. We need to survive on our own and we have been changing many programs. We're in the process of transformation which is requiring funds," Denny Park, the organization's treasurer, told The Korea Times.

Plans are being finalized for the first fundraising event, to take place on Sept. 28 at a private hanok residence, formerly owned by the late Peter Bartholomew, a former RAS Korea president, in northeastern Seoul's Donam-dong. A second fundraiser is expected to take place in the second week of October, though details are still pending.

Founded in England in 1824, the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland aimed to enhance the understanding of Asia through science, literature and the arts. The Korean branch was established in 1900 mostly by Christian missionaries from various Western countries and stands as the world's oldest and first group dedicated to Korean studies.

RAS Korea possesses a valuable collection of old books and other resources on a wide range of subjects, making it a treasure trove for academics and anyone interested in Korea. The organization's library has nearly 3,000 books, some of which are also available electronically. Its annual journal, "Transactions," is considered an essential source of information and knowledge about Korea, with its 98th volume set for publication later this month.

Although RAS Korea is officially a subsidiary of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, it does not receive any financial support from the parent organization. The Asia Development Foundation (ADF), a Seoul-based NGO, has been the primary donor, but last year, it had to cut its donation significantly.

In addition to fundraising efforts, RAS Korea is also seeking to expand its community.

"The type of people we serve are foreigners and a lot of them are bilingual. And there are many more of them now than before," Park explained, adding that the group is also targeting native Korean speakers who are comfortable speaking in English.

People crowd the room for an RAS Korea lecture at FastFive in central Seoul, June 4. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

As part of this outreach, the organization is experimenting by inviting a North Korean defector to speak about his harrowing experiences in the reclusive state and his journey to escape. Scheduled for Sept. 11, the event will be conducted in both Korean and English.

Visit raskb.com for more information about the fundraisers and lecture.