By Lee Eunkyung (eunklee94@korea.ac.kr)

The European Commission has been establishing EU Centersaround Asia and the Pacific since 1998. Right now, EU Centers exist in 28countries including South Korea. The main purpose of the project is to improvethe recognition of the European Unions (EU) and to further research activationabout EU.

In Korea, Seoul National University (SNU) was thefirst selected place for EU Centre to be established. Then, Yonsei University (YU),Pusan National University (PNU), Yeungnam University and Hankuk University ofForeign Studies (HUFS) followed. Often, these centers are carried out withother organizations. For instance, EU Centre at YU is a collaborated work-outwith Samsung Economic Research Institute (SERI).

Last year, Korea University (KU) was announced asthe next site for EU Centre to be located within. So far, EU Centers at Koreafunctions rather similarly in that their main focus is to enlarge thecomprehension about EU and to enhance the economic bonds between Korea and EU.The EU Centre at KU also shares the common goals.

Like that of YU, KU EU Centre has partnershipswith other organizationsㅡKorea Institute for International Economic Policy(KIEP) and Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS). Among others, a special featureabout KU-KIEP-SBS Centre is that the institute will produce a documentaryprogram on current affairs on EU.

After four months of preparation, the KU-KIEP-SBSCentre had an opening ceremony on May 9. Ambassadors from various EU countriesand representatives of official residence attended. Many expect that the Centrewill be the hub of activity and that international reputation of KU willincrease.