Korean studies in Russia has a long history. A huge number of books and articles have been published, and dissertations have been defended on the history of Korea and contemporary problems of the two states that exist on its territory. Russian Korean studies occupies a worthy place in the world science of Korea. It itself became an object of scientific research: a series of books "Russian Korean Studies in the past and present" was published.

The initiators of this publication in 2004 were Korean scholars of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the head of the regional public organization "First of March" Pastor Lee Hyun-geun. The previous volumes of this series were published with the financial support of the Korea Foundation (Seoul).

Of the 10 volumes of the series published since 2004, 7 are devoted to the history and current state of Korean studies in Russia. The series opens with the book "Life and Work Dedicated to Korea" about those who participated in the revival of Korean studies after 1945. The second volume "Korean Studies in Russia: history and Modernity" recreates the path taken by Korean studies from the XVIII to the beginning of the XX century. The third volume "Modern Russian Korean Studies" contains information about the main centers of training and research in Korea, archives, museums, etc., as well as about specialists fully or partially employed in Korean studies (191 essays). The fourth volume is " Colonial Korea. From publications in the USSR of the 1920s-1930s " gives an idea of Korean studies of the specified period. The fifth volume "Korea through the Eyes of Russians" contains travel notes and memoirs of Russians who visited Korea in 1895-1945. The sixth volume "Selected Bibliography of Literature on Korea in Russian and Western European languages (from the 19th century to 2007)" is a valuable guide for Korean scholars prepared by L. R. Kontsevich. The seventh volume, First News about Korea in Russia (1675-1884), includes publications and archival materials about Korea that were available in Russia at the time of the establishment of diplomatic relations with it in 1884.

The last three volumes of the ten - volume book are the works of prominent Russian Korean scholars. These are the books of historians and ethnographers R. S. Dzharylgasinova " Ethnogenesis and ethnic history of Koreans according to epigraphy ("Gwangetho-wan Stele") "and Yu. V. Ionova" Ethnography of Korea

(selected articles)". The ten-volume volume closes with L. R. Kontsevich's voluminous work "The World of Hunmin Chonym" - a translation of the monument of Korean writing of the XV century into Russian and a number of articles by the author.

The presentation of the book series "Russian Korean Studies in the Past and Present", dedicated to the 567th anniversary of the proclamation of the Korean Hangul alphabet, was held on October 9, 2013 at the Center for Oriental Literature.

Pastor Lee Hyun-geun, opening the presentation, noted that Russian Korean studies can be compared to the Volga, which begins with a small stream on the Valdai Hill, and at the end of its journey becomes the largest river in Europe. Russian Korean studies is more than a hundred years old, it has passed a glorious path, and this was largely made possible by the efforts of those scientists who preserved its traditions. Without the dedication and effort of these scholars, Korean studies today would be in a deplorable state.

The younger generation of researchers should continue the efforts of those who have preserved the traditions of Russian Korean studies and make every effort for its further development. And here, Lee Hyun-geun emphasized, words of gratitude should be expressed to Yu. V. Vanin, L. R. Kontsevich, R. S. Dzharylgasinova, Lim Soo, A. F. Trotsevich and other researchers who demonstrate their love and affection for Korean studies, as well as to the Korean Foundation, which provided constant financial support to the project.

Kim Hwegil (Director of the Moscow office of the Korean Foundation) responded with a welcoming speech to the participants and guests of the presentation. He noted that 23 years have passed since the establishment of official diplomatic relations between Russia and the Republic of Korea. Therefore, the presentation of the series and its 10th volume are of great importance for the historical science of Russia and Korea. Kim Hwegil expressed his gratitude to the staff of the Institute of Information Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the First of March organization for their work and stressed that the publication being presented now will become a solid foundation for future generations of scientists. He noted that the Korean Foundation is interested in attracting young people to Korean studies, developing new topics in the field of linguistics, economics, history, philosophy, political science and culture. Therefore, this publication will contribute not only to the development of local Korean studies, but also to improving relations between Russia and PK.

The next speaker was Yu. V. Vanin (IB RAS). In his opinion, Korean studies as an independent science took shape in Russia by the beginning of the XX century. The publication of "Descriptions of Korea" in three volumes in 1900, which has not lost its scientific significance to this day, is considered a conditional frontier. He noted that in Soviet times, Korea was studied by a small group of researchers, mainly from among Russian Koreans. They studied the situation of Korea under Japanese colonial oppression and the liberation struggle of the Korean people. Their works were not only scientific in nature, they were also a form of support for Korea from the Soviet Union. However, in the mid-1930s, these Korean scholars became victims of political repression. Therefore, after 1945, when Korea was liberated and became an important subject of international relations, Korean studies in the USSR had to be practically created anew. Moscow and Leningrad Universities and the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies began training Korean specialists who had been coming to science since the late 1950s. Approximately from this time it is possible to count the current stage of development of Korean studies in Russia.

The publication of this ten-volume book clearly shows that Korean studies in Russia today has become an independent science. The material contained in the books of the series is not only historical facts, opinions, assessments and judgments of researchers, but also evidence of Russia's attitude towards the Korean people.

After the speech of the organizers of the book exhibition, the participants of the meeting were able to get acquainted with the presented volumes of the series "Russian Korean Studies in the past and present", exchange opinions, impressions and thank the organizers of the event for their work and efforts to promote scientific knowledge.

Speaker on behalf of the guests of the A3 presentation. Zhebii (hand. A. Z. Zhebin noted that the publication of the multi - volume book is a worthy development of the tradition of the pre-revolutionary scientific school of Russian Oriental studies, because it continues the line and style of the "Description of Korea" published in 1900, but at a new historical stage. russian Korean studies.

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