CBNU’s Institute for Humanities Research was established in 1983 to support research activities of humanities in and outside the university and contribute to the development of the humanities, marking its 40th anniversary this year. The Institute for Humanities Research is in charge of producing humanities knowledge through individual and joint researches, sharing knowledge through the colloquiums or seminars, and spreading humanities to the public through lectures and summer camps. In addition, we run various comparative programs to foster humanities. 

  The Institute for Humanities Research has published an academic journal, Humanities: An Interdisciplinary Study, and research books such as Cheongju City, Find the meaning of my town, Chungbuk Folk Song Collection, also held various domestic and foreign academic conferences and lectures. In addition, it has become a representative research institution in Chungbuk by carrying out the “Glocal Bridge Project” or “Humanities City” project in cooperation with the local community. In the future, we will faithfully carry out existing projects and further support research and educational activities for the humanities to the best of our abilities.

  I give and do multidisciplinary convergence research that combines literature and science. In the future, our Institute for Humanities Research plans to establish a Humanities Convergence Research Department to promote future-oriented convergence research, in addition to the Humanities Classical Research Department, to protect existing basic studies. The Humanities Convergence Research Department consists of four teams: “Local humanities” to study the Chungcheong region, “Comparative humanities” to compare cultures, histories, and languages of the East and West, “Environmental humanities” to study nature and ecology, and “Digital humanities” to study humanities using information and communication technology. In addition, we will open an Interpretation and Translation Center to train interpreters and translation talents such as foreign language editors.

  Humanities is a relative concept of natural science and a study that mainly studies fundamental problems, ideas, and cultures related to humans. In other words, it can be seen as a study of human values, morality, worldviews, and ways of thinking, etc. Humanities make various problems in society more fundamental, allow them to reflect critically, and facilitate communication with others through rich and careful verbal expressions. There is also a particular history, culture, and social context behind what humans think and act in, and understanding this is an important reason to learn humanities. However, people sometimes feel skeptical about the humanities because these skills are not visible and are not technologies that can be applied directly in the social field. However, we should not forget that it’s an activity that humans do, not unlike business, technology development, or research on natural phenomena. In other words, the problems of human thinking, values, cultural, and social contexts, and ethics inevitably have a profound impact on these activities. Therefore, humanities majors are needed in all areas of society, except in areas that require specific skills due to their wide range of thinking and understanding, quick and accurate judgment, and rich communication, expression skills. Not long ago, a domestic polling agency surveyed the schools and majors of CEOs of large companies and found that most of them were humanities majors. Why is that? At first glance, corporate management skills seem to have nothing to do with humanities.

  When it comes to the value of a person in society, it is often based upon the person’s total ability rather than a specific skill that the person has. Comprehension, judgment, and persuasion are the very foundations of this “Total ability.” People often ask, “Where do I learn this and use it?” Humanistic skills are actually the skills that society needs most.

  As such, the humanities are not the capabilities that are visible to people’s eyes. However, isn’t the most basic knowledge necessary for humanities, just as basic knowledge is required in many places or for self-development?