I am Jong-hwa Lee, the Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs of Daegu. First, congratulations on the opening of the Association for Asian Studies in Asia(AAS-in-Asia) Conference, a festival for Asian studies researchers worldwide, and I welcome you on behalf of the 2.5 million citizens of Daegu.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to President Jaeseug Yun of Kyungpook National University Institute of Humanities Studies, who also serves as the Chair of the Organizing Committee, for his tremendous effort in attracting the AAS-in-Asia 2023 to Daegu. I would also like to extend my thanks to Professor Hungoo Cho, the Secretary-General, for his diligent preparations for this event. We would also like to express our gratitude and welcome all participants to this event.

Daegu, which is transforming into a high-tech city, is traditionally a city of modern humanities where historical records and experiences coexist, such as the “Archives of the National Debt Redemption Movement,” and is rich in academic, historical, and cultural resources that can be shown to participants. We hope this conference will serve as a valuable opportunity to show Korean studies’ status and the region’s humanities capabilities to participants from all over the world and spread awareness of the humanities to the Daegu’s citizens.

Lastly, I hope you have a comfortable and enjoyable time in Daegu, where scholars worldwide have gathered for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, and enjoy the city’s diverse culture.

Thank you.