The theme and direction of the 2023 Korean Sociological Association (KSA) is the Sociology of Overcoming a Fragmented Society. I believe that social fragmentation can be divided into two types: fragmentation in the social system and fragmentation in interpersonal relationships. The solutions to social problems resulting from these two dimensions of social fragmentation are also different. Overcoming fragmentation in a social system is to recover system balance or rationality; resolving fragmentation in interpersonal relationships is to restore social solidarity and coexistence.
I think that the post-COVID-19 pandemic year of 2023 will be an opportunity to demonstrate the usefulness of sociology in proposing solutions to overcome social fragmentation. Sociology can elucidate the dual or compound effects of social fragmentations in the social system and in interpersonal relationships, and draw attention to the differences between them to suggest solutions.
Dong-Hoon SEOL
President of the KSA in 2023
The Korean Sociological Association (KSA)
is a non-profit professional organization that promotes sociological research, teaching, and publication in South Korea. Founded in 1956 by fourteen Korean sociologists, the KSA has since grown to include 1,634 individual members, 91 collective members, and 7 institutional members, as of June 1, 2023.
Research Networks
The KSA has 26 Research Sections, which are dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in specific areas of sociology. It also has committed to maintain and foster scholarly collaboration with 42 academic associations in relevant fields in South Korea.
Conferences
The KSA has regularly hosted conferences on a variety of topics since 1956. The KSA also hosts special conferences on a specific agenda irregularly, and joint conferences in collaboration with other organizations. These conferences provide spaces for sociological discourses and discussions.
Publications
The KSA has published the Korean Journal of Sociology (KJS) since 1964. The KJS is a peer-reviewed quarterly scholarly journal that publishes original research articles in sociology. The KSA also organizes sociology books irregularly, and publishes the Korean Sociological Association Newsletter four times a year.