Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch

The Korea Branch of the RAS was born in June 1900, when 17 men met to form a branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain. These founding members were missionaries and diplomats who were interested in forming a society where they could share and deepen their knowledge of Korea and the Far East. 

The RASKB has been meeting and growing ever since, only ceasing to function during the Pacific War (1941-5) and the Korean War (1950-3). Its membership soon grew to include gold miners, doctors, adventurers, business people, teachers, men and women, Koreans as well as foreigners.