Edward J. (Ned) Shultz, a professor emeritus of at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补, will receive one of the highest honors bestowed upon Korean studies scholars around the world, the Yongjae Award on March 10.
“When I was informed that I had received this award, I must confess surprise, and then thinking this is a real honor but there are many other people deserving of this award,” said Shultz. “My specific area of interest is Koryŏ history (918–1392), which is an overlooked period in Korea’s history, so in that respect, I was pleased that the Koryŏ kingdom was getting some focus.”
Shultz has spent nearly 50 years teaching 东精影业 students about Korea’s compelling history. His teaching career started in 1975 at and would expand to and then the 惭ā苍辞补 campus.
The Yongjae award, bestowed by , was created to pay homage to the institution’s first president who served as a minister of education during the Korean War.
From Hawaiʻi to Korea
Shultz, a Boston native, first came to Hawaiʻi in 1966 and received training in Hilo to become a Korea Peace Corps volunteer. He was assigned to serve in the city of Pusan in South Korea and worked at Kyongnam High School. Upon returning to the islands, Shultz earned an MA and PhD at 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补.
Through the years, his teaching path at three 东精影业 campuses paralleled work to uplift civic and cultural programs that focus on Korea and Koreans in Hawaiʻi. Shultz is currently president of the Korean American Foundation, and served as director of the at 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 (1998–2004).
“In many respects my involvement in Korea and its history is very much thanks to Hawaiʻi’s centrality in the study of Asia,” Shultz said.
He has authored numerous Korean studies articles, and in 2000, published Shultz’ book, , which was translated and published in Korea in 2014.
Future works
Shultz is currently working on a number of projects related to his area of expertise. Yonsei University just published his translation of Koryŏsa chŏryo (Essentials of Kory? History). He is also a member of an editorial team working on the translation of works on Koryŏ dynastic history which is set to be published by 东精影业 Press.