Greetings

SEOUL CONFERENCE 2025
Karina Korostelina
President
International Association for Reconciliation Studies
Dear IARS members and colleagues,
It is my great honor to welcome you all to the conference of the International Association for Reconciliation Studies in Seoul. This conference brings together scholars, practitioners, and advocates from across the globe, united by a shared commitment to advancing reconciliation and peace. During 5-day conference, we will explore new ideas, share experiences, and discuss strategies that can transform conflict into cooperation, division into unity, and despair into hope.
The work of reconciliation is never easy. It requires strategic thinking, creativity, patience, empathy, and, most importantly, a collective will to heal the wounds of history and build a more just and peaceful future. But it is work that is profoundly important—not only for the communities we directly serve but for the future of humanity itself. Together, we can create a world where understanding and reconciliation are not the exception, but the rule.  
Once again, welcome, and I look forward to the conversations and collaborations that will emerge over the course of this important gathering.
December 2024
Karina Korostelina
President, International Association for Reconciliation Studies
Professor and Director, Peace Lab on Reconciling Conflicts and Intergroup Divisions, Program on History, Memory, and Conflict, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
Wonho Kim
Chairman
CR Life Foundation
To the Members of the International Association for Reconciliation Studies and All Who Aspire for Peace,
Greetings.
In July 2025, the 6th International Association for Reconciliation Studies (IARS) Conference will take place in Seoul. As the Chairman of CR Life Foundation, an organization dedicated to building a community of peace, I am honored to serve as the Chair of the Organizing Committee for this event.
Even now, many parts of the world are mired in chaos, far removed from the peace we earnestly long for, as arms races, wars, massacres, and violence persist. The situation in the Republic of Korea, the host country of the upcoming IARS Conference, is no exception.
After liberation from Japanese colonial rule 80 years ago, Korea was divided into North and South. This division led to a devastating war. Although an armistice was signed, a peace treaty has yet to be established. The two sides remain in a state of confrontation, with the constant threat of renewed armed conflict.
To prevent collisions between North and South Korea, we must completely cleanse the lingering bitterness from the past and build bridges of reconciliation.
Genuine peace on the Korean Peninsula remains an unfinished task. Achieving it requires putting an end to enmity, embracing reconciliation, and moving forward on the path of coexistence, mutual prosperity, and peace. Reconciliation is the alpha and omega of peace.
In this context, the IARS Seoul Conference 2025 holds special significance. It is my fervent hope that the path to peace through reconciliation will open not only in Korea but also in every corner of the world.
I extend my heartfelt welcome to all participants of the IARS Seoul Conference.
January 2025
Wonho Kim
Director, Organizing Committee of the IARS Seoul Conference 2025
Chairman, CR Life Foundation
Kijeong Nam
Professor
Professor Institute for Japanese Studies
Seoul National University
Dear members of the International Association for Reconciliation Studies, and all scholars around the world who constantly reflect on “reconciliation,”
It is my great honor to extend the warmest welcome to each of you joining us for the IARS 2025 Seoul Conference. I am Kijeong Nam, Director of the Institute for Japanese Studies at Seoul National University and Chair of the Executive Committee for the IARS 2025 Seoul Conference.
Korea has endured a tumultuous history marked by colonial rule, liberation, national division, war, dictatorship, and democratization—experiences that have fueled a profound hope for reconciliation. Yet the path has often been fraught with immense pain and the need for steadfast endurance.
Indeed, reconciliation in Korea remains an unfinished task and Seoul is where all these stories converge, revealing both the fragility and resilience of democracy. The efforts to reckon with a painful past and to seek reconciliation will be pivotal in shaping our collective future.
It is especially meaningful to hold this year’s international conference in Seoul, a city that embodies both the necessity and possibility of reconciliation. At this moment, Seoul is navigating political complexities with remarkable civic resilience, and by July—when this five-day conference convenes—a new government is expected to be in place. I trust these developments will create a stable, energetic environment for our meetings and discussions.
In 2025, we look forward to welcoming scholars and practitioners worldwide to share their experiences, insights, and hopes for reconciliation. Once again, a hearty welcome to you all.
환영합니다(Hwanyeong-Hamnida)!
December 2024
Kijeong Nam
Chair, IARS 2025 Seoul Conference Executive Committee
Director, Institute for Japanese Studies, Seoul National University