GG Academy at Sogang University: “Hospitality Is the First Language That Connects the World”
A Public Geography Initiative Linking Haein Geulbang, Gwanak Island, Kim Chansam’s Spirit of Travel, and the 2027 World Youth Day
On July 2, 2026, the inaugural GG Academy 2026 was held at Jeong Hasang Hall, Sogang University. The theme of the event was "Hospitality: The First Language That Connects the World."
The program was jointly organized by the Great Geographic Society (GGS) and the Euro-MENA Institute at Sogang University, with support from the Geographic Imagination Research Institute (GIRI) at Gyeongin National University of Education, Seoul National University Broadcasting System (SNUBS), and Space Connecting, among other partners.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Professor Park Hyun-do, Director of the Euro-MENA Institute at Sogang University. He emphasized that geography, as one of the foundations of the humanities, is deeply connected with religious studies, Islamic studies, and international affairs.
"Once we learn to read maps," he remarked, "geopolitics becomes much easier to understand."
The program brought together a remarkably diverse group of participants, including Cha Seung-han, the Seoul National University student who produced the documentary Gwanak Island, which has attracted more than 120,000 views online; Professor Eje Kim, a cultural geographer from Gyeongin National University of Education; Kim Gil-ji, author of Grande Randonnée and an experienced pilgrimage writer; and Seo Jun-won, founder of Space Connecting. Participants ranged from people in their mid-eighties to university students and international students from various countries.
The date also marked the anniversary of the passing of Kim Chansam (1926–2003), Korea's pioneering world traveler and geographer. Participants reflected on his philosophy of travel and the meaning of hospitality.
Kim Chansam traveled around the world three times, visiting more than 160 countries and over 1,000 cities. His book Kim Chansam's World Travels sold more than one million copies by the 1980s, inspiring generations of Korean travelers. He often said that "the purpose of travel is geographical inquiry and learning about humanity," and believed that a traveler should never lose a smile even in difficult situations.
Hospitality as a Public Geography
Cha Seung-han, selected as one of the first GG Academy Fellows, observed that the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul could become an opportunity for Korean young people struggling with psychological isolation to reconnect with society.
Drawing on his experiences producing Gwanak Island and participating in GEO RENAISSANCE 2026, he stressed that young people need opportunities to leave the classroom, meet people in real places, and learn through direct experience rather than relying solely on textbook knowledge.
Professor Eje Kim introduced the idea of "The Geography of Hospitality" through the story of Haein Geulbang, a small literary space located within the convent at Gwangalli in Busan.
"Hospitality is not simply a warm feeling or an abstract idea," she explained. "Hospitality requires practice, and it also requires places where that practice can happen."
Haein Geulbang occupies a building that is nearly a century old. Since the late 1990s, Sister Lee Hae-in has welcomed visitors there while carrying out her literary ministry through writing, correspondence, and conversation. For nearly thirty years, countless visitors have found comfort and encouragement in this modest space.
Today, however, the building faces demolition and redevelopment.
Professor Kim proposed that rather than becoming merely a memorial site, Haein Geulbang could evolve into a living cultural platform integrating literature, pilgrimage, youth mentoring, international exchange, and digital archives.
Lessons from Europe: Preserving Places Through New Life
Professor Kim also introduced several successful European examples of adaptive heritage preservation.
The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud in France, originally founded in the twelfth century and later converted into a prison after the French Revolution, has been transformed into a vibrant cultural center where art, education, accommodation, and pilgrimage coexist.
Similarly, the Beguinage of Hasselt in Belgium was successfully revitalized after the departure of its religious community. While new educational and civic functions were introduced, the historic streets, gardens, and buildings were carefully preserved.
"What Europe preserved was not simply old bricks," Professor Kim explained. "It preserved places where people could return, stay, talk, and create new memories."
The program also introduced the concepts of Façade Retention, widely practiced in London, and Adaptive Reuse, a leading approach to urban regeneration throughout Europe.
Façade Retention preserves the historic exterior of a building while redesigning its interior for contemporary use. Adaptive Reuse gives new functions to existing buildings instead of demolishing them.
Professor Kim emphasized:
"Urban regeneration is not primarily about constructing new buildings. It is about creating places where people want to return and stay. Haein Geulbang could become a Korean model of Adaptive Reuse."
Pilgrimage, Food, and Conversation
Pilgrimage writer Kim Gil-ji shared his experiences walking the European pilgrimage routes through Belgium, France, and Spain.
"A road is not merely a route for movement," he reflected. "It is also a place where the heart rests and where hospitality is experienced."
The event also featured The Geographer's Table, one of GGS's signature public programs.
Participants shared bibimbap and noodles prepared from recipes inspired by Venerable Seonjae, while learning about the twenty-year friendship between the Buddhist monk and Sister Lee Hae-in, whose relationship has transcended religious boundaries through mutual respect and friendship.
French desserts and cultural activities further illustrated how food, culture, and religion can become bridges connecting people across different societies.
Rather than following the format of a conventional academic conference, GG Academy adopted the atmosphere of a salon.
Participants listened to presentations while sharing tea and meals, examining maps, photographs, and books together, and engaging in open conversations. Activities included exploring the relationship between cities and fragrance, tasting teas representing different natural and cultural landscapes, learning map-reading skills, and discussing books and photographs about travel and place.
The relaxed atmosphere encouraged genuine conversations among participants from different generations, professions, religions, and national backgrounds.
Together they reflected upon Sister Lee Hae-in's words:
"If you widen your heart with love as you walk, there will be no strangers."
Participants agreed that hospitality is not confined to any particular religion or culture but represents a universal human value.
From BTS to World Youth Day
GGS, which operates international exchange networks spanning more than 170 countries, also introduced its Connectography Project, documenting interviews with BTS fans from thirty-three countries during BTS's Busan concert.
Despite coming from different cultures and speaking different languages, many international fans consistently highlighted the kindness and hospitality shown by the citizens of Busan.
The presentation suggested that as Korea prepares to host major international events—including the 2027 World Youth Day—it must also cultivate a genuine culture of hospitality.
The Editor of National Geographic Traveler Korea, commented:
"I was particularly impressed by the way this program connected Haein Geulbang with food, fragrance, maps, and public geography. I also learned, for the first time, that Kim Chansam spent decades collecting and studying National Geographic magazines throughout his life."
Students from Sogang University remarked that they had previously had few opportunities to study geography at their university and hoped that interdisciplinary geography-related courses might eventually be established.
International students also joined the stage to share their experiences of hospitality in Korea.
Elena, a French student who came to Korea because of her interest in BTS and Korean culture; Sarai, an exchange student from Toronto, Canada; and an American Muslim studying computer science at Sogang University, each described how encounters across different cultures and religions had enriched their experiences in Korea.
A Declaration of Hospitality
The event concluded with participants reading a collective Declaration of Hospitality:
"We learn about the world through maps, and we connect with the world through hospitality. Rather than fearing strangers, we strive to understand them. We respect people with different cultures, religions, and perspectives, and we commit ourselves to walking toward a wider world with open hearts."
Following the GEO RENAISSANCE 2026 declaration held at Seoul National University in June, GGS has continued to develop public educational initiatives aimed at strengthening geographic literacy in Korean society.
GG Academy presents geography not simply as an academic discipline but as a public language for understanding the world, connecting people, and revitalizing places.
The inaugural GG Academy successfully brought together Haein Geulbang, Gwanak Island, Kim Chansam's philosophy of travel, the global BTS fandom, and the 2027 World Youth Day, presenting what organizers described as "The Geography of Hospitality"—a new framework for public geography.
In the coming months, GG Academy plans to expand its activities in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Korea, the National Museum of Korea, and National Geographic Traveler Korea, while offering future programs at universities without geography departments, including Hongik University, Yonsei University, Hanyang University, Chung-Ang University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
---
