Our Mission
Exploring the Soul of East Asia
the Institute for East Asian Religions & Cultures
IEARC
IEARC — the Institute for East Asian Religions & Cultures — is an academic research institute at Daejin University in Korea, dedicated to the scholarly study of religions and cultures across East Asia.
East Asia is home to some of the world’s most profound and enduring spiritual traditions — Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shamanism, and a vibrant array of new religious movements. These traditions have shaped the languages, arts, ethics, and social life of hundreds of millions of people across Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, and neighboring regions for millennia. IEARC exists to understand these traditions deeply, honestly, and openly — and to share that understanding with scholars, students, policymakers, and the wider public around the world.
We conduct rigorous academic research on the religions and cultures of East Asia, promote cross-cultural and interfaith understanding, and contribute to the growth of international academic exchange. We believe that understanding religion is not a matter of faith alone — it is a key to understanding history, society, politics, and human identity itself. In an increasingly interconnected world, knowledge of East Asia’s diverse religious landscape has never been more important.
Unlike general humanities institutes, IEARC is exclusively focused on East Asian religions and cultures, allowing us to build deep, specialized expertise and to pursue questions that broader institutions often overlook. We are rooted in Korea but oriented toward the world, actively collaborating with universities and research centers across East Asia and beyond, fostering genuine dialogue between scholars from different national and cultural backgrounds.
Our work is not confined to journals and conferences — we advise on cultural policy, develop public education programs, and create resources that bring East Asian religious heritage to life for general audiences.
