On January 13th, 2026, the International Academic Organizations Alliance (IAOA) and the Institute of Chinese Studies at Hanyang University (South Korea) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The two parties agreed to jointly serve as co-sponsors of IAOA’s flagship journal,Global Humanities and Social Sciences (GHSS). This collaboration aims to leverage the complementary strengths of both sides, advancing GHSS into a world-class interdisciplinary platform for academic exchange in the humanities and social sciences, with focus on East Asian governance and Chinese studies.
Hanyang University, a top-tier private comprehensive research university under South Korea’s Ministry of Education, was founded in 1939 and operates two campuses in Seoul and ERICA. It has established an outstanding academic reputation: ranked 159th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, 3rd in the 2025 comprehensive ranking by South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo, and first nationwide in the "professor research output" category. Dubbed the "MIT of South Korea" for its leading engineering programs (ranked No. 1 in South Korea), the university is also a member of the Pacific Asian Consortium for International Business Education and Research (PACIBER), the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education, a key university under South Korea’s BK21 Project, and an AACSB-accredited institution. These credentials solidify its global standing in integrating rigorous academic research with practical innovation.
As a core academic unit of Hanyang University, the Institute of Chinese Studies has long been a pacesetter in Chinese studies and East Asian regional research in South Korea. With a team of renowned scholars and rich accumulated academic resources, the institute plays a pivotal role in promoting academic exchanges and mutual understanding between South Korea, China, and other countries in the East Asian region. Its research focus is highly aligned with GHSS’s mission of exploring interdisciplinary research at the intersection of humanities and social sciences, laying a solid foundation for the in-depth collaboration between the two parties.
As a global academic alliance, IAOA boasts an extensive network covering scholars, institutions, and academic organizations from around the world. Since GHSS’s inception, IAOA has provided strong support for the journal’s development through its rich experience in international academic journal operation and its ability to coordinate global academic resources. Through this MOU, IAOA will contribute its global academic network and international operational capabilities to expand GHSS’s global influence, while the Institute of Chinese Studies will bring its profound academic insights and research achievements in Chinese studies and East Asian governance to enrich the journal’s content connotation and enhance its academic depth.
The collaboration will focus on key research areas such as East Asian governance, Chinese studies, and cross-cultural communication. The two parties will jointly promote high-quality academic research, organize interdisciplinary seminars and forums, attract outstanding academic contributions from global scholars, and strive to build GHSS into a high-end platform for global academic exchange in the humanities and social sciences. This partnership not only marks a new stage in the development of GHSS but also opens up a new channel for in-depth cooperation between Chinese and foreign academic institutions in the field of humanities and social sciences.
A key highlight of this collaboration is the appointment of Prof. MIN KWISIK, Director of Hanyang University’s Institute of Chinese Studies, as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of GHSS. Prof. MIN is a distinguished scholar with profound academic accomplishments and rich practical experience. He holds a Master’s degree and a Doctoral degree in Political Science (Jurisprudence) from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, which has laid a solid foundation for his in-depth research on China-related issues. Currently, he also serves as the President of the Korean Association of Modern China Studies and Professor and Chair of the Northeast Asian Studies Program at Hanyang University.
Prof. MIN has a diverse professional background. He once served as a Secretary and Chief Aide to Members of the National Assembly of South Korea, gaining valuable insights into political operations and policy research. He also served as the Editorial Chairman of Journal of Modern Chinese Studies, accumulating rich experience in academic journal editing and management. Prof. MIN has published a number of influential academic works, including Chinese Tradition and Modern China: Continuity of Tradition and Socialist Transformation, Korea-China Relations and Cultural Exchange: Cultural Conflict and Adaptation of Long-Term Residents, Eurasia and the Belt and Road: Integration, Cooperation, and Contradictions, and East Asian Common Prosperity and Peace. These works cover a wide range of topics, reflecting his broad academic vision and in-depth research on regional and global issues.
IAOA stated that Prof. MIN’s appointment as Deputy Editor-in-Chief will bring new impetus to the development of GHSS. His profound academic insights, rich industry experience, and extensive academic network will help enhance the journal’s academic quality, expand its international influence, and attract more high-level academic contributions from the global academic community. Prof. MIN expressed his enthusiasm for this collaboration, noting that he will work closely with the editorial team to promote the high-quality development of GHSS and contribute to deepening interdisciplinary academic exchanges between East Asia and the world.
As a peer-reviewed academic journal, GHSS has always been committed to providing a high-quality platform for global scholars to exchange research results in the humanities and social sciences. With the joint sponsorship of IAOA and Hanyang University’s Institute of Chinese Studies, and under the joint leadership of the editorial team led by the Editor-in-Chief and Prof. MIN as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, GHSS is expected to achieve greater development in terms of academic influence, internationalization level, and interdisciplinary development, making greater contributions to promoting global academic progress and cultural exchange in the humanities and social sciences.
Basic Information of GHSS Journal
ISSN (Print): 3105-174X
ISSN (Online): 3105-1758
Official Website: https://iaoalliance.org/ghss