To the members and visitors of the Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics (KASELL)

Greetings and welcome!

I am AHN Hyunkee, a professor in the Department of English Language Education at Seoul National University and currently serving as the 19th president of the Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics (KASELL). Founded in the year of 2000, at the dawn of the new millennium, our association now proudly boasts a history spanning over 20 years. It is an active and young nationwide academic society, flourishing in its youthful phase. I am profoundly grateful to the members for entrusting me with the leadership of such a dynamic and vibrant society, which I consider a personal honor.

During my one-year tenure as president, I aim to elevate our society to a new level in the field of English and English Education research. Based on the passion and expertise of our members, I seek to establish our society as an academically recognized hub, both domestically and internationally. To achieve this goal, I will focus on the following two main areas:

First, I am committed to ensuring that our society's journal, The Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics, maintains its prestigious status in the 2024 re-accreditation assessment for KCI-listed Excellent Journals. This task will be approached with meticulous planning and thorough preparation, in collaboration with the Chief Editor, the General Affairs Director, and other key members. The Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics, a vital part of our society's contributions, embodies the disciplines of English and English Education studies in Korea. It has garnered international acclaim as a SCOPUS-indexed journal and is recognized domestically as an Excellent Journal by the Korea Research Foundation. As of July 1, 2023, only 13 out of 631 KCI-listed humanities journals have been rated as Excellent Journals. Among these, merely three journals are from the field of linguistics, including ours, and only two of these, including ours, have the honor of being SCOPUS-indexed. Our journal's unique standing, both in domestic circles and on the international stage, is a source of pride, and we will focus this year on re-accrediting it as an Excellent Journal to further enhance its prestige.

Secondly, to strengthen the role of graduate students as the next generation in academia, I will encourage their active participation in our summer and winter academic conferences. In the age of artificial intelligence and amid changes in the educational environment due to population decline, we must actively support the growth of the next generation of scholars, moving beyond pessimism. While the integration of science and technology, including AI, is necessary, we must also preserve the academic essence of human-centered English studies and English Education. We will expand opportunities for graduate students to present their research at our summer and winter conferences and to receive feedback from professors. I aim to make these conferences a forum for passionate academic debate, based on academic openness and inclusiveness, where all members, including graduate students, can participate and contribute.

In managing KASELL, I place a strong emphasis on collaboration and communication among our members. Your opinions and ideas will be the driving force for our society's development. As we build a community where we all share knowledge and grow together, our society will become stronger and more illustrious. I eagerly anticipate to your active participation in this joyful journey.

Thank you for your valued time and participation.

January 1, 2024
AHN Hyunkee
19th President
Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics (KASELL)