- Necessity of study: We need to correctly perceive the identity of culture/humanities while Korea has been experiencing modernity, and the process of deconstructing and reconstructing this identity is necessary in constructing the identity of 'new', Korean, and trans-boundary humanities.

- Research Content: As the 'beginning' of modernity in Korea and its experiences are centrally related with that of the Chinese and the Japanese, the research aims to closely examine modernity in Korea through a comparative historical study, especially, it will take a close look at the modern culture introduced through Japan.

Also, internally, it will examine the points where Korean traditional culture meets the modern. 

‘Trans-boundary literature and humanities' imagination’ points out the problems with European-centered or Western literary studies and education and aims to bring a new paradigm to 21st century literary studies and cultural education.

Based on preceding research results such as comparative literary studies, trans-national literature, cultural hybridity, post-colonialism, it will try to establish a theoretical foundation in order to examine the position of literature in the trans-national/multi-cultural environment and study the poetics and canon texts of global trans-boundary literature. 

- Taking globalization and gender as parameters, this cell research will study upon the aspects of the performative subject's active intervention in processes of cultural hybridity, the process of conflict and competition between two cultures, the dynamics between two cultures and the results of cultural translation.

It aims to measure the possibility of producing a hybrid culture at a new dimension, going beyond just phenomenologically tracing the hybrid culture.

In the first year, it established the analytical research methodology through focused studies on cultural hybridity and performativity/behavior subjectivity theories. 

- Aim for fusion studies approaching the various questions that are produced at the boundaries of humanities and natural sciences in the perspective of humanities

- Investigate the posthuman aspects in the reproductive media of SF literature, film, and art, etc as the products of trans-boundary cultural experience in which the human and technical media inter-penetrate, inter-sublate, and become fused and evaluate, through this, the new paradigm of 'posthuman'.

- Trace the transformation of human nature and life patterns which implicate the 'improvement' of the human or the emergence of the 'posthuman' through scientific technology and study related philosophical and ethical issues.

- Synthesize issues of 'interface' and 'convergence' which were the first stage agenda of EIH and approach the issue of "the human identity newly defined in the technology age', the core of the second stage agenda of 'posthumanism', in the perspective of the human and machine fused existence, cyborg ontology 

- Technology and media which were considered as human tools have now penetrated deeply into the human life and do not only coexist with human life but transform its patterns. Moreover, the perception and senses extended by technology is also changing the domains of the human mentality. The present cell studies on how the new media, adorned with digital technology, has changed and will be changing the human senses, perception, and sensibility and how related images exist and undergo transformation in various perspectives and areas. The characteristics of the digital world in which the division between the body and mind, virtual and reality, material and non-material become ambiguous and where variety, hybridity, interrelationship, seamlessness are emphasized, necessitate a new understanding of the human as a matter of course. In answer to this, the present cell has set the new understanding of the human as the main purpose of research while studying upon various keywords of the human and media, sensibility and image, and the digital and senses. Cell members’ specific research areas and direction are as follows: "image ontology' which studies upon the image and sensibility in the digital age through the esthetic perspective, "moist media and wet technology within contemporary art" which examines Bioart, etc. in the perspective of art history, "digital sensual theory studies" examined through media theories, "technology and sensibility" examined through the fusion of technology and literature, etc. 

- Out of the trans-boundary humanities research team's first phase research results, it is necessary to deepen and extend the 'trans-boundary' research of theme dimension such as the 'diaspora' in the global age or 'trans-boundary cultural experience' at the dimension of a more humanities' introspection and interdisciplinary approach.

- Focusing on the fact that the meaning of 'trans-" has an emphasis on 'dynamic interaction' and 'inter-relationship', in humanities study, especially for the introspection of Korean humanities' formational stage, its current topology, and future vision, it is preferable to perceive Korean humanities within the international network, in a perspective differentiated from preceding methodologies and views, rather than perceiving it as particular phenomena within the geographical boundary of 'Korean' humanities.

- For this objective, we focus on the issue of communication/translation and the inter-cultural relationship between knowledge/ literature within the reciprocal relationship between cultures.  

1) Study of trans-boundary knowledge formation based on the dynamic process of knowledge formation: we examine the formation process and characteristics of early 20th century in light of creating a new trans-boundary knowledge based on the critique and reflection of modern knowledge systems.

2) Study of the creative aspects of modern knowledge reception and production through 'translative' and 'comparative' methodology: according to the modern diffusion model which contends that knowledge spreads from the west to the non-western societies, Korean modern knowledge formation can only be evaluated as one of imitation and lack.

The creative aspects of Korean modern knowledge can only be brought to light when the evaluating standards for knowledge that is received and newly formed does not resemble the original linguistic culture but newly produced.

3) The East Asian characteristic of knowledge formational process or knowledge identity, contrasting to that of the West: through the studying the process of three East Asian countries' ( Korea, Japan, and China) translating the same text, the aspects of translation, etc., we examine the characteristics of the three countries' knowledge systems and based on this, the East Asian knowledge system and characteristics contrasting to that of the West.

4) Gender and translation studies: we study what power the gender structure which moves modernity has on not only female translators, but translation choices for modern knowledge formation, translation circumstances, the form of adaptation, etc. 

From the 16th century to the 18th, the West and East Asian (China) influenced each other reciprocally.

However, due to Eurocentrism which does not acknowledge other cultures, there was no real east-west negotiation thereafter.

Transcending pride and self-centeredness, east-west cultural negotiation which exchanges reciprocal influence should be resumed.

Through facing and negotiating with the other, the east and west can both have the opportunity to reflect on their prejudices and come to understand oneself and the world better.

We hope to contribute to trans-boundary humanities which overcomes the drawing of boundaries by pursuing mutually equal conversation amongst the east and west.